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- The youngest Medal of Honor recipient was just 11 years old. When asked to imagine a candidate for a Medal of Honor, many would picture soldiers fighting wars.
- The medal of Honor almost wasn't established. The idea of an award for meritorious or heroic action was frowned upon by many. There had been a decoration established by George Washington, known as the Badge of Military Merit, but it had fallen into disuse (so had its successor, the Certificate of Merit which was bestowed during the Mexican-American War).
- Unknown soldiers have also received the medal. Since the Great War (World War I), several American soldiers have been awarded the Medal of Honor. Because the recipients are unknown, their medals are kept at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington, D.C.
- Many Medals of Honor have been revoked. In the 20th century, an extensive review was carried and over 900 medals were revoked – including those of Dr. Walker (who refused to return it and continued to wear it until her death) and Buffalo Bill.
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces ' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians, and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. [1][12] The medal is normally awarded by the president of the United States (the commander in chief ...
December 11, 2020. Medal of Honor is a series of first-person shooter video games created by American film director and producer Steven Spielberg. [1] The first game was developed by DreamWorks Interactive and published by Electronic Arts for the PlayStation in 1999. Medal of Honor spawned a series of follow-up games including multiple ...
- Overview
- 1. At first, the idea of a Medal of Honor was dismissed as too “European.”
- 2. Only one woman has received the Medal of Honor, and her award was temporarily rescinded.
- 3. Theodore Roosevelt is the only U.S. president to have received the Medal of Honor, which he was awarded posthumously.
- 4. The youngest Medal of Honor recipient was awarded at 11 and was granted it at 13.
- 5. The award is not called the Congressional Medal of Honor.
- 6. It’s illegal to wear someone else’s Medal of Honor, but it’s not illegal to pretend you have one.
Discover six things you may not know about the Medal of Honor, which was signed into law 150 years ago, and its recipients.
During the American Revolution, George Washington established the first combat decoration in U.S. history, known as the Badge of Military Merit. After the conflict, it fell into disuse, as did its successor, the Certificate of Merit, bestowed during the Mexican-American War. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, proponents of a new award made their...
A medical doctor who supported feminist and abolitionist causes, Mary Edwards Walker volunteered with the Union Army at the outbreak of the Civil War. Despite her training, she initially had to work as a nurse before becoming the Army’s first female surgeon. Known to cross enemy lines in order to treat civilians, she may have been serving as a spy ...
When the Spanish-American War broke out, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt famously quit his job to lead a volunteer regiment known as the Rough Riders. Roosevelt and his men played a decisive role in the Battle of San Juan Hill and took part in other confrontations in Cuba. In 1916, less than three years before his death, the 26th...
Born in New York, 11-year-old Willie Johnston enlisted in the Union Army alongside his father, serving as a drummer boy with the 3rd Vermont Infantry during the Civil War. In June 1862, overpowered by Confederate forces, his unit retreated down the Virginia Peninsula under orders from General George McClellan. Along the way, the men discarded their...
Contrary to popular belief, the official title of the highest U.S. military distinction is simply the Medal of Honor, not the Congressional Medal of Honor. The confusion may have arisen because the president presents the award “in the name of Congress.” There is also a Congressional Medal of Honor Society, which represents recipients of the Medal o...
U.S. criminal law forbids the unauthorized wearing, manufacture and sale of military decorations, and misuse of a Medal of Honor carries a particularly heavy penalty. In 2006 President George W. Bush signed into law the Stolen Valor Act, which imposed a prison sentence of up to one year on anyone falsely claiming to have received a Medal of Honor. ...
- Jennie Cohen
- 1 min
The look of today’s navy medal is closest to the original medals of the Civil War era; the other two have 20th-century designs. The neck ribbon for all medals includes 13 stars, symbolizing the thirteen original states of the Union. The Meaning of the Medal of Honor has evolved since its establishment during the Civil War.
Timeline. The Medal of Honor has achieved prominence in American history like few other awards have. It’s a symbol for the very values its recipients displayed in the moments that mattered, an honor bestowed upon only the most honorable. But before it garnered such distinction, it started as a simple idea from Iowa Senator James W. Grimes—a ...
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The eagle perched at the top of the medal is a traditional symbol of the United States. A simple profile of Minerva, the Helmeted Goddess of Wisdom and War, rests in the center of the medal. Dark green oak clusters located in each of the star’s five points represent strength. The wreath of laurel leaves, a symbol of victory, was added in 1904.
