Posted on Mar 27, 2015
Which badges or medals are more rare than the Medal of Honor?
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There are 325 triple CIB Infantrymen, and 3,471 Medal of Honor Recipients.
Are there any other medals or badges that have been awarded fewer times than the Medal of Honor?
Are there any other medals or badges that have been awarded fewer times than the Medal of Honor?
Medal of Honor
Medals
Badges
Awards
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 52
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As this is a "multiple award" (3rd Award) then wouldn't dual recipients of the Medal of Honor be rarer? 19 of those.
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SSG Robert Webster
CPT (Join to see) - I believe that it is two documented recipients for the triple CMB. Though there is anecdotal evidence that there is a total of five. This badge was the focus of another discussion just a few days ago. That may have sparked this discussion. http://ameddregiment.amedd.army.mil/heraldic/triple.html
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SPC Logan Cameron
SSG Robert Webster - what bothers me personally and professionally is that the CMB is awarded for "Performing medical duties while being engaged by the enemy." the fact that double and triple CMBs are so rare is practically screaming "people aren't being given their awards properly."
...unless there's a reg somewhere where you only get one per deployment or technically one per campaign ribbon, which makes FAR more sense.
...unless there's a reg somewhere where you only get one per deployment or technically one per campaign ribbon, which makes FAR more sense.
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CPT (Join to see)
SPC Logan Cameron - I believe this is because the Army classifies each conflict, so right now all of the current conflicts under GWOT and therefore Soldiers cannot be awarded multiple CMBs even if they performed their duties under combat engage in Iraq, Syria, and AFG.
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The Four Chaplains Medal (also known as the Chaplain's Medal of Honor or the Chaplain's Medal for Heroism). It was only awarded 4 times, posthumously to the 4 Army chaplains who went down together onboard the USS Dorchester when it was sunk by a torpedo from the German submarine U-223. It is still an official medal but has never been awarded again.
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Suspended Profile
Rob, thanks. It's always important to remember Chaplains who were heroes. I served as Weps on Capodanno (FF 1093). She was referred to as the "Flagship of the Chaplain's Corps" and her call sign was NFVC (Father Vincent Capodanno)...
SFC William Farrell
I have a copy of one and I will try and post a picture of it tomorrow. I'm a collector. All four names are on the reverse.
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SCPO William Akin
LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow - A little aside here.. i was at the Launching/Christening of the Capodanno in Oct. 72... First and only Christening I'd ever attended (I was impressed)
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Tomb Guard Identification Badge. 645 or so times awarded. I earned #320 in 1988
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In all seriousness though, I think the President's Hundred Tab might have been awarded less than the MOH
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SPC Darren Coffenberry
Maybe , but it isn't limited to just military personnel, so not sure i would say it is strictly a military medal...in 2004 a 17 year old Christopher Atkins won the award in rifle. But i guess the OP didn't stipulate military medals though did he?
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SGT (Join to see)
SGT James Elphick pistol was addd in 1967. So 200 get awarded every year. That’s roughly 8000, just since ‘67.
And the competition itself goes back to the 1870s. That adds up to a lot of looong tabs.
And the competition itself goes back to the 1870s. That adds up to a lot of looong tabs.
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SSG Donald O'Shei
200 don't get awarded every year as many of the top 100 already have it. It is only awarded once the first time you qualify.
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How about a triple CMB?
The Combat Medical Badge: The First Triple Recipients
http://ameddregiment.amedd.army.mil/heraldic/triple.html
The Combat Medical Badge: The First Triple Recipients
http://ameddregiment.amedd.army.mil/heraldic/triple.html
Army Medical Department Regiment
ACCESS TO CARE (TRICARE Link) ABOUT THE AMEDD REGIMENT AMEDD HERALDIC ITEMS ARMY AWARDS FOR VALOR AND THEIR CRITERIA AMEDD MEDAL OF HONOR CERTIFICATE OF MERIT AMEDD DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS AMEDD SILVER STAR AMEDD NCO/ENLISTED HISTORY COMMAND SERGEANTS MAJOR OF HSC/MEDCOM AMEDD REGIMENTAL MUSIC COMBAT MEDIC PRAYER AMEDD POSTERS ORDER OF MILITARY MEDICAL MERIT (02M3)
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SPC, just because some of these have been awarded fewer times doesn't mean they are automatically "more rare". The CIB can only be awarded to (army)(infantry). If you took the total number of triple CIB's and divided it by the total eligible you would get a higher percentage than if you were to divide MOH recipients by total eligible. All mentioned are rare and meaningful but nothing tops the MOH. Also, don't forget that having a CIB doesn't necessarily speak for that individual's actions. It is possible that they were hit by an IED, IDF or that they hid behind a rock. How many times have we heard about the guy that goes out hunting for a first, second or third CIB? Nothing tops the MOH and nothing else "more rare".
