Sentence:  In this regiment there was a young corporal, a native of Little K . He was <WSD>laurelled</WSD> and decorated more than many of his companions, for he excelled them all in courage, coolness, and daring. In one thing more he also excelled them — he was cruel, he was dissipated, and he was vicious in his tastes. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To award top honours to.