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Medal of Honor History

original_navy_MOHIn December 1861, shortly after the Civil War began, Congress authorized the distribution of medals of honor to petty officers, seamen, landsmen and marines that distinguished themselves by their gallantry in action and other seamanlike qualities during the Civil War. Two months later, Congress authorized the distribution of medals of honor to privates in the Army of the United States that distinguished themselves in battle. Hence, the “Medal of Honor” was born. In March 1863, the Army Medal of Honor was extended to officers, as well as non-commissioned officers and privates. The Navy medal continued to be reserved for enlisted personnel ONLY until March 1915. The Air Force was authorized in August 1956, with their own distinctive design “Medal of Honor” separate from that of the Navy and Army.

The Confederate States of America created their own version of the Medal of Honor in October 1862, by authorizing President Davis to bestow medals to officers for courage and good conduct on the field of battle, and a badge of distinction to privates and non-commissioned officers after each victorious battle. Unlike the U.S. criteria for awarding the “Medal of Honor,” the Confederate criteria rested with the soldiers themselves. Company non-commissioned officers and privates selected by majority vote the one soldier in their Company that best deserved the “Badge of Distinction”. Due to the shortage of metal, the Congress of the Confederacy in October 1863, created the “Roll of Honor” to list those officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates deserving of medals and the “Badge of Distinction” with the intent of awarding medals at a later time. The Southern Cross of Honor is commonly mistaken to have been the Confederacy’s “Medal of Honor”. However, this medal was created and awarded by the United Daughters of the Confederacy to ex-Confederate soldiers who were members of the United Confederate Veterans in recognition of their devotion to the southern cause.

The first Medals of Honor were presented by Secretary of War Edwin Stanton to six of the surviving members of Andrew's Raiders on March 25, 1863. While these were the first medals presented, the first heroic act for which the Medal of Honor was given occurred February 13, 1861. It was on that date, Army Assistant Surgeon Bernard J.D. Irwin rescued 60 soldiers of 2d Lt. George Bascom's unit at Apache Pass, AZ. The Medal of Honor was also presented to several individuals for heroic acts performed before the Medal of Honor was authorized by Congress in December 1861.

Between 1863 and 1917, more than three thousand Medals of Honor were awarded for actions between the Civil War and World War I. In response to the Medal of Honor Legion’s concern that the Medal of Honor was losing its prestige due to a lack of clear criteria for awarding the medal, Secretary of War Russell A. Alger promulgated clear criteria for the award in June 1897. Subsequently, Congress authorized the War Department in June, 1916, to appoint a board of five general officers to review every Medal of Honor awarded. As a result of this Board, 911 names were stricken from the Honor Roll in February 1917 (Purge of 1917). The most notable were the medals awarded to all members of the 27th Maine for extending their enlistments to defend Washington D. C. as Robert E. Lee was taking the fight north to Gettysburg in June 1863, the twenty-nine members of President Lincoln's funeral guard, and six civilians. The six civilians were stricken because the law authorizing the Medal of Honor restricted the award to members of the army and navy. Subsequently, the six civilians were recognized as Medal of Honor recipients. Among this group were Civil War Assistant Surgeon Mary Walker, the only female recipient, and Buffalo Bill Cody.

During World War I, General Pershing, Commander-in-Chief of the Expeditionary Forces in France, recommended that recognition other than the Medal of Honor be authorized for actions that were notable but not “above and beyond the call of duty”. In July 1918, Congress authorized the Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Service Medal, and Citation Star (replaced by the Silver Star in 1932). The Navy soon followed with the Navy Cross and the Navy Commendation Star. To avoid the problems that led to the “Purge of 1917”, Congress spelled out further requirements for awarding the Medal of Honor. These were as follows: (1) Recommendations for Medals of Honor had to be made within two years of the act of heroism, for which it was to be awarded, and the Medal was to be presented within three years; and (2) no person could receive more than one Medal of Honor. Subsequently, a hierarchy of military awards (Pyramid of Honor) with the Medal of Honor at the peak was created.

Although Congress required recommendations for the Medal of Honor be made within two years and the medal be awarded within three years, this rule has been waived several times. The most notable instances were the cases of Theodore Roosevelt and the results of review panels established to determine if racial attitudes affected the nomination and awarding of the Medal to servicemen during World War I and World War II. Theodore Roosevelt was awarded the Medal of Honor January 16, 2001, for his actions at San Juan Hill on July 1, 1898. Twenty-two Asian-Americans were awarded the Medal of Honor on June 21, 2000, for actions during World War II. Seven African-Americans were awarded the Medal of Honor on January 13, 1997, for actions during World War II.

