Most Decorated Vietnam Vet

[Riven37]

Who was the most decorated Nam vet. There’s nothing to win except to check out you memory.

[Ed Palmer]

Who is the most decorated hero?


Much like the combat which the men and women endured during wartime, there are many controversies surrounding America’s most decorated war veteran. There is the debate over whether to consider a pure 'medal count', which would include medals received for being wounded, acts of service, etc. or only considering those receiving medals for acts of courage under fire. When I started this hub, I only considered the medal count.

When it comes to courage under fire, it is hard to measure which soldier, sailor or marine has the greatest bravery. Many brave men and women have died bravely which we have never even heard of. Their Creator knows who they are and what they did. I have included many of the persons that I have been educated about during the process of maintaining this hub.

The most decorated veteran status has been attributed to Audie Murphy of Texas. Audie Murphy was considered America’s most decorated veteran with 33 medals earned in 27 months of combat.His earning of so many decorations in such a short time is amazing. Some career soldiers have many well deserved honors over an extended period of time. For a soldier to earn so many decorations so quickly was astonishing.

Besides the medals bestowed on him by the United States, he received five from France and one from Belgium. Since many of his medals were awarded while serving during World War II, he gained great notoriety. Fellow soldier, and World War II veteran, David Hackworth stayed in the service and gained more awards.

David Hackworth of California is now considered America’s most decorated soldier with 90 decorations, citations and awards. He is proudest of his Combat Infantryman Badge. He received the Distinguished Service Cross (with oak leaf cluster), the Silver Star (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 4 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Legion of Merit (with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Bronze Star (with V device and one silver Oak Leaf Cluster and one Oak Leaf Cluster), the Purple Hear (with one silver Oak Leaf Cluster and one Oak Leaf Cluster), the Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, Korean Service Medal, Vietnam Service. He is the most decorated Vietnam veteran.

[ChuckH]

I also found this...:
The highest decorated Vietnam War Veteran is Joe Hooper.

During the course of his 17 years of military service, Captain Joe Ronnie Hooper received 37 citations, including the Medal of Honor, 2 Silver Stars (one Silver Star citation began as a recommendation for a second Medal of Honor), 6 Bronze Stars with combat distinguishing device (or "V") and 5 oak leaf clusters, the 8 Purple Hearts, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Navy Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Captain Hooper also was awarded the Army Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, The Republic of Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation Ribbon with Palm and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation Ribbon with Palm. Captain Hooper also held the Combat Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge and Republic of Vietnam Parachutist Badge.

[FoxtrotOscar]

I also found this...:
The highest decorated Vietnam War Veteran is Joe Hooper.

During the course of his 17 years of military service, Captain Joe Ronnie Hooper received 37 citations, including the Medal of Honor, 2 Silver Stars (one Silver Star citation began as a recommendation for a second Medal of Honor), 6 Bronze Stars with combat distinguishing device (or "V") and 5 oak leaf clusters, the 8 Purple Hearts, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Navy Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Captain Hooper also was awarded the Army Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, The Republic of Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation Ribbon with Palm and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation Ribbon with Palm. Captain Hooper also held the Combat Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge and Republic of Vietnam Parachutist Badge.

For some reason I feel confused, Army Citations, Navy Citations.. what exactly was he...??? Which service...?? Just curious...

[ChuckH]

