Army awards for combat in Iraq, Afghanistan approach 343,000

Above: A Silver Star ceremony at camp at Al Qa'im in Iraq. The recipient was awarded for his actions when, disregarding his own wounds, he ran through enemy fire to retrieve the body of a slain comrade.

Soldiers have earned nearly 343,000 combat awards and decorations in Iraq and Afghanistan so far, according to the Army’s latest medal count.

The exact total — 342,701 — was calculated by Human Resources Command in mid-April. It includes valor, service, achievement and combat badges awarded since December 2001 for Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and since March 2003 for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The Army has fielded a new decoration for soldiers who do not qualify for the Combat Infantryman and Combat Medical Badges — the Combat Action Badge.

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