Since its inception, 3475 Medals of Honor for 3470 different acts of heroism have been presented to 3447 recipients and 9 presented to those entombed at the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier. The latest awards of the Medal of Honor were made September 15, 2011, to Corporal Dakota Meyer for actions in Afghanistan. Today, there are 94 living recipients.

Medal of Honor Medal Designs

1862 – 1896

The Medal of Honor consisted of five-pointed star, tipped with trefoils containing a crown of laurel and oak. In the middle, a band of 34 stars represented the number of states in 1862. Minerva, personifying the United States, stood with left hand resting on fasces (set of rods bound in the form of a bundle which included an axe), and right hand holding a shield blazoned with the U.S. arms. She repulses "discord," represented by snakes.
The army medal was suspended from a spread-winged eagle standing on crossed cannons and cannon balls attached to a red, white, and blue ribbon.

The navy medal was suspended from an anchor attached to a red, white, and blue ribbon.

Army 1862-1896

Army
1862-1896

Navy Medal of Honor 1862-1913

Navy
1862-1913

1896 – 1904

Due to imitation of the medal by non-military organizations, the Army changed the design of the ribbon.

The Navy ribbon remained the same.

Army 1896-1904

Army
1896-1904

navy_medal_of_honor_1862

Navy
1862-1913

1904 – 1913

The new Army Medal kept the inverted star but replaced the face with only the profile of Minerva. The ring of 34 stars was replaced with the words "United States of America". The oak clusters remained in the points of the star. The laurel clusters were moved to a wreath in the shape of an open wreath.

The ribbon was changed from its red, white and blue to a single light blue color with thirteen stars. The eagle was now perched on a bar bearing the word "VALOR" and the shafts of arrows.

General Gillespie sought and obtained a patent in 1904 to protect the new design from being copied. Subsequently, the patent was transferred to the War Department. The medal was worn either suspended from the neck or pinned over the left breast in precedence to other military decorations. This medal is known as the Gillespie Medal.

The Navy medal remained unchanged.

Army 1904-1942

Army
1904-1942

Navy
1862-1913

1913 – 1919

The Navy medal underwent its first change since 1862. The ribbon was changed to the same light blue color with thirteen stars as that adopted by the army in 1904. In addition, the rope was removed from the anchor.

The Army medal remained unchanged

Army 1904-1942

Army
1904-1942

navy_medal_of_honor_1913

Navy
1913-1942

1919 – 1942

Unlike the Army, the Navy awarded Medals of Honor for heroism whether for combat or non-combat actions. The Navy decided to distinguish between the two types of acts by creating a new medal for combat bravery. The new medal was designed by Tiffanies and based on the British Victoria Cross. The blue silk ribbon of the Maltese Cross hung below a bar bearing the old English spelling for valor, "VALOUR". The Medal itself featured the American eagle in the center surrounded by a six sided border over the top of which was printed "UNITED STATES NAVY" and "1917 - 1918". An anchor protruded outward from each of the cross's four arms.

After WWI, the Tiffany Cross continued to be used and sometimes given for non-combat bravery; a use for which it was not intended.

The "Tiffany Cross" was not a popular award and is the rarest of all Medals of Honor in existence. In 1942, it was dropped from the Medal of Honor profile and the Navy returned to its original Medal of Honor as the only design awarded.

Army 1904-1942

Army
1904-1942

navy_medal_of_honor_1913

Navy
1913-1942

Tiffany Cross

Navy
1919-1942

1942 – 1956

The only change to the medal during this period was the increasing practice of wearing the medal around the neck. For this purpose the present neck ribbon was adopted in 1944. The ribbon consisted of an 8-sided "pad" bearing 13 white stars and neck ribbon. The medal was suspended from the “pad”

army_medal_of_honor

Army
1942-Present

navy_medal_of_hono

Navy
1942-Present

1956 – Present

Between 1947 and 1965, the Air Force awarded the Army Medal of Honor. In 1956, the Air Force unveiled its own design for the Medal of Honor. It retained the laurel wreath and oak leaves of the Army Medal and the bar bearing the word "VALOR".  Inside the circle of stars the helmeted profile of Minerva from the Army's medal was replaced by the head of the Statue of Liberty. Replacing the Army's eagle is the Air Force Coat of Arms.

army_medal_of_honor

Army
1942-Present

navy_medal_of_hono

Navy
1942-Present

air_force_medal_of_hono

Air Force
1956-Present

Bibliography