Joe Ronnie Hooper was born on August 8, 1938 in Piedmont, South Carolina. His family moved when he was a child to Moses Lake, Washington where he attended Moses Lake High School.
Hooper enlisted in the United States Navy in December 1956. After attending Basic Training at San Diego, California he served as an Airman aboard USS Wasp (CV-18) and USS Hancock (CV-19). He was discharged in July 1959, shortly after being promoted to Petty Officer 3rd Class.
Hooper reenlisted in the United States Army in May 1960 as a Private First Class and attended Basic Training at Fort Ord, California. After graduating he volunteered for Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia and then was assigned to Company C, 1st Airborne Battle Group, 325th Infantry [1], 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and was promoted to corporal during his assignment. He then served a tour of duty in Korea with the 20th Infantry in October 1961 and shortly after arriving he was promoted to sergeant and was made a Squad Leader. He left Korea in November 1963 and was assigned to the 2nd Armored Division at Fort Hood, Texas for a year as a Squad Leader and then became a Squad Leader with Company D, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 502nd Infantry, 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He was promoted to staff sergeant in September 1966 and volunteered for service in Vietnam. Instead he was assigned as Platoon Sergeant in Panama with the 3rd Battalion (Airborne), 508th Infantry, first with HQ Company and later with Company B.
Hooper couldn’t stay out of trouble and suffered several Article 15 hearings, being reduced to Corporal in July 1967. He was promoted once again to Sergeant in October 1967 and was assigned to Company D, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry, 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell and deployed with the division to Vietnam in December as a Squad Leader. He returned from Vietnam and was discharged in June 1968. He reenlisted in the Army in September and served as a Public Relations Specialist. From July 1969 to August 1970 he served as a Platoon Sergeant with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Infantry in Panama. He managed to finagle a second tour in Vietnam. From April to June 1970 he served as a Pathfinder with the 101st Aviation Group, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) and from June to December 1970 he served as a Platoon Sergeant with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile). In December 1970 he received a direct commission to Second Lieutenant and served as a Platoon Leader with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 501st Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) until April 1971. Upon his return to the United States he attended the Infantry Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning and was then assigned as an instructor at Fort Polk, Louisiana
Despite wanting to serve twenty years Hooper was forcibly retired in February 1974 as a First Lieutenant, mainly because he barely had a GED and had taken only a handful of college courses. As soon as he was released from active duty he joined a unit of the Army Reserve's 12th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Washington state, as a Company Executive Officer. In February 1976 he transferred to the 104th Division (Training), also based in Washington. He was promoted to Captain in March 1977. He attended drills only intermittently and was separated from the service in September 1978.
Rumors persist that he became distressed by the anti-war politics of the time and took to excessive drinking which contributed to his death.^[2] He died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Louisville, Kentucky May 6, 1979 at the age of 40.
Captain Joe R. Hooper holds a place with SGT Alvin York, MAJ Audie Murphy, and COL Robert L. Howard as one of the most decorated soldiers in US Military history. He remains one of the most decorated soldier of the Vietnam War. Captain Hooper is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Section 46, adjacent to the Memorial Amphitheater.

[FoxtrotOscar]

Awesome, thanx Chuck...

[Riven37]

Joe Hooper is names the most decorated Vietnam Vet todate.

I also found this...:
The highest decorated Vietnam War Veteran is Joe Hooper.

During the course of his 17 years of military service, Captain Joe Ronnie Hooper received 37 citations, including the Medal of Honor, 2 Silver Stars (one Silver Star citation began as a recommendation for a second Medal of Honor), 6 Bronze Stars with combat distinguishing device (or "V") and 5 oak leaf clusters, the 8 Purple Hearts, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Navy Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Captain Hooper also was awarded the Army Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, The Republic of Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation Ribbon with Palm and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation Ribbon with Palm. Captain Hooper also held the Combat Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge and Republic of Vietnam Parachutist Badge.

[Riven37]

The most decorated veteran of the Vietnam War was Joe Hooper of Moses Lake, Washington. Hooper was awarded 35 medals, including the Congressional Medal of Honor, two Silver Stars, six Bronze Stars and eight Purple Hearts. His tally exceeds that of Murphy, York, Keene or Urban. Hooper's life after the war was filled with conflict and controversy which contributes to his being overlooked by many historians. Like the war itself which stirred up strong emotions and controversy, the most decorated veteran of that war was filled with controversies as well. One of the more controversial episodes was when he told a group of high school students,

"I would tell my children, if I were to do this over, 'Go to Canada, don't fight.' Don't fight a war you can't win."

His tragic life ended when he died of a brain hemorrhage at 40 years old. He was later interred at Arlington National Cemetery.

For some reason I feel confused, Army Citations, Navy Citations.. what exactly was he...??? Which service...?? Just curious...