Medal of Honor

United States Army
Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration in the United States of America. It was first awarded during the American Civil War and the latest action for which it has been awarded was Somalia. It has often been given posthumously. It was originally given only to enlisted men although Army officers first received them in 1891 and Naval officers in 1915. It is often erroneously called the "Congressional" Medal of Honor.

Many Medals of Honor awarded in the 19th century were associated with saving the flag, not just for patriotic reasons, but because the flag was a primary means of battlefield communication.

During and after the 20th century, the medal has been awarded for extreme bravery above and beyond the call of duty, where a person consistently and persistently has put his comrades safety foremost to the utter disregard of his own life.

The medal consists of a gold star surrounded by a wreath, topped by an eagle on a bar inscribed with the word "Valor." The medal is attached to a thick blue ribbon, which is then worn around the neck.

The Medal of Honor also confers a special rank on its recipients. The highest ranking officer in the US military is required to initiate the salute, no matter how low the rank of the recipient, many of them enlisted personnel.

Medals of Honor awarded since 1863

• Civil War 1520
• Indian Wars 423
• 1871 Korean Expedition 15
• Spanish-American War 109
• Philippine-American War 91
• Boxer Rebellion 59
• 1914 Veracruz Expedition 55
• 1915-33 Central American actions 13
• World War I 123
• World War II 433
• Korean War 131
• Vietnam War 239
• Peacetime 192

Pueblo, Colorado is the site of a National Medal of Honor Memorial. Until recently, Pueblo was unique as the residence of four living recipients of the medal.

Quotation

• "The Medal of Honor is a small, five-pointed star that hangs from a blue ribbon, but it comes at such a terrible price that it is an unquestioned tribute to the bravery of anyone who wears it." Robert Rawlings, The Pueblo Chieftain.

Recipients of the Medal of Honor Include

• Richard Antrim
• Smedley Butler
• Richard Byrd
• William Harvey Carney
• Joshua Chamberlain
• Jimmy Doolittle
• Frederick Funston
• Bob Kerrey
• Charles Lindbergh
• Douglas MacArthur
• Audie Murphy
• Theodore Roosevelt
• James Stockdale
• Charles Watters
• Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV
• Alvin York
• The Unknown Warrior in the United Kingdom

External Link

• Congressional Medal of Honor Society web site

Referenced By