A Brief History
On July 12, 1862, a congressional resolution was signed into law authorizing the Army to issue the Medal of Honor to enlisted soldiers (only) for “personal valor.” The Navy already had a similar medal for “personal valor” as of 1861. Prior to this development, the US military had no medals at all since the Mexican War.
Digging Deeper
Objections to the issuing of medals, especially from senior Army General Winfield Scott, were based on the fact that Europeans engaged in the practice, therefore it must be bad. Once the Civil War started it became apparent that some soldiers and sailors performed heroically above and beyond the call of duty, even at great risk to their own life and really deserved to be recognized.
At the time of the Civil War, the Medal of Honor was the only medal for valor issued by the US military. In 1863 congress made the Medal of Honor a permanent decoration, and also authorized officers to be eligible for the award. Also in 1863, on March 25, the Secretary of War presented the first 6 Medals of Honor.
In 1915 the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard became eligible for the Medal of Honor, and in 1965 an Air Force version was authorized. (Prior to 1965 Air Force and Air Corps recipients were given the Army version of the medal.)
Of the 3469 Medals of Honor awarded, more than half of those were awarded for actions during the Civil War.
As of World War II, most Medals of Honor have been awarded posthumously, and normally are presented by the President. In order to be awarded the medal, the request for such a citation can go up the service member’s chain of command or a service member can be nominated by a member of congress. The Medal of Honor is presented in the name of Congress.
Prior to World War II, the Medal of Honor could be awarded for peacetime valor, but as of World War II it can only be awarded for battlefield actions. Recipients are authorized certain special privileges, including but not limited to the following: a special pension (above and beyond any other pension) of about $1300 per month, travel privileges for the recipient and his family on military flights, admission to service academies for their children, and a 10% hike in retirement pay. Additionally, 40 states also confer special privileges or license plates to recipients.
Medal of Honor winners are traditionally saluted by any other service member, although that is not an actual regulation. They are also authorized to wear their medal with civilian clothes and are invited to presidential inaugurations.
In a cracked turn of events, congress passed the Stolen Valor Act of 2005 making it a federal crime to falsely claim to have earned a military medal (of any type), but the Supreme Court decided in 2012 that such a law was an unconstitutional infringement on free speech! (As you may guess, the author of this article thinks that ruling is ridiculous.) In 2013 a revised version of the law was passed making it a federal crime to claim being a Medal of Honor recipient for the purpose of falsely gaining federal benefits.
If you ever get around to reading the stories or citations of how the Medal of Honor has been earned, you will most assuredly be in awe of the courage and valor of those who have earned it. We salute these brave service members and thank them for their service.
Question for students (and subscribers): Has anyone in your family ever earned the Medal of Honor? Please let us know in the comments section below this article.
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
The Editors of Boston Publishing Company. The Medal of Honor: A History of Service Above and Beyond. Zenith Press, 2014.
