The first medal ever created for the U.S. military was the Badge for Military Merit in 1782. It was created by Gen. George Washington and it was awarded for “any singularly meritorious action.” That award eventually became what is known today, the Purple Heart, awarded to U.S. military personnel killed or wounded in action against an enemy (more information on the Purple Heart is below).
The second medal created specifically for U.S. military personnel was the Medal of Honor in 1862 (see the Army section below for more information).
The first U.S. Air Force medal created was the Air Force Commendation Medal. In 1958, Secretary of the Air Force James H. Douglas, Jr. created it to replace the Army Commendation medal which used to be presented to U.S. Army Air Force personnel. In 1980, the Air Force Achievement Medal was created for service that doesn’t warrant the commendation medal. From there, the Air Force has created numerous badges and medals for their personnel.
It's important to note that in 1947 when the Air Force was established, Congress authorized the Air Force to make its own Medals of Honor, Distinguished Service Crosses (what would become the Air Force Cross) and the Airman’s Medal. The Air Force did not create its own Medal of Honor until 1965.
The first Air Force recipient of the Medal of Honor was Maj. Bernard F. Fisher in 1967 for action in the Vietnam War. The first airman to receive the Medal of Honor, however, was Capt. Edward Rickenbacker in 1918, then a part of the Army’s Air Service.
No airman had received the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War until it was posthumously awarded to U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. John Chapman for his actions in Afghanistan, March 4, 2002.
Like other services, Airman are eligible for numerous awards and decorations, including some from sister services and foreign nations. The top three medals for gallantry in the Air Force are the Medal of Honor, Air Force Cross and the Silver Star.