Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor is highest military decoration in United States military. Medal of Honor is awarded for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. There are 3 different versions of Medal of Honor, one for the Army, one for the Navy, and one for the Air Force.
A Brief History — The Medal of Honor*
On August 7, 1782, General George Washington established the first formal system for rewarding acts of individual gallantry by the nation's fighting men. General George Washington wanted to recognize "any singularly meritorious action,".
Military Medals of Honor[]
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BACKGROUND:[]
a. General George Washington had created the Badge of Military Merit on 7 August 1792 but it had fallen into disuse after the Revolutionary War. Decorations, as such, were still too closely related to European royalty to be of concern to the American people. However, the fierce fighting and deeds of valor during the Civil War brought into focus the realization that such valor must be recognized. Legislation was introduced in the Senate on 17 February 1862, which authorized the medal for the Army and followed the pattern of a similar award approved for Naval personnel in December 1861. The Resolution provided that: "The President of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized to cause two thousand "medals of honor" to be prepared with suitable emblematic devices, and to direct that the same be presented, in the name of Congress, to such noncommissioned officers and privates as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action, and other soldier-like qualities during the present insurrection, and the sum of ten thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the purpose of carrying this resolution into effect."
b. The original design for the Army was created by Christian Schussel and engraved by Anthony C. Pacquot. The pendant was identical to the design approved by the Navy, with the exception of the suspension and clasp. It consisted of a 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, stands with a left hand resting on fasces and right hand holding a shield blazoned with the United States arms. She repulses Discord, represented by snakes. The pendant was suspended by a trophy of crossed cannons, balls, sword and an American eagle. The clasp was two cornucopias and the arms of the United States.
c. The initial law was amended by an Act of Congress on 3 March 1863 to extend its provisions to include officers.
d. In 1896, misuse of the medal led to a change in the design of the ribbon because the original had been imitated by nonmilitary organizations. This change was authorized by Joint Resolution of Congress, Fifty-Fourth Congress, Sess. I, 2 May 1896. At this time a bowknot (rosette) was adopted to be worn in lieu of the medal. The ribbon and bowknot (rosette), established and prescribed by the President, was promulgated in War Department Orders dated 10 November 1896.
e. On 23 April 1904, Congress authorized a new design of the medal. The design adopted at that time was designed by Major General George L. Gillespie and is the one currently in use. The medal was worn either suspended from the neck or pinned over the left breast in precedence to other military decorations.
f. The present neck ribbon was adopted in 1944. It is worn outside the shirt collar and inside the coat, hanging above all other decorations. g. Special entitlements for recipients of the Medal of Honor include:
(1) Each Medal of Honor awardee may have his name entered on the Medal of Honor Roll (38 USC 560). Each person whose name is placed on the Medal of Honor Roll is certified to the Department of Veterans Affairs as being entitled to receive the special pension of $1069.00 per month.
(2) Enlisted recipients of the Medal of Honor are entitled to a supplemental uniform allowance.
(3) Special entitlements to air transportation under the provisions of DOD Regulation 4515.13-R.
(4) Identification card, commissary and exchange privileges for Medal of Honor recipients and their eligible dependents.
(5) Children of recipients are eligible for admission to the U.S. Service Academies without regard to the quota requirements.
(6) Ten percent increase in retired pay under Title 10, USC 3991, subject to the 75% limit on total retired pay.
CRITERIA:[]
"[Conspicuous] gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against any enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party The Medal of Honor is awarded by the President, in the name of Congress, to a person who, while a member of the Army, distinguishes himself or herself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. The deed performed must have been one of personal bravery or self-sacrifice so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the individual above his or her comrades and must have involved risk of life. Incontestable proof of the performance of the service will be exacted and each recommendation for the award of this decoration will be considered on the standard of extraordinary merit.
