Military chaplain returned to their home nation unless retained to minister to prisoners of war. Inevitably, serving chaplains have died in action. The US Army and Marines lost 100 chaplains killed in action during World War II: the third highest casualty rate behind the infantry and the Army Air Forces. Many have been decorated for bravery in action (five have been awarded Britain's highest award for gallantry, the Victoria Cross, and nine have received the Medal of Honor). The Chaplain's Medal for Heroism is a special US military decoration given to military chaplains who have been killed in the line of duty,
Hasta pura (military decoration) to a soldier who had struck down an enemy in a sally or skirmish. Tacitus records a "hasta pura" being given as a decoration, bestowed upon a soldier for saving the life of a fellow-citizen: A civil servant called Tiberius Claudius Balbilus was awarded the "hasta pura" and perhaps also the "corona aurea" by Claudius during the triumph to celebrate the conquest of Britain in AD 44. As a friend and part of the Emperor’s retinue, it seems likely that his awards, as much as his military rank, were honorary. The "hasta pura" was also recorded as being given to