Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the nation’s highest medal for valor in combat that can be awarded to members of the armed forces. The medal was first authorized in 1861 for Sailors and Marines, and the following year for Soldiers as well. Since then, more than 3,400 Medals of Honor have been awarded to members of all DoD services and the Coast Guard.
Medals of Honor are awarded sparingly and are bestowed only to the bravest of the brave; and that courage must be well documented. The most recent Army recipients are:
The Medal of Honor has been awarded more than 3,500 times to members of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps. While the medal is earned in recognition of specific actions, it’s never considered “won.”
Although more rarely awarded today, the award has been used more liberally in the past. For example, more than 40% of Medal of Honor awards occurred during the Civil War or in the several years after the award was originally created in 1861.
A small number of service members have received the Medal of Honor twice, all for actions during or before World War I. Theodore Roosevelt is the only president to have been awarded the Medal of Honor. He was given it posthumously in 2001 in recognition of his actions during the Spanish-American War 100 years prior.