DESCRIPTION:[]
A gold five pointed star, each point tipped with trefoils, 1 ½ inches wide, surmounted by an eagle. On each ray of the star is a green oak leaf. On the reverse is a bar engraved "THE CONGRESS TO" with a space for engraving the name of the recipient. A ribbon bar that is the same shade of light blue as the neckband, and includes five white stars, pointed upwards, in the shape of an "M" is worn for situations other than full dress uniform. When the ribbon is worn, it is placed alone, ¼ inch (6 mm) above the center of the other ribbons. For wear with civilian clothing, a rosette is issued instead of a miniature lapel pin (which usually shows the ribbon bar). The rosette is the same shade of blue as the neck ribbon and includes white stars. The ribbon and rosette are presented at the same time as the medal.
Army Medal of Honor[]
Description[]
A gold five pointed star, each point tipped with trefoils, 1½ inches wide, surrounded by a green laurel wreath and suspended from a gold bar inscribed VALOR surmounted by an eagle. In the center of the star, Minerva's head surrounded by the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. On each ray of the star is a green oak leaf. On the reverse is a bar engraved THE CONGRESS TO with a space for engraving the name of the recipient.
Ribbon[]
The medal is suspended by a neck ribbon, 1 3/8 inches wide, Bluebird 67117. A shield of the same color ribbon with thirteen White (67101) stars, arranged in the form of three chevrons, is above the medal. The service ribbon is 1/38 inches wide with five White stars in the form of an M.
Criteria[]
The Medal of Honor is awarded by the President in the name of Congress to a person who, while a member ofthe Army, distinguishes himself or herself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life aboveand beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged inmilitary operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forcesengaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. Thedeed performed must have been one of personal bravery or self-sacrifice so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish theindividual above his comrades and must have involved risk of life. Incontestable proof of the performance of theservice will be exacted and each recommendation for the award of this decoration will be considered on the standard ofextraordinary merit.
Background[]
a. General George Washington had created the Badge of Military Merit on 7 August 1782 but it had fallen into disuse after the Revolutionary War. Decorations, as such, were still too closely related to European royalty to be of concern to the American people. However, the fierce fighting and deeds of valor during the Civil War brought into focus the realization that such valor must be recognized. Legislation was introduced in the Senate on 17 February 1862, which authorized the medal for the Army and followed the pattern of a similar award approved for Naval personnel in December 1861. The Resolution provided that: "The President of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized to cause two thousand medals of honor to be prepared with suitable emblematic devices, and to direct that the same be presented, in the name of Congress, to such noncommissioned officers and privates as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action, and other soldier-like qualities during the present insurrection, and the sum of ten thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the purpose of carrying this resolution into effect."
1862
b. The original design for the Army was created by Christian Schussel and engraved by Anthony C. Pacquot. The pendant was identical to the design approved by the Navy, with the exception of the suspension and clasp. It consisted of a 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, stands with a left hand resting on fasces and right hand holding a shield blazoned with the United States arms. She repulses Discord, represented by snakes. The pendant was suspended by a trophy of crossed cannons, balls, sword and an American eagle. The clasp was two cornucopias and the arms of the United States.
c. The initial law was amended by an Act of Congress on 3 March 1863 to extend its provisions to include officers.
1896
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1896
d. In 1896, misuse of the medal led to a change in the design of the ribbon because the original had been imitated by nonmilitary organizations. This change was authorized by Joint Resolution of Congress, Fifty-Fourth Congress, Sess. I, 2 May 1896. At this time a bowknot (rosette) was adopted to be worn in lieu of the medal. The ribbon and bowknot (rosette), established and prescribed by the President, was promulgated in War Department Orders dated 10 November 1896.
1904
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1904
e. On 23 April 1904, Congress authorized a new design of the medal. The design adopted at that time was designed by Major General George L. Gillespie and is the one currently in use. The medal was worn either suspended from the neck or pinned over the left breast in precedence to other military decorations.
f. The present neck ribbon was adopted in 1944. It is worn outside the shirt collar and inside the coat, hanging above all other decorations.
g. Special entitlements for recipients of the Medal of Honor include:
(1) Each Medal of Honor awardee may have his name entered on the Medal of Honor Roll (38 USC 560). Each person whose name is placed on the Medal of Honor Roll is certified to the Department of Veterans Affairs as being entitled to receive the special pension of $1,194 per month as of 1 December 2009. This amount is adjusted annually based on the Cost of Living Index.