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SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA
Good point about the rarity aspect, MSG Morgan Fiszel, CPCM, CFCM. I certainly don't suggest that any award or badge tops the MoH.
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SSG (Join to see)
You can have a unicorn on the CIB, in the end your still saluting the MOH recipient.
I 100% agree SFC Fiszel, while a 3x CIB is cool to look at and all, it proves nothing. There is a reason it's commonly referred to as a "free-IB" most recently.
I 100% agree SFC Fiszel, while a 3x CIB is cool to look at and all, it proves nothing. There is a reason it's commonly referred to as a "free-IB" most recently.
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SPC (Join to see)
Rarity and heroic are two different aspects. I wouldn’t assume, but wouldn’t certainly hope anyone that served would know that the MOH holds the greatest meaning. However; I would have to disagree that the MOH is more rare.
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Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Identification Badge,
I don't know the current count, but as of last year only 625 had ever been awarded.
The Army Astronaut Badge and Space Badge have been awarded less than that.
I don't know the current count, but as of last year only 625 had ever been awarded.
The Army Astronaut Badge and Space Badge have been awarded less than that.
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1SG (Join to see)
1SG Dennis McMahon - Outstanding, Sentinel.
I had the privilege to conduct funeral honors and help prepare the Sentinel, but never did the walk.
I had the privilege to conduct funeral honors and help prepare the Sentinel, but never did the walk.
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I was told in 1978 that more Medals of Honor have been awarded than Tomb Guard Badges (for those who serve at the Tomb of the Unknowns). That was 1978, so things might have changed since then.
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SPC Fred Krauer
That is true. I think that number is still under 700 and it can be taken away from you long after you have left the service. For instance, if you are charged with domestic violence or drunk driving, your badge can be removed and you will be removed from the Tomb Sentinel society.
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CSM Charles Hayden
CW5 (Join to see) Award of CMH was initiated during the Civil War. I once had a roster of awardees that had several hundred names from that war alone.
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SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA , According to the National Infantry Museum, there are 325 recipients of the 3rd award CIB
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Suspended Profile
Given the number of eligible conflicts in the last 30 years, I would have thought the number would be higher...
Are there any who have earned more than 3? And how do you show that if you do...?
Are there any who have earned more than 3? And how do you show that if you do...?
MAJ Ronnie Reams
You would be really old to have 4. 1 for WWII, 1 for KPA, 1 for Vietnam Era* which went until Desert Storm and 1 for Desert Storm**. If ancient, 1 for GWOT. LOL
*covered a lot such as Firefigts in Korea in the 60s, Panama, Grenada, etc
** covered East Africa
*covered a lot such as Firefigts in Korea in the 60s, Panama, Grenada, etc
** covered East Africa
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Erick Ruiz
Here is a question, if an infantryman sees combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, does that make that soldier eligible for 2 awards?
Another thought. What about those whi saw combat in Panama, Somalia, Gulf war and Kosavo, possibly Afghanistan and Iraq as well. Is there a difference between smaller operations as Panama to larger conflicts as Iraq?
Another thought. What about those whi saw combat in Panama, Somalia, Gulf war and Kosavo, possibly Afghanistan and Iraq as well. Is there a difference between smaller operations as Panama to larger conflicts as Iraq?
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CPT Lawrence Cable
MAJ Ronnie Reams - Desert Storm is grouped with the Vietnam Era CIB's. WWII, Korea, Vietnam and GWT are the four qualifying periods. It would be tough to be a three time CIB holder today since there was 48 years between the Korean War period and the start of the GWT.
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SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA, here's an unusual badge, and one that'll never be worn again since the organization was dissolved on 6JUL12! By the way, please don't think it's any kind of an award or an achievement, nor do I mean to compare it to any of the extraordinary valor awards in this discussion thread. Everyone assigned to the National Communications System (DOD) was authorized to wear it, so it was really only an identification badge of sorts and it's certainly not rare. However, I'm sure there are few members of RP that are aware of this ole badge! The NCS badge was worn centered on the right breast pocket of the Class A and Class B Army uniforms (and corresponding uniforms for the other services), and DOD issued their own memorandum authorizing the wear of the badge. I served in the NCS from NOV94 to MAY98.
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