what are the top 10 military medals

The “top 10 military medals” usually refers to the highest and most honored U.S. military decorations, ranked by prestige and how rarely they’re awarded.

Quick Scoop

Below is a commonly accepted top‑10 style list, based on U.S. award precedence and how often these medals appear in serious military discussions and guides.

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<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>#</th>
      <th>Medal</th>
      <th>Why It Matters</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>1</td>
      <td>Medal of Honor</td>
      <td>Highest U.S. military decoration, awarded for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty.[web:1][web:4][web:6]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>2</td>
      <td>Distinguished Service Cross / Navy Cross / Air Force Cross (includes Space Force)</td>
      <td>Second‑highest U.S. valor awards, just below the Medal of Honor, for extraordinary heroism in combat.[web:1][web:3][web:8]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>3</td>
      <td>Silver Star</td>
      <td>Third‑highest combat decoration, for gallantry in action against an enemy or opposing force.[web:1][web:3][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>4</td>
      <td>Defense Distinguished Service Medal</td>
      <td>Highest non‑valor Defense Department decoration, for exceptionally meritorious service in a position of great responsibility at the DoD level.[web:1][web:3][web:10]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>5</td>
      <td>Distinguished Service Medals (Army, Navy, Air & Space, Coast Guard)</td>
      <td>Service‑specific equivalents recognizing exceptionally meritorious service in senior leadership roles.[web:1][web:3][web:4]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>6</td>
      <td>Distinguished Flying Cross</td>
      <td>Awarded for heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight; historically linked to figures like Charles Lindbergh.[web:1][web:3][web:10]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>7</td>
      <td>Legion of Merit</td>
      <td>For exceptionally meritorious conduct in key positions, also often awarded to allied officers.[web:1][web:4][web:10]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>8</td>
      <td>Navy and Marine Corps Medal (and equivalents like Soldier’s Medal, Airman’s Medal, Coast Guard Medal)</td>
      <td>Highest U.S. non‑combat heroism medals, for acts of heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy.[web:1][web:3][web:4]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>9</td>
      <td>Bronze Star Medal</td>
      <td>Major combat award for heroic or meritorious service or achievement in a combat zone.[web:5][web:7][web:10]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>10</td>
      <td>Purple Heart</td>
      <td>Awarded to those wounded or killed by enemy action; symbolizes sacrifice more than traditional “achievement.”[web:5][web:6][web:10]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

A quick narrative snapshot

If you picture a spectrum from raw battlefield heroism to long‑term strategic leadership, the Medal of Honor, service crosses, and Silver Star sit squarely at the extreme combat‑valor end. The Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medals, and Legion of Merit recognize sustained, high‑level responsibility that shapes entire campaigns or organizations. The Distinguished Flying Cross highlights aerial heroism, while medals like the Navy and Marine Corps Medal honor life‑risking courage outside direct combat, such as rescuing others during peacetime disasters. Finally, the Bronze Star and Purple Heart show up frequently in modern conflicts, marking both outstanding performance under fire and the human cost of war.

In forum and “what are the top 10 military medals” discussions, this type of list is popular because it mixes the absolute highest‑prestige decorations with the ones most commonly seen among combat veterans, bridging mythic status and everyday service reality.

TL;DR: When people ask “what are the top 10 military medals,” they almost always mean the U.S. Medal of Honor at the top, followed by the service crosses, Silver Star, top service/Defense leadership medals, key heroism awards like the Distinguished Flying Cross and Navy and Marine Corps Medal, and widely recognized combat awards like the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.