Awarded by the U.S. military to soldiers who display exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. Created in 1942.
| Name | Occupation | Birth | Death | Known for |
|---|
| John Abizaid |
Military |
1-Apr-1951 |
|
C-in-C, US Central Command, 2003-07 |
| Max Abramovitz |
Architect |
23-May-1908 |
12-Sep-2004 |
Designed UN Headquarters |
| Keith B. Alexander |
Military |
1952 |
|
Director, National Security Agency |
| Lew Allen, Jr. |
Military |
30-Sep-1925 |
4-Jan-2010 |
Director of the NSA, 1973-77 |
| Christopher C. Ames |
Military |
c. 1954 |
|
US Navy Rear Admiral |
| Dillon Anderson |
Government |
14-Jul-1906 |
1974 |
National Security Advisor, 1955-56 |
| Richard Armour |
Author |
15-Jul-1906 |
28-Feb-1989 |
It All Started with Columbus |
| Julius W. Becton, Jr. |
Government |
29-Jun-1926 |
|
FEMA Director, 1985-89 |
| Henry Bellmon |
Politician |
3-Sep-1921 |
29-Sep-2009 |
Governor and Senator from Oklahoma |
| John Birch |
Religion |
28-May-1918 |
25-Aug-1945 |
Missionary to China killed during WW2 |
| Scott C. Black |
Attorney |
? |
|
US Army Judge Advocate General |
| Dennis C. Blair |
Government |
4-Feb-1947 |
|
Director of National Intelligence, 2009-10 |
| J. Caleb Boggs |
Politician |
15-May-1909 |
26-Mar-1993 |
Governor and Senator from Delaware |
| Richard W. Bolling |
Politician |
17-May-1916 |
21-Apr-1991 |
Congressman from Missouri, 1949-83 |
| Charles H. Bonesteel III |
Military |
26-Sep-1909 |
13-Oct-1977 |
Commander, U.S. Forces, Korea |
| Walter E. Boomer |
Military |
22-Sep-1938 |
|
Retired General, US Marine Corps |
| Jeremy M. Boorda |
Military |
26-Nov-1939 |
16-May-1996 |
Chief of Naval Operations, 1994-96 |
| Robert R. Bowie |
Government |
24-Aug-1909 |
|
CIA Deputy Director, 1977-79 |
| Jerry Boykin |
Military |
c. 1949 |
|
Pentagon's resident Jesus freak |
| Omar Bradley |
Military |
12-Feb-1893 |
8-Apr-1981 |
US Army Chief of Staff |
| Marvin D. Brailsford |
Business |
31-Jan-1939 |
|
Retired US Army Lt. General |
| George S. Brown |
Military |
17-Aug-1918 |
5-Dec-1978 |
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1974-78 |
| William Bundy |
Government |
24-Sep-1917 |
6-Oct-2000 |
Cold War advisor to JFK, LBJ |
| Steve Buyer |
Politician |
26-Nov-1958 |
|
Congressman from Indiana, 1993-2011 |
| Howard W. Cannon |
Politician |
26-Jan-1912 |
5-Mar-2002 |
US Senator from Nevada, 1959-83 |
| Evans F. Carlson |
Military |
26-Feb-1896 |
27-May-1947 |
Carlson's Raiders |
| George W. Casey, Jr. |
Military |
21-Jul-1948 |
|
US Army Chief of Staff, 2007-11 |
| John T. Chain |
Military |
11-Dec-1934 |
|
C-in-C, Strategic Air Command, 1986-91 |
| James R. Clapper |
Military |
c. 1941 |
|
Director of National Intelligence |
| Joseph Sill Clark |
Politician |
21-Oct-1901 |
21-Jan-1990 |
US Senator from Pennsylvania, 1956-69 |
| Mark Clark |
Military |
1-May-1896 |
17-Apr-1984 |
US Army Chief of Staff |
| Vernon E. Clark |
