Military Medals / Awards
 

I am looking for the various awards for the armed services. Things like the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, etc. What I want is a list of the awards and how to qualify for them. I'm writing some fiction and would like some guidelines as to what different services give awards for and what they look like.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ons_and_medals
http://members.aol.com/veterans/warlib6h.htm
http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/ribbons/

There you go.

We're talking US forces here I presume?

It's also useful to know what period. Once again, I'm assuming modern day?

Seems like Journeyman has it covered in anycase.


Mr Mephisto

I was going with US forces, but any really. I am just looking for a framework so that I can design my own medals for my writing. Although, if you know of resources about older time periods, I would be interested in that as well.

Baron Opal

Check out this page on the history and organization of British and Empire orders and decorations: http://www.regiments.org/biography/orddec-h.htm

There's a generic history of medals at http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-medals/history.htm

Information on the world's most famous medal, the Victoria Cross, can be found at http://www.victoriacross.net/default.asp

Mr Mephisto

The military definition for these things are typically very vague and are intentionally left to a lot of interpretation. For the most part it depends on the magnitude to of the sitiuation. For instance, if you were hurt in the line of duty during a major conflict that may warrant a purple heart, during peace time, maybe just a commendation.

Good luck with your story.

This is what the United Nations gives out, I thought it was pretty interesting.

http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/medals/category/k/ribbons.html