Top U.S. Military Medals Explained (Inforgraphic)

CNN: Infographic: US military honors, explained

(CNN)Awards and honors bestowed by the military have been a major topic of conversation -- and some confusion -- in US politics for the last week. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is facing a backlash for laying into the Gold Star parents of Muslim US soldier Humayun Khan, who died in a suicide bombing during the Iraq War, after they denounced his policies at the Democratic National Convention. Trump was then criticized for comments made after a supporter gave him a Purple Heart award at a rally in Virginia Tuesday, responding that he "always wanted" one, after which critics asked if he knew why the honor is bestowed. Here's breakdown of the major honors given to military service members and their families by the US government and the reasons they are granted.

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