(2) Enlisted recipients of the Medal of Honor are entitled to a supplemental uniform allowance.
(3) Special entitlements to air transportation under the provisions of DOD Regulation 4515.13-R.
(4) Identification card, commissary and exchange privileges for Medal of Honor recipients and their eligible dependents.
(5) Children of recipients are eligible for admission to the U.S. Service Academies without regard to the quota requirements.
(6) Ten percent increase in retired pay under Title 10, USC 3991, subject to the 75% limit on total retired pay.
Air Force Medal of Honor[]
Background[]
Air Force Medal of Honor was established by Congress on July 6, 1960, as the highest of several awards created specifically for the Air Force. The first presentation of this Medal of Honor was made at the White House in Washington on Jan. 19, 1967, when the president placed it around the neck of Maj. Bernard F. Fisher, United States Air Force.
The Air Force Medal of Honor has been awarded 13 times for actions during the war in Vietnam. Four of these decorations, to Capt. Steven L. Bennett, Capt. Lance P. Sijan, Capt. Hillard A. Wilbanks, and Airman 1st Class William H. Pitsenbarger were posthumously awarded. Two of the medals were awarded for extraordinary heroism while the recipients were prisoners of war, one to Captain Sijan and the other to Col. George E. Day who was the most highly decorated officer in the Air Force.
Others who received the medal for their actions in the war in Vietnam are: Maj. Merlyn Hans Dethlefsen, Capt. James P. Fleming, Lt. Col. Joe M. Jackson, Sgt. John L. Levitow, Lt. Col. Leo K. Thorsness, Capt. Gerald O. Young, and Col. William A. Jones III, who received the medal posthumously.
In addition, four other Airmen received the Medal of Honor during the Korean War. Majs. George A. Davis Jr., Charles J. Loring Jr., and Louis J. Sebille, and Capt. John S. Walmsley Jr., were all awarded the medal posthumously. During World War II, 35 members of the Army Air Corps were presented the nation's top honor for their actions during air missions.
Recently, Chief Master Sgt. Richard L. Etchberger, who was killed in action in 1968 in Laos, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on Sept. 21, 2010.
It is given in the name of Congress to officers and enlisted members who distinguished themselves by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their lives, above and beyond the call of duty, in action involving actual combat with an armed enemy of the United States.
Criteria[]
It is given in the name of Congress to officers and enlisted members who distinguished themselves by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their lives, above and beyond the call of duty, in action involving actual combat with an armed enemy of the United States.
Medal Description[]
This medal was designed by Lewis J. King, Jr., of the Army's Institute of Heraldry. It is a gold finished five pointed star, one point down, tipped with trefoils and each point containing a crown of laurel and oak on a green enamel background. Centered on the star is an annular of 34 stars which surround the profile of the head from the Statue of Liberty. The star is surrounded by a green enameled laurel wreath edged in gold.
The medal is suspended from a design, taken from the Air Force coat of arms. In the center is a baton with eagle claws at both ends resting on a pair of aviator's wings emitting thunderbolts from the center. This is attached to a horizontal bar bearing the word "Valor." The neck ribbon passes through the bar and has an octagonal pad of the traditional light blue moire ribbon with 13 white stars. The reverse of this decoration is blank and suitable for engraving.
Authorized device: Oak leaf cluster
Weighted Airman Promotion System Point Value: 15
Medal of Honor. Graphic created by Virginia Reyes of the Air Force News Agency. The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States. Although it was originally created for the Civil War, Congress made the Medal of Honor a permanent decoration in 1863. The current Air Force Version was approved in 1965.
Within a wreath of Green laurel, a Gold five-pointed star, one point down, tipped with trefoils and each point containing a crown of laurel and oak on a Green background. Centered on the star, an annulet of 34 stars is a representation of the head of the Statue of Liberty. The star is suspended from a bar inscribed with the word "VALOR" above an adaptation of the thunderbolt from the Air Force Coat of Arms.