History buffs will love this list of prominent Bronze Star Medal winners, which includes almost every Bronze Star Medal recipient since the award's inception, with photos. Awardees of the Bronze Star Medal are listed here alphabetically by first name. Here are also notable Purple Heart winners and pro athletes who served in the military.
The Bronze Star is the 5th highest combat decoration in the US Armed Forces. It is awarded for acts of heroism or merit under combat, and can be awarded to members of any of the Armed Forces of the United States of America. Bernard W. Rogers and Billy Waugh are two examples of the honored military award recipients on this list. Army members have been awarded the medal since the award was created in 1944, which means there have been medal winners since World War Two, up through the Vietnam War and the war in Iraq.
These army, air force, and other military heroes showed extreme bravery in dire combat situations, thus earning an award for their service. Check out this Bronze Star recipient list to see who have dedicated their lives to protecting the USA. Featuring WWII Bronze Star recipients and more, this list has it all....more
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Bernard W. Rogers
Distinguished Service Cross, National Order of VietnamBernard William Rogers (July 16, 1921 – October 27, 2008) was a United States Army general who... more2
Bill Graham
Bronze Star Medal, Purple HeartBill Graham (born Wulf Wolodia Grajonca; January 8, 1931 – October 25, 1991) was a... more3
Billy Waugh
Commendation Medal, Bronze Star MedalWilliam "Billy" Waugh (born December 1, 1929), is a former United States Army Special Forces... more4
Bud Day
Defense Meritorious Service Medal, National Order of VietnamGeorge Everette "Bud" Day (24 February 1925 – 27 July 2013) was a United States Air Force... more5
Chesty Puller
Distinguished Service Cross, Bronze Star MedalLewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller (June 26, 1898 – October 11, 1971) was a United States Marine... more6
Chuck Yeager
Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star MedalCharles Elwood Yeager (February 13, 1923 – December 7, 2020) was a former United States Air... more7
Daniel Inouye
Bronze Star Medal, Medal of HonorDaniel Ken Inouye ( ee-NOH-ay; September 7, 1924 – December 17, 2012) was an American... more8
David C. Jones
National Order of Vietnam, Bronze Star MedalDavid Charles Jones (July 9, 1921 – August 10, 2013) was a United States Air Force general and... more9
David H. Hackworth
Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Flying CrossDavid Haskell Hackworth (November 11, 1930 – May 4, 2005) also known as Hack, was a prominent... more10
David Petraeus
Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Distinguished Service MedalDavid Howell Petraeus (; born November 7, 1952) is a retired United States Army general and... more11
Henry Fonda
Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award, Academy Award for Best ActorHenry Jaynes Fonda (May 16, 1905 – August 12, 1982) was an American film and stage actor with... more12
Colin Powell
Defense Superior Service Medal, Spingarn MedalColin Luther Powell (; born April 5, 1937) is an American politician and retired four-star... more13
Oliver Stone
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Made for Television Movie, BAFTA Award for Best DirectionWilliam Oliver Stone (born September 15, 1946) is an American filmmaker, director, writer and... more14
Mickey Rooney
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor - Miniseries or a Movie, Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TelevisionMickey Rooney (born Joseph Yule Jr.; September 23, 1920 – April 6, 2014) was an American... more15
Douglas MacArthur
Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Service MedalGeneral of the Army Douglas MacArthur (January 26, 1880 – April 5, 1964) was an American... more16
Earl E. Anderson
National Order of Vietnam, Distinguished Flying CrossGeneral Earl Edward Anderson (June 24, 1919 – November 12, 2015) was an American Marine Corps... more17
Eddie Albert
Bronze Star Medal, National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting ActorEdward Albert Heimberger (April 22, 1906 – May 26, 2005), known professionally as Eddie... more18
Edward A. Carter, Jr.
Distinguished Service Cross, Bronze Star MedalEdward Allen Carter Jr. (May 26, 1916 – January 30, 1963) was a United States Army sergeant... more19
Edward Amy
Bronze Star Medal, Distinguished Service OrderBrigadier-General Edward Alfred Charles "Ned" Amy, DSO, CD (March 28, 1918 – February 2, 2011)... more20
Edward L. Beach, Jr.
Bronze Star Medal, Navy CrossEdward Latimer Beach Jr. (April 20, 1918 – December 1, 2002), nicknamed "Ned", was a highly... more21
Edwin H. Simmons
Bronze Star Medal, Purple HeartEdwin Howard Simmons (August 25, 1921 – May 5, 2007) was a United States Marine Corps... more22
Elmo Zumwalt
National Order of Vietnam, Commendation MedalElmo Russell "Bud" Zumwalt Jr. (November 29, 1920 – January 2, 2000) was a United States Navy... more23
Ernest Hemingway
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, Bronze Star MedalErnest Miller Hemingway (July 21, 1899 – July 2, 1961) was an American journalist, novelist,... more24
Forrest S. Petersen
Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star MedalForrest Silas Petersen (May 16, 1922 – December 8, 1990), (VADM, USN), was a United States... more25
Frederick C. Weyand
Distinguished Service Cross, National Order of VietnamFrederick Carlton Weyand (September 15, 1916 – February 10, 2010) was a general in the United... more
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