Military |
7-Sep-1944 |
|
US Chief of Naval Operations, 2000-05 |
| Wesley Clark |
Military |
23-Dec-1944 |
|
Supreme Allied Commander, 1997-2000 |
| John Connally |
Politician |
27-Feb-1917 |
15-Jun-1993 |
Governor of Texas, 1963-69 |
| James T. Conway |
Military |
26-Dec-1947 |
|
Commandant of the Marine Corps |
| Donald G. Cook |
Military |
1946 |
|
Retired USAF General |
| J. Gary Cooper |
Business |
2-Oct-1936 |
|
US Ambassador to Jamaica, 1994-97 |
| John Crommelin, Jr. |
Military |
2-Oct-1902 |
2-Nov-1996 |
Rear Admiral, US Navy |
| William J. Crowe, Jr. |
Government |
2-Jan-1925 |
18-Oct-2007 |
US Navy Admiral |
| Robert Cutler |
Government |
12-Jun-1895 |
8-May-1974 |
1950s National Security Advisor |
| Emilio Daddario |
Politician |
24-Sep-1918 |
6-Jul-2010 |
Congressman from Connecticut, 1959-71 |
| Pete Dawkins |
Football |
8-Mar-1938 |
|
Winner, 1958 Heisman Trophy |
| Michael DeBakey |
Doctor |
7-Sep-1908 |
11-Jul-2008 |
Father of cardiovascular surgery |
| Bruce DeMars |
Military |
3-Jun-1935 |
|
Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion |
| Martin E. Dempsey |
Military |
14-Mar-1952 |
|
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff |
| Walter F. Doran |
Military |
15-Oct-1945 |
|
C-in-C, US Pacific Fleet, 2002-05 |
| Michael J. Dugan |
Military |
22-Feb-1937 |
|
USAF Chief of Staff, 1990 |
| Ralph E. Eberhart |
Military |
c. 1946 |
|
Commander of NORAD, 2002-05 |
| Karl W. Eikenberry |
Military |
1951 |
|
US Ambassador to Afghanistan |
| James O. Ellis, Jr. |
Military |
20-Jul-1947 |
|
C-in-C of US Strategic Command, 2001-02 |
| Larry R. Ellis |
Business |
1946 |
|
US Army Forces Command, 2001-04 |
| William J. Fallon |
Military |
30-Dec-1944 |
|
C-in-C, US Central Command, 2007-08 |
| Ronald R. Fogleman |
Military |
27-Jan-1942 |
|
USAF Chief of Staff, 1994-97 |
| Donald Fowler |
Government |
12-Sep-1935 |
|
DNC chairman, 1995-97 |
| Tommy Franks |
Military |
17-Jun-1945 |
|
Former C-in-C, US Central Command |
| Charles A. Gabriel |
Military |
21-Jan-1928 |
4-Sep-2003 |
USAF Chief of Staff, 1982-86 |
| Jay Garner |
Military |
15-Apr-1938 |
|
Ex-Director of Reconstruction of Iraq |
| Edmund P. Giambastiani, Jr. |
Military |
4-May-1948 |
|
Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, 2005-07 |
| Jim Gibbons |
Politician |
16-Dec-1944 |
|
Governor of Nevada, 2007-11 |
| Chris Gibson |
Politician |
13-May-1964 |
|
Congressman, New York 20th |
| Robert F. Goheen |
Educator |
15-Aug-1919 |
31-Mar-2008 |
President of Princeton University, 1957-72 |
| J. Scott Gration |
Military |
? |
|
Major General, USAF (Ret.) |
| Bo Gritz |
Military |
18-Jan-1939 |
|
Former Green Beret |
| John Marshall Harlan |
Judge |
20-May-1899 |
29-Dec-1971 |
US Supreme Court Justice, 1955-71 |
| Michael V. Hayden |
Government |
17-Mar-1945 |
|
Former Director of the CIA |
| Thomas B. Hayward |
Military |
3-May-1924 |
|
