To be fair though, we see Kirk go on 79 major amazing adventures over the course of three years that should be the highlight of any regular Captain's life. These are larger-than-life figures doing larger-than-life things. It makes sense that they'd have a drawer full of medals and a mouthful of praise.
Did we though? 79 "amazing" ones? What was amazing or an adventure about "Mudd's Women" or "Charlie X" for example?