John Rambo Complete Commendation/Awards List

Sam Trautman called John Rambo “the best combat vet I’ve ever seen…”.  People who up against him require a good supply of body bags, after all the man has fired a few shots. Ever wondered how well regarded the man who couldn’t even hold down a job washing fucking cars was?

Wonder no more…

• 1 – Medal of Honor

Per dialogue in Rambo: First Blood Part II, during his Vietnam era service, Rambo was awarded:

• 2 – Silver Star
• 4 – Bronze Stars for Valor
• 4 – Purple Heart
• 1 – Distinguished Service Cross
• 1 – Medal of Honor

In “Rambo Prepares Knife” deleted scene from Rambo III, Rambo’s “Class A” uniform can clearly be seen (although his rank can not be seen) in his footlocker with the following 13 ribbons:

• Medal of Honor – Awarded one and refused another
• Army Distinguished Service Medal
• Distinguished Flying Cross
• Soldier’s Medal
• Bronze Star
• Purple Heart
• Air Medal
• Combat Action Ribbon – This award is actually for US Navy, Coast Guard and Marine personnel, He was awarded one for a joint-service operation with USMC 2nd Battalion 3rd Marines in Battle of Khe Sanh 1968.
• Vietnam Service Medal
• Prisoner of War Medal
• Army Service Ribbon
• Vietnam Wound Medal – This award is actually a South Vietnamese (ARVN) forces medal and was seldom awarded to US forces, even if it was awarded to a US serviceman, he would not be permitted to wear it on his dress uniform because it is basically a foreign nations variation of the Purple Heart.
• Vietnam Campaign Medal

In a measure of discontinuity within the storyline, Rambo’s Silver Stars and Distinguished Service Cross were missing from his ribbon rack as well as the National Defense Medal and the Good Conduct Medal, both of which he would have been awarded.
Various special duty badges can also be seen on Rambo’s “Class A” uniform, including:

• Combat Infantryman Badge
• Aircraft Crewman Badge
• Senior Combat Parachutist Badge
• Expert Weapons Qualification Badge