Chief of Naval Operations, 1978-82 |
| Robert T. Herres |
Military |
12-Jan-1932 |
24-Jul-2008 |
Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs, 1987-90 |
| James L. Holloway III |
Military |
23-Feb-1922 |
|
Chief of Naval Operations, 1974-78 |
| Julius C. Holmes |
Diplomat |
24-Apr-1899 |
15-Jul-1968 |
US Ambassador to Iran, 1961-65 |
| Russel Honore |
Military |
1947 |
|
Three-star general |
| Grace Murray Hopper |
Computer Programmer |
9-Dec-1906 |
1-Jan-1992 |
Computer programming pioneer |
| Charles W. Hostler |
Diplomat |
12-Dec-1919 |
|
US Ambassador to Bahrain, 1989-93 |
| Dave Hughes |
Journalist |
c. 1928 |
|
Electronic bulletin boards |
| Bobby Ray Inman |
Military |
4-Apr-1931 |
|
Admiral, NSA Director, Deputy CIA Director |
| Lowell Jacoby |
Military |
28-Aug-1945 |
|
Director, Defense Intelligence Agency, 2002-05 |
| Jay L. Johnson |
Military |
5-Jun-1946 |
|
US Chief of Naval Operations, 1996-2000 |
| Sam Johnson |
Politician |
11-Oct-1930 |
|
Congressman, Texas 3rd |
| David C. Jones |
Military |
9-Jul-1921 |
|
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1978-82 |
| James L. Jones |
Military |
19-Dec-1943 |
|
US National Security Advisor, 2009-10 |
| George A. Joulwan |
Military |
16-Nov-1939 |
|
Supreme Allied Commander, 1993-97 |
| John P. Jumper |
Military |
4-Feb-1945 |
|
USAF Chief of Staff, 2001-05 |
| Paul G. Kaminski |
Military |
16-Sep-1942 |
|
CEO of Technovation, Inc. |
| John M. Keane |
Military |
1-Feb-1943 |
|
US Army Vice Chief of Staff, 1999-2003 |
| Cresson H. Kearny |
Inventor |
7-Jan-1914 |
18-Dec-2003 |
Patriot, inventor, survivalist idol |
| Paul X. Kelley |
Military |
11-Nov-1928 |
|
28th USMC Commandant, 1983-87 |
| Frank B. Kelso II |
Military |
11-Jul-1933 |
|
Chief of Naval Operations, 1990-94 |
| Leslie F. Kenne |
Military |
c. 1949 |
|
Retired Lt. General, US Air Force |
| Richard T. Kennedy |
Diplomat |
24-Dec-1919 |
11-Jan-1998 |
US Ambassador for Nuclear Energy Policy |
| William R. Kintner |
Scholar |
21-Apr-1915 |
1-Feb-1997 |
Peace and the Strategy Conflict |
| Alan G. Kirk |
Military |
30-Oct-1888 |
15-Oct-1963 |
US Navy Admiral, Ambassador to USSR |
| Charles R. Larson |
Military |
20-Nov-1936 |
|
C-in-C, US Pacific Command, 1991-94 |
| Lyman L. Lemnitzer |
Military |
29-Aug-1899 |
12-Nov-1988 |
Supreme Allied Commander, 1963-69 |
| James M. Loy |
Military |
10-Aug-1942 |
|
US Coast Guard Commandant, 1998-2002 |
| Lester L. Lyles |
Military |
20-Apr-1946 |
|
Commander, USAF Materiel Command, 2000-03 |
| William Lyon |
Military |
9-Mar-1923 |
|
Chief of USAF Reserve, 1975-79 |
| James Mattis |
Military |
8-Sep-1950 |
|
Commander-in-Chief, CENTCOM |
| Bill Mauldin |
Cartoonist |
29-Oct-1921 |
22-Jan-2003 |
WWII cartoonist, Willie and Joe |
| John McCain |
Politician |
29-Aug-1936 |
|
US Senator from Arizona |
| Daniel T. McCarty |
Politician |
18-Jan-1912 |
28-Sep-1953 |
Governor of Florida, 1953 |
