Orders, Decorations and Medals of the United States of America

Links and Other References

Acknowledgements

Particular thanks are due to Brandon Wiegand and Robin Nicholson, who have sent a massive amount of information and pictures; also Bill Avant, Charles Coates, Ian Chapman, and Darrell S.

Grateful thanks to Dix Noonan Webb and Spinks, who have allowed use of pictures from their catalogues.

Links

The Institute of Heraldry - Decorations and Medals - invaluable details of the appearance of US medals.

Antonio Prieto Barrio - Ribbons of the USA - Page 1 - Page 2 - Page 3 - Page 4 - Page 5 - Page 6 - Merchant Marine
Civilian Medals: Page 1 - Page 2 - Page 3 - Page 4 - Page 5 - Page 6 - Page 7 - Page 8 - Page 9 - Page 10 - Page 11 - Page 12

Eric Bush - US Ribbons - a fine selection including many unusual ones from government agencies and individual states.

David Devine - Rusty Knight's Place: U.S.Medals

Lukasz Gaszewski - US Decorations Ribbons Rackbuilder

Jean-Paul LeBlanc - Medals of the United States (Archived July 2014).

Hendrik Meersschaert - Hendrik's Medal Corner: USA

Jeremy Newman - Jeremy's Medals: USA

Eric Semon - Décorations des U.S.A.

Mike Smith - United States Medals and Awards

Mario Volpe - Tavole ordini STATI UNITI D'AMERICA

Yuri Yashnev - For Merit: United States of America

EzRackBuilder - create your ribbon bar, including links to suppliers

Wikipedia - Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces

Wikipedia - Awards and Decorations of the National Guard

Foxfall Medals - comprehensive list of the terms of award of ALL US military decorations and medals, regularly updated.

MedalBook - United States of America

Text References

Anon. (2016) American Red Cross Second World War Theatre Designation Ribbon Bars. Journal of the Orders and Medals Research Society 55(1): 63.

Ball, R.W.D., and Peters, P. (1994) Military Medals, Decorations & Orders of the United States & Europe: A photographic study to the beginning of WW2. Atglen, PA, Schiffer Publishing Ltd.

Barac, B. (2016) Reference Catalogue Orders, Medals and Decorations of the World: Part IV Gold Book (P-Z). OBOL, Zagreb

Borch, F.L. (2011) 'The Air Force Medal of Honor: A History of its Origins, Design and Award from 1965 to the Present' Journal of the Orders and Medals Society of America 62(2): 4-22.

Du Bois, A.E. (1943) 'The Heraldry of Heroism'. National Geographic 84(4):409-444.

Emering, E.J. (2004) Medals of the 21st Century Afghanistan War: Including Operation "Enduring Freedom" and the International Security Assistance Force Journal of the Orders and Medals Society of America 55(5):2-16.

Grosvenor, G. (1945) 'Insignia and Decorations of the United States Armed Forces'. National Geographic 87(2):185-186.

Ingram, K.R. (1993) Honors, Medals and Awards of the Korean War 1950-1953 Prospect Press, New York

McDowell, C.P. (2020) The West Africa Ebola Crisis: The United States and United Kingdom Campaign Medals. Journal of the Orders and Medals Society of America 71(3):22-25.

McDowell, C.P. (2022) The Department of the Army Civilian Decorations II: Public Service Decorations. Journal of the Orders and Medals Society of America 73(2):3-8.

McDowell, C.P. (2022) The Department of the Navy Angela M. Houtz Medal for Fallen Civilians. Journal of the Orders and Medals Society of America 73(4):31-35.

Wylie, R.E. (1919) 'The Romance of Military Insignia: How the United States Government Recognizes Deeds of Heroism and Devotion to Duty'. National Geographic 36(6): 463-501.

Wylie, R.E. (1919) 'American Decorations and Insignia of Service' National Geographic 36(6):502-526.

Page last updated: 9 June 2026