Despite advances in military technology, the Navy’s most decorated aircraft carrier was at the Battle of Midway during WWII and other conflicts of the era.
There have been many ships named Enterprise in the Navy’s history, but the most decorated was the seventh of that name and was often called the Big E. Not to be confused with another aircraft carrier called the USS Enterprise that served from the 1960s through 2012, the Big E launched in 1936 and had more than a decade of incredible service during a monumental era of human and military history.
The label as the Navy’s most decorated aircraft carrier was hard won. During World War II, the Navy awarded ships with Battle Stars for their participation and exemplary performance in an engagement, battle, or a long-running campaign. Enterprise earned 20 Battle Stars, the most of any ship in history, including one for the Battle of Midway. She received the Presidential Unit Citation, which is the highest decoration awarded to a military unit, and the Navy Unit Commendation.