| Stanley McChrystal |
Military |
14-Aug-1954 |
|
Commander, US Forces Afghanistan, 2009-10 |
| John P. McConnell |
Military |
7-Feb-1908 |
21-Nov-1986 |
USAF Chief of Staff, 1965-69 |
| Wesley L. McDonald |
Military |
6-Jul-1924 |
8-Feb-2008 |
Led 1983 invasion of Grenada |
| George C. McGhee |
Diplomat |
1912 |
4-Jul-2005 |
US Ambassador to Germany, 1963-68 |
| Thomas McInerney |
Military |
1937 |
|
Fox News military analyst |
| Sid McMath |
Politician |
14-Jun-1912 |
4-Oct-2003 |
Governor of Arkansas, 1949-53 |
| Merrill A. McPeak |
Military |
9-Jan-1936 |
|
USAF Chief of Staff, 1990-94 |
| Kenneth A. Minihan |
Government |
31-Dec-1943 |
|
NSA Director, 1996-99 |
| Sonny Montgomery |
Politician |
5-Aug-1920 |
12-May-2006 |
Congressman from Mississippi, 1967-97 |
| Benjamin F. Montoya |
Military |
24-May-1935 |
|
US Navy Civil Engineer, Rear Admiral |
| Thomas H. Moorer |
Military |
9-Feb-1912 |
5-Feb-2004 |
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1970-74 |
| Samuel Eliot Morison |
Historian |
9-Jul-1887 |
15-May-1976 |
Rear Admiral and naval historian |
| T. Michael Moseley |
Military |
3-Sep-1949 |
|
USAF Chief of Staff, 2005-08 |
| Lord Mountbatten |
Military |
25-Jun-1900 |
27-Aug-1979 |
Last Viceroy of India |
| Michael Mullen |
Military |
4-Oct-1946 |
|
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, 2007-11 |
| Carl E. Mundy, Jr. |
Military |
16-Jul-1935 |
|
USMC Commandant, 1991-95 |
| Audie Murphy |
Actor |
20-Jun-1924 |
28-May-1971 |
War hero turned cowboy actor |
| Richard Myers |
Military |
1-Mar-1942 |
|
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, 2001-05 |
| Lloyd W. Newton |
Military |
26-Jun-1942 |
|
USAF General |
| Julian M. Niemczyk |
Military |
26-Aug-1920 |
16-Sep-2009 |
US Ambassador to Czechoslovakia, 1986-89 |
| Paul Nitze |
Diplomat |
16-Jan-1907 |
19-Oct-2004 |
US cold warrior |
| Lauris Norstad |
Military |
24-Mar-1907 |
12-Sep-1988 |
Supreme Allied Commander, 1956-63 |
| Antonia C. Novello |
Doctor |
23-Aug-1944 |
|
US Surgeon General, 1990-93 |
| Raymond T. Odierno |
Military |
c. 1954 |
|
US Army Chief of Staff |
| Olav V |
Royalty |
2-Jul-1903 |
17-Jan-1991 |
King of Norway, 1957-91 |
| Robert D. Orr |
Politician |
17-Nov-1917 |
10-Mar-2004 |
Governor of Indiana, 1989-92 |
| Peter Pace |
Military |
5-Nov-1945 |
|
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, 2005-07 |
| William S. Paley |
Business |
28-Sep-1901 |
26-Oct-1990 |
Chairman of CBS, 1946-83 |
| James W. Pardew |
Diplomat |
5-Feb-1944 |
|
US Ambassador to Bulgaria, 2002-05 |
| George S. Patton |
Military |
11-Nov-1885 |
21-Dec-1945 |
American WWII Army commander |
| James B. Peake |
Government |
18-Jun-1944 |
|
US Secretary of Veterans Affairs |
| David Petraeus |
Military |
7-Nov-1952 |
|
Director, Central Intelligence Agency |
| Colin Powell |
Government |
5-Apr-1937 |
|
US Secretary of State, 2001-05 |
| Hawthorne L. Proctor |
