Topic

Medal of Honor

Not who you're looking for? Others named Medal of Honor: 2010 video game · 2018 television series · 2009 film by Călin Peter Netzer · video game series

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Overview

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. The medal is normally awarded by the President of the United States (the commander in chief of the armed forces) and is presented "in the name of the United States Congress." It is sometimes referred to as the "Congressional Medal of Honor". The secretary of the Army, on behalf of the Department of Defense, has testified to Congress that the term "Congressional Medal of Honor" is "incorrect" as a matter of statute, and that "it seems inappropriate to modify the name of the medal with the word 'Congressional' as each award is made in the name of the Congress," through a mandated process in the military chain of command, not 'by' Congress, and there is no other Medal of Honor, so no need for the modifier. The U.S. Senate also lists the award without the "congressional" modifier, suggesting that both the executive and at least this branch of the legislature agree on this point. There are three distinct variants of the medal: one for the Army, awarded to soldiers, one for the Naval Service, awarded to sailors, marines, and coast guardsmen, and one for the Air and Space Forces, awarded to airmen and guardians. The Medal of Honor was introduced for the Naval Service in 1861, soon followed by the Army's version in 1862. The Air Force used the Army's version until they received their own distinctive version in 1965. The Medal of Honor is the oldest continuously issued combat decoration of the United States Armed Forces. The President typically presents the Medal of Honor at a formal ceremony intended to represent the gratitude of the American people, with posthumous presentations made to the primary next of kin. According to the Medal of Honor Historical Society of the United States, there have been 3,535 Medals of Honor awarded since the decoration's creation, with over 40% awarded for actions during the American Civil War. Notably, however, 911 Army medals were revoked after Congress authorized a review in 1917, and a number of Navy medals were also revoked prior to the turn of the century—none of these are included in this total except for those that were subsequently restored. In 1990, Congress designated March 25 annually as "National Medal of Honor Day".

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Notable quotes

“It's not necessarily anything I welcome, but it's part of my job now. This isn't something we ask for, this is something that is bestowed upon you. And with it comes some obligations.”
— Command Master Chief Petty Officer Edward Byers, in a statement to Navy Times on 27 February 2016[
“I don't remember much about the incident and I definitely don't remember what I was thinking about in the moment, but, again, that's the amazing thing about people: You never know how you're going to step up, or when.”
— Kyle Carpenter, You Are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting For (2019), co-written with Don Yeager, New York: William Morrow, hardcover, p. 304
“I love watching the brass lock their heels and snap to attention when they see that itty bitty ribbon.”
— Heartbreak Ridge (1986), directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. Said by character Sergeant Major Choozoo.
“Because the Medal of Honor is presented “in the name of the Congress of the United States,” it is frequently called the Congressional Medal of Honor. The terms are used interchangeably, but regardless of designation, the Medal of Honor remains the most prestigious and treasured of all decorations in the armed services.”
— Colonel Cole C. Kingseed, U.S. Army, Retired, Medal of Honor Recipients Beat Prejudice, The Enemy, Association of the United States Army, 1 April 2022
“More than a dozen Congressional Medal of Honor recipients endorsed former President Trump in the 2024 presidential race. "We, 15 recipients of the Medal of Honor, having served this great nation in wars, support and endorse Donald J. Trump for President of the United States," they wrote. The recipients include those who have served in Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam.”
— Brooke Singman, believe in Donald Trump': More than a dozen Medal of Honor recipients endorse former president", Fox News, 12 October 2024
“On February 4 an invitation to the White House interrupted this schedule. My family and I were ushered into President Roosevelt's office. I had known the President, who with his charm made us feel completely at ease. With my wife and son looking on he read a citation and placed the Medal of Honor around my neck.”
— Alexander Vandegrift, Once a Marine: The Memoirs of General A.A. Vandegrift, U.S.M.C. (1964), New York: W.W. Norton & Company, first edition, hardcover, p. 212

Quotes via Wikiquote (CC BY-SA), each with its original source.

