This list catalogs the most honored US ships of the Second World War. It is placed in descending order of earned Battle Stars; descending precedence of unit recognitions; descending ship size by type; and ascending hull number. It contains only vessels that earned fifteen or more Battle Stars for World War II service. Honors awarded that are not listed may include:
- Honors awarded by countries other than the United States (e.g., Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, British Admiralty Pennant)
- Honors awarded to all units for serving active duty during World War II; including active duty before US entry in the war (e.g., American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal)
- Honors awarded to vessels for campaigns other than World War II service (e.g. Korean War service, Vietnam War service).
| Unit | WWII Service Awards |
|---|---|
USS Enterprise (CV-6) |
20 Battle Stars
Presidential Unit Citation |
USS San Diego (CL-53) |
18 Battle Stars |
USS San Francisco (CA-38) |
17 Battle Stars
Presidential Unit Citation |
USS O'Bannon (DD-450) |
17 Battle Stars
Presidential Unit Citation |
USS New Orleans (CA-32) |
17 Battle Stars |
USS Minneapolis (CA-36) |
17 Battle Stars |
USS Maury (DD-401) |
16 Battle Stars
Presidential Unit Citation |
USS Nicholas (DD-449) |
16 Battle Stars
Presidential Unit Citation |
USS Buchanan (DD-484) |
16 Battle Stars
Presidential Unit Citation |
USS Portland (CA-33) |
16 Battle Stars Navy Unit Commendation |
USS Russell (DD-414) |
16 Battle Stars |
USS Saufley (DD-465) |
16 Battle Stars |
USS Taylor (DD-468) |
15 Battle Stars
Navy Unit Commendation |
USS Thresher (SS-200) |
15 Battle Stars
Navy Unit Commendation |
USS North Carolina (BB-55) |
15 Battle Stars |
USS Morris (DD-417) |
15 Battle Stars |
USS Fletcher (DD-445) |
15 Battle Stars |
USS Narwhal (SS-167) |
15 Battle Stars |
Famous quotes containing the words decorated and/or ships:
“... it was religion that saved me. Our ugly church and parochial school provided me with my only aesthetic outlet, in the words of the Mass and the litanies and the old Latin hymns, in the Easter lilies around the altar, rosaries, ornamented prayer books, votive lamps, holy cards stamped in gold and decorated with flower wreaths and a saint’s picture.”
—Mary McCarthy (1912–1989)
“Your mind and you are our Sargasso Sea,
London has swept about you this score years
And bright ships left you this or that in fee:
Ideas, old gossip, oddments of all things,
Strange spars of knowledge and dimmed wares of price.”
—Ezra Pound (1885–1972)