Military |
c. 1946 |
|
Army Quartermaster General, 1999-2001 |
| Fletcher Prouty |
Military |
24-Jan-1917 |
5-Jun-2001 |
USAF Intelligence Officer |
| Arthur W. Radford |
Military |
27-Feb-1896 |
17-Aug-1973 |
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1953-57 |
| Joseph W. Ralston |
Military |
4-Nov-1943 |
|
Supreme Allied Commander, 2000-03 |
| Dennis J. Reimer |
Military |
12-Jul-1939 |
|
US Army Chief of Staff, 1995-99 |
| Eugene C. Renzi |
Military |
16-Dec-1933 |
9-Feb-2008 |
Army Maj. Gen., ManTech VP |
| Frances Rice |
Activist |
c. 1944 |
|
National Black Republican Association |
| Hyman Rickover |
Military |
27-Jan-1900 |
8-Jul-1986 |
Built the nuclear navy |
| Hugh G. Robinson |
Military |
4-Aug-1932 |
|
CEO of Global Building Systems |
| Walt Rostow |
Government |
7-Oct-1916 |
13-Feb-2003 |
National Security Advisor, 1966-69 |
| Gary Roughead |
Military |
c. 1951 |
|
Chief of Naval Operations |
| Dean Rusk |
Government |
9-Feb-1909 |
21-Dec-1994 |
US Secretary of State, 1961-69 |
| John D. Ryan |
Military |
10-Dec-1915 |
27-Oct-1983 |
USAF Chief of Staff, 1969-73 |
| John R. Ryan |
Military |
15-Aug-1945 |
|
Chancellor of SUNY, 2006-07 |
| Michael E. Ryan |
Military |
24-Dec-1941 |
|
USAF Chief of Staff, 1997-2001 |
| Robert Scales |
Military |
5-Aug-1944 |
|
Military analyst |
| Peter Schoomaker |
Military |
12-Feb-1946 |
|
US Army Chief of Staff, 2003-07 |
| Norman Schwarzkopf |
Military |
22-Aug-1934 |
|
Leader in Persian Gulf War |
| Martin Schwarzschild |
Astronomer |
31-May-1912 |
10-Apr-1997 |
Structure and Evolution of the Stars |
| Willard W. Scott, Jr. |
Military |
18-Feb-1926 |
1-Jan-2009 |
Superintendent of West Point, 1981-86 |
| Robert F. Seedlock |
Military |
6-Feb-1913 |
5-May-2004 |
Built the Burma Road in WWII |
| Joe Sestak |
Politician |
12-Dec-1951 |
|
Congressman from Pennsylvania, 2007-11 |
| Hugh Shelton |
Military |
2-Jan-1942 |
|
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1997-2001 |
| Eric Shinseki |
Military |
28-Nov-1942 |
|
US Secretary of Veterans Affairs |
| John K. Singlaub |
Military |
10-Jul-1921 |
|
US Army general, CIA operative |
| C. R. Smith |
Business |
9-Sep-1899 |
4-Apr-1990 |
CEO of American Airlines, 1934-68 |
| Carl A. Spaatz |
Military |
28-Jun-1891 |
14-Jul-1974 |
USAF Chief of Staff, 1947-48 |
| John P. Stapp |
Scientist |
11-Jul-1910 |
13-Nov-1999 |
Rocket sled pioneer |
| Edward M. Straw |
Military |
c. 1939 |
|
Former US Navy Vice Admiral |
| Gordon R. Sullivan |
Military |
25-Sep-1937 |
|
US Army Chief of Staff, 1991-95 |
| Bert Sutherland |
Engineer |
1936 |
|
Scientist at Sun Microsystems |
| Orson Swindle |
Government |
8-Mar-1937 |
|
Federal Trade Commissioner, 1997-2005 |
| Antonio Taguba |
Military |
31-Oct-1950 |
|
Authored Taguba Report on Abu Ghraib |
| Francis X. Taylor |
Government |
? |
|
Counterterrorism envoy, 2001-02 |
| Maxwell D. Taylor |
Military |