On IJR

No public IJR answers mention Medal of Honor yet. As people ask about it and share their answers, they'll appear here.

Not who you're looking for? Others named Medal of Honor: 2010 video game · 2018 television series · 2009 film by Călin Peter Netzer · video game series

Notable quotes

“It's not necessarily anything I welcome, but it's part of my job now. This isn't something we ask for, this is something that is bestowed upon you. And with it comes some obligations.”
— Command Master Chief Petty Officer Edward Byers, in a statement to Navy Times on 27 February 2016[
“I don't remember much about the incident and I definitely don't remember what I was thinking about in the moment, but, again, that's the amazing thing about people: You never know how you're going to step up, or when.”
— Kyle Carpenter, You Are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting For (2019), co-written with Don Yeager, New York: William Morrow, hardcover, p. 304
“I love watching the brass lock their heels and snap to attention when they see that itty bitty ribbon.”
— Heartbreak Ridge (1986), directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. Said by character Sergeant Major Choozoo.
“Because the Medal of Honor is presented “in the name of the Congress of the United States,” it is frequently called the Congressional Medal of Honor. The terms are used interchangeably, but regardless of designation, the Medal of Honor remains the most prestigious and treasured of all decorations in the armed services.”
— Colonel Cole C. Kingseed, U.S. Army, Retired, Medal of Honor Recipients Beat Prejudice, The Enemy, Association of the United States Army, 1 April 2022
“More than a dozen Congressional Medal of Honor recipients endorsed former President Trump in the 2024 presidential race. "We, 15 recipients of the Medal of Honor, having served this great nation in wars, support and endorse Donald J. Trump for President of the United States," they wrote. The recipients include those who have served in Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam.”
— Brooke Singman, believe in Donald Trump': More than a dozen Medal of Honor recipients endorse former president", Fox News, 12 October 2024
“On February 4 an invitation to the White House interrupted this schedule. My family and I were ushered into President Roosevelt's office. I had known the President, who with his charm made us feel completely at ease. With my wife and son looking on he read a citation and placed the Medal of Honor around my neck.”
— Alexander Vandegrift, Once a Marine: The Memoirs of General A.A. Vandegrift, U.S.M.C. (1964), New York: W.W. Norton & Company, first edition, hardcover, p. 212

Quotes via Wikiquote (CC BY-SA), each with its original source.

Overview

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. The medal is normally awarded by the President of the United States (the commander in chief of the armed forces) and is presented "in the name of the United States Congress." It is sometimes referred to as the "Congressional Medal of Honor". The secretary of the Army, on behalf of the Department of Defense, has testified to Congress that the term "Congressional Medal of Honor" is "incorrect" as a matter of statute, and that "it seems inappropriate to modify the name of the medal with the word 'Congressional' as each award is made in the name of the Congress," through a mandated process in the military chain of command, not 'by' Congress, and there is no other Medal of Honor, so no need for the modifier. The U.S. Senate also lists the award without the "congressional" modifier, suggesting that both the executive and at least this branch of the legislature agree on this point. There are three distinct variants of the medal: one for the Army, awarded to soldiers, one for the Naval Service, awarded to sailors, marines, and coast guardsmen, and one for the Air and Space Forces, awarded to airmen and guardians. The Medal of Honor was introduced for the Naval Service in 1861, soon followed by the Army's version in 1862. The Air Force used the Army's version until they received their own distinctive version in 1965. The Medal of Honor is the oldest continuously issued combat decoration of the United States Armed Forces. The President typically presents the Medal of Honor at a formal ceremony intended to represent the gratitude of the American people, with posthumous presentations made to the primary next of kin. According to the Medal of Honor Historical Society of the United States, there have been 3,535 Medals of Honor awarded since the decoration's creation, with over 40% awarded for actions during the American Civil War. Notably, however, 911 Army medals were revoked after Congress authorized a review in 1917, and a number of Navy medals were also revoked prior to the turn of the century—none of these are included in this total except for those that were subsequently restored. In 1990, Congress designated March 25 annually as "National Medal of Honor Day".

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).