Earned, Not Decor..!!!
Military Awards is your resource for understanding U.S. military awards, decorations, medals, ribbons, and honors. Whether you’re researching a specific medal, learning about award eligibility requirements, identifying military decorations, or exploring the traditions behind military recognition, this category provides clear and easy-to-understand information.
Military awards recognize service, achievement, valor, sacrifice, leadership, and dedication across all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. From the Medal of Honor and Purple Heart to Good Conduct Medals and campaign awards, each decoration has a unique purpose, history, and place in the military awards system.
Within this category, you’ll find guides covering military medals, award eligibility rules, military honors and traditions, ribbon identification, medal collecting, display ideas, and resources for veterans and their families. Whether you’re a service member, veteran, family member, collector, historian, or simply interested in military history, these articles are designed to help you better understand the meaning and significance of military awards and decorations.
Explore our growing collection of articles to learn how military awards are earned, what they represent, and why they continue to hold an important place in honoring military service and sacrifice.
Military awards and decorations are among the highest forms of recognition available to members of the United States Armed Forces. These honors acknowledge bravery, exceptional service, outstanding achievement, leadership, sacrifice, and dedication to duty. Whether it is a prestigious valor award earned in combat or a service medal recognizing years of honorable service, every military … Read more
Military awards and decorations come in many forms, each designed to recognize a specific type of service, achievement, skill, or act of bravery. From heroic actions on the battlefield to years of dedicated service, these awards help honor the accomplishments of military personnel across all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Understanding the different categories … Read more
Military awards and decorations might look like shiny pieces of metal and colorful ribbons, but there’s a lot of meaning and tradition wrapped up in each one. For anyone interested in military history or wanting to really get a feel for the value and process behind these symbols, having a clear idea of how awards … Read more
Military awards and decorations are special honors given to service members for specific achievements, service, conduct, or acts of bravery. These awards serve as visible symbols of a military member’s accomplishments and dedication to duty. While many people commonly refer to them as “medals” or “ribbons,” each award has a unique purpose and meaning within … Read more
When identifying a World War II medal, the ribbon is often more important than the medal itself. Many WWII medals share similar shapes, sizes, and inscriptions, but ribbon colors and stripe patterns are usually unique to each award. This guide explains how to identify WWII medals by ribbon colors, even when the medal is unnamed, … Read more
Replica military medals are widely bought and sold by collectors, families, reenactors, and museums. However, many people hesitate before purchasing them because of one important question: are replica military medals legal? The short answer is yes, replica military medals are legal in most countries—but there are important legal and ethical rules you must understand. This … Read more
Finding old military medals can raise an important question: how much are they worth? Whether the medals belonged to a family member, were inherited, or discovered in a collection, valuing military medals requires more than a quick online search. Age alone does not determine value, and some common medals can be worth very little, while … Read more
One of the most common questions asked by people who inherit or collect military medals is simple: why are military medals unnamed? Finding an old medal with no name engraved on it often leads to confusion and concern about authenticity or value. In reality, unnamed military medals are completely normal, especially for certain countries and … Read more
Finding an old military medal often raises an important and emotional question: who did this medal belong to? Whether the medal was inherited, discovered in a collection, or purchased at auction, uncovering the identity behind it can transform an object into a personal piece of history. This guide explains how to find out who a … Read more
Discovering military medals at home can be surprising and emotional. They may be tucked away in a drawer, hidden in an attic, or found among old family belongings. Whether the medals belonged to a relative or came with a house or estate, many people are unsure what to do next. This guide explains what military … Read more