26-Aug-1901 |
19-Apr-1987 |
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1962-64 |
| Wesley B. Taylor |
Military |
1944 |
|
President, Marshall Foundation |
| Strom Thurmond |
Politician |
5-Dec-1902 |
26-Jun-2003 |
US Senator from South Carolina, 1954-2003 |
| Paul Tibbets |
Military |
23-Feb-1915 |
1-Nov-2007 |
Pilot of the Enola Gay |
| Patricia A. Tracey |
Military |
30-Nov-1950 |
|
Former Vice Admiral, US Navy |
| Bernard Trainor |
Military |
2-Sep-1928 |
|
Military analyst, ex-3 star Marine general |
| Carlisle Trost |
Military |
24-Apr-1930 |
|
Chief of Naval Operations, 1986-90 |
| Richard H. Truly |
Astronaut |
12-Nov-1937 |
|
NASA Administrator, 1989-92 |
| Nathan F. Twining |
Military |
11-Oct-1897 |
29-Mar-1982 |
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1957-60 |
| Hoyt Vandenberg |
Government |
24-Jan-1899 |
2-Apr-1954 |
CIA Director, 1946-47 |
| Carl E. Vuono |
Military |
18-Oct-1934 |
|
US Army Chief of Staff, 1987-91 |
| George H. Walls, Jr. |
Business |
c. 1942 |
|
Retired USMC Brigadier General |
| William C. Warren |
Educator |
3-Feb-1909 |
11-Sep-2000 |
Dean of Columbia Law School, 1952-70 |
| James Watkins |
Government |
7-Mar-1927 |
26-Jul-2012 |
US Secretary of Energy, 1989-93 |
| Larry D. Welch |
Military |
9-Jun-1934 |
|
USAF Chief of Staff, 1986-90 |
| Togo West |
Government |
21-Jun-1942 |
|
US Secretary of the Army, Veterans Affairs |
| Frederick C. Weyand |
Military |
15-Sep-1916 |
10-Feb-2010 |
US Army Chief of Staff, 1974-76 |
| Earle G. Wheeler |
Military |
13-Jan-1908 |
18-Dec-1975 |
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1964-70 |
| Lawrence K. White |
Spy |
10-Jun-1912 |
5-Apr-2006 |
Executive Comptroller for DCI's |
| Thomas D. White |
Military |
6-Aug-1901 |
22-Dec-1965 |
USAF Chief of Staff, 1957-61 |
| John Hay Whitney |
Business |
17-Aug-1904 |
8-Feb-1982 |
New York Herald Tribune |
| John A. Wickham, Jr. |
Military |
25-Jun-1928 |
|
US Army Chief of Staff, 1983-87 |
| Thornton Wilder |
Novelist |
17-Apr-1897 |
7-Dec-1975 |
The Bridge of San Luis Rey |
| Robert F. Willard |
Military |
c. 1951 |
|
Commander-in-Chief, US Pacific Fleet |
| John Minor Wisdom |
Judge |
17-May-1905 |
15-May-1999 |
5th Circuit Court of Appeals, 1957-77 |
| Steve Womack |
Politician |
18-Feb-1957 |
|
Congressman, Arkansas 3rd |
| Robert E. Wood |
Business |
13-Jun-1879 |
6-Nov-1969 |
Chairman of Sears, 1939-54 |
| Larry M. Wortzel |
Government |
c. 1949 |
|
China specialist, military analyst |
| Ben G. Wright |
Publisher |
c. 1911 |
10-Apr-2001 |
Publisher, Field and Stream |
| Jerauld Wright |
Military |
4-Jun-1898 |
27-Apr-1995 |
US Atlantic Fleet Commander, 1954-60 |
| Jim Wright |
Politician |
22-Dec-1922 |
|
Congressman from Texas, 1955-89 |
| Zap Zlatoper |
Military |
c. 1941 |
|
US Navy Admiral (ret.) |
| Elmo R. Zumwalt |
Military |
29-Nov-1920 |
2-Jan-2000 |
US Chief of Naval Operations, 1970-74 |
