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Summary of decorations awarded

The following table is based on data as published by IDF personnel department, available in 2010. This website contains data of recipients of the Medals of Valor, Courage or Distinguished Service, as well as Chief of Staff Citations. Of several awards the name of recipient is not published, nor the justification or date of the award, because of security reasons.

Period	Medal of Valor	Medal of Courage	Medal of Distinguished Service	Chief of Staff Citation	Total
War of Independence	12	-	-	-	12
Between War of Independence and Sinai Campaign	1	23	15	4	43
Sinai Campaign	5	21	3	-	29
Between Sinai Campaign and Six Day War	1	23	66	54	144
Six Day War	12	39	207	-	258
Between Six Day War and Yom Kippur War	1	14	97	3	115
Yom Kippur War	8	93	195	103	399
Between Yom Kippur War and Peace of Galilee War	-	1	4	10	15
Peace of Galilee War	-	2	4	5	11
Between Peace of Galilee War and Second Lebanon War	-	1	-	18	19
Second Lebanon War	-	6	12	20	38
After Second Lebanon War	-	1	-	-	1
Total amount	40	224	603	217	1084

In addition to these published awards, it is possible that many decorations were awarded of which no publication at all is given, because of security reasons.

Summary of IDF decorations awarded, according to ranks, based on data published in 2005

Rank	Medal of Valor	Medal of Courage	Medal of Distinguished Service	Chief of Staff Citation	Total
Lieutenant General	0	0	0	0	0
Major General	0	0	0	0	0
Brigadier General	0	0	0	0	0
Colonel	0	2	3	0	5
Lieutenant Colonel	1	18	22	13	54
Major	3	30	48	16	97
Captain	4	33	74	30	141
Lieutenant	7	39	115	30	191
Second Lieutenant	2	13	18	9	42
Senior Academic Officer	0	0	0	0	0
Academic Officer	0	0	0	0	0
Chief Warrant Officer	0	0	0	0	0
Warrant Officer	0	0	0	0	0
Sergeant Major	0	0	0	0	0
Sergeant First Class	0	0	5	2	7
First Sergeant	1	5	14	5	25
Staff Sergeant	1	13	45	13	72
Sergeant	6	15	99	17	137
Corporal	1	25	75	18	119
First Private	1	1	6	0	8
Private	10	19	59	0	88
Squad Commander	1	0	0	0	1
Airman	1	0	0	0	1
Captain of ship	1	0	0	0	1
Superintendent	0	1	0	0	1
Civilian	0	0	0	7	7
Engineer	0	0	4	1	5
Unit (battalion etc.)	0	0	1	2	3
Classified	0	0	0	17	17
Total	40	214	588	180	1022

Summary of IDF decorations, according to year of awarding, based on data published in 2005

Year	Medal of Valor	Medal of Courage	Medal of Distinguished Service	Chief of Staff Citation	Total
1955				1	1
1958				1	1
1961				2	2
1962				1	1
1962				7	7
1966				5	5
1967				4	4
1972				1	1
1973	34	117	389	3	543
1975	6	87	161	81	335
1976		7	30	25	62
1977			2	2	4
1979			1		1
1980				1	1
1981				1	1
1983		2	4	5	11
1984				1	1
1987				2	2
1989				2	2
1994				2	2
2001				1	1
2005		1	1	2	4
classified				30	30
Total	40	214	588	180	1022

Multiple Awards of decorations, based on data published in 2005

Name	Medal of Valor	Medal of Courage	Medal of Distinguished Service	Chief Of Staff Citation	Total
Avigdor Kahalani	1		1		2
Shlomo Nitzani	1		1		2
Amnon Lipkin Shahak		2			2
Oved Ladishinsky		2			2
Ilan Egozi		1	1		2
Gad Carol		1	1		2
Yosef Dirhali		1	1		2
Moshe Klein		1	1		2
Dov Tamari		1		2	3
Mordechai Reter		1		1	2
Shlomo Hagani			2		2
Michael Burt			2		2
Nehamia Cohen			1	4	5
Ehud Barak			1	4	5
Amram Mitzna			1	1	2
Uriel Hefetz			1	1	2

Who is the most decorated IDF soldier ?

The awarding of decorations was never intended to encourage competition, but as some former IDF officers entered politics, their decorations started playing a role in public relations. Above table shows that the largest number (5) of decorations was awarded to Ehud Barak and Nehamia Cohen. However, while ordering the decorations according to importance (like ranking the Olympic medals per country), it appears that Avigdor Kahalani and Shlomo Nitzani, both with a Medal of Valor and Medal of Distinguished Service are on top.

Source: IDF