As I sit down to put the finishing touches on this piece, my thoughts return once again to those of our forefathers who committed their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to the cause of individual freedom, liberty of conscience, and American sovereignty.
Their cause was and still is not only the cause of America but the cause of mankind as well. It has been the responsibility of a free people to live out the principles enshrined in our Declaration of Independence as much as it was the commitment of our forefathers to recognize, articulate, and fight for them – and, may I say, against overwhelming odds. They believed with all their heart that freedom was so much more important than security.
The cost of maintaining that Declaration, our Constitution, and our way of life has been an enormous and indispensable one for those who’ve worn the uniform of the U.S. military. There have been over 1.3 million American military deaths since 1775.
Some of these men were boyhood heroes of mine. Their courage, valor, and love for America were positive examples for me and helped to shape me into who I am today. However, I’ve never forgotten the courage and sacrifice of all the other men and women in uniform who paid their own price at the altar of freedom. My father was one of those. In the following paragraphs, I wish to briefly share some history of how some of those patriots who went above and beyond the call of duty have been officially recognized and honored.
The first formal system for rewarding acts of individual gallantry by America’s fighting men was established by General George Washington in August 1782. Designed to recognize “any singularly meritorious action,” and later “For military merit and for wounds received in action,” the Badge of Military Merit took the form of a heart made of a purple cloth.
The idea of a decoration for individual gallantry remained through the early 19th century. In 1847, after the outbreak of the Mexican-American War, a “certificate of merit” was established for any soldier who distinguished himself in action. However, no medal went with the honor. After this war, the award was discontinued.
Some 15 years later, early in the Civil War, a medal for individual valor was proposed to General-in-Chief of the Army Winfield Scott, but he rejected the idea. However, the Navy liked the idea and acted on it. On December 9, 1861, Iowa Senator James Grimes introduced congressional legislation for the creation of the Medal of Honor in the Navy. It was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on December 21, 1861. The medal was “to be bestowed upon such petty officers, seamen, landsmen, and Marines as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry and other seamanlike qualities during the present war.”
The following year, a resolution similar in wording was introduced on behalf of the Army. On February 17, 1862, Massachusetts Senator Henry Wilson introduced congressional legislation for the creation of the Medal of Honor in the Army. It was signed into law on July 12, 1862. This measure provided for awarding a medal of honor “to such noncommissioned officers and privates as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action, and other soldierlike qualities, during the present insurrection.” Although it was created for the Civil War, Congress made the Medal of Honor a permanent decoration in March 1863.
The Medal of Honor was first presented on March 25, 1863 to Union soldiers of Andrews’ Raiders who had gone on a spy mission into Georgia, which included decommissioning a railway and telegraph lines. This date was later used to establish the official anniversary for observing National Medal of Honor Day to “foster public appreciation and recognition of Medal of Honor Recipients.”
The first Navy Medal of Honor was presented on May 15, 1863, to Robert Williams. John F. Mackie was the first Marine to receive the Medal, presented on July 10, 1863. The first and only Coast Guard recipient was Douglas A. Munroe. He received the Medal posthumously when it was presented to his parents in February 1943. Army Sergeant William Carney was the first African American to perform an action for which a Medal of Honor was awarded, but Navy Seaman Robert Blake (the second African American to perform such action) was the first one to receive his Medal (1864). Carney received his medal in 1900, 37 years after he earned it.
In 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt mandated through Executive Order that the Medal of Honor should always be presented with ceremony by the President or a designated representative. In 1916, the Army & Navy Medal of Honor Roll was created and the first special pension for recipients began. In 1916-1917, Congress conducted a review of all Medal of Honor Awards to up to that point to ensure that they met the high standards required for the award. As a result, 911 Medals of Honor were rescinded.
One of those involved was the only woman recipient of the Medal of Honor, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker (1832-1919). The Medal was presented to her in November 1865 by President Andrew Johnson for her meritorious service during the Civil War. It was rescinded because she was a civilian who had never been commissioned an officer in military service. Nevertheless, she refused to return the medal and continued to wear it for the remainder of her life. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter restored the Medal of Honor to Walker’s name.
During World War I, the Armed Forces realized that having more than one medal for valorous action would be beneficial and allow for the recognition of more deserving recipients. In response, in 1918, Congress codified the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal, and the Silver Star. However, The Medal of Honor remained at the top of the “pyramid” of valor.
Over the years, the Medal of Honor has undergone several redesigns, with the current design being an inverted star suspended around the neck on a light-blue ribbon with thirteen white stars. Though the Army, Navy, and Air Force have their own designs, each of the medals features differences within and surrounding the pendulous star. Each of the three stands for “action above and beyond the call of duty.” The Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard all use the Navy medal.
For an act to be considered for the Medal of Honor, it must be in combat and involve the risk of the service member’s life. The act must be so outstanding that it clearly distinguishes gallantry beyond the call of duty and must be the type of deed which, if not done, would not result in any justified criticism.
To ensure each presentation of the Medal of Honor is warranted, every recommendation goes through an exhaustive review process. Incontestable proof is required, including at least two sworn eyewitness statements and documents. An individual must be recommended for the Medal of Honor within three years of their valorous action, and the Medal must be presented within five years. If it is not, Congress must pass a law waiving the time limits.
Out of the 41 million Americans who have served in the U.S. military, there have been 3,565 Medals of Honor presented (as of March 30, 2023). Among these, there have been 19 recipients of two Medals of Honor. Of the total, 618 medals have been awarded posthumously, and only 65 living recipients remain to date.
Currently, Medal of Honor Recipients receive a special monthly pension for life, may fly for free on military aircraft on a space-available basis, qualify for burial at Arlington National Cemetery, and their children may apply to U.S. service academies without a Congressional sponsor. More information about the Medal of Honor can be found on several Internet sites, including the Congressional Medal of Honor Society website at https://www.cmohs.org/medal. Places of interest to visit include the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas, and the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
In looking forward to National Medal of Honor Day this Monday, March 25, I think it appropriate to close with quotes from several Medal of Honor Recipients. Corporal Alvin C. York (U.S. Army 1918): “In the war the hand of God was with us. It is impossible for anyone to go through with what we did and come out without the hand of God. We didn’t want money; we didn’t want land; we didn’t want to lose our boys over there. But we had to go into it to give our boys and young ladies a chance for peace in the days to come.” Second Lieutenant Audie L. Murphy (U.S. Army 1945): “I never liked being called the ‘most decorated’ soldier. There were so many guys who should have gotten medals and never did — guys who were killed.” Corporal Desmond Doss (U.S. Army 1945):“When I think of the horrors of war, I just pray for peace. I’m not afraid to die; I just don’t want to stand by and watch ignorance and hate kill a bunch of innocent people. I don’t know how I’m going to live with myself if I don’t stay true to what I believe.” Petty Officer Michael E. Thornton (U.S. Navy 1973): “[The] Medal of Honor belongs to every man and woman who gives us the freedom today to be able to hold our flag and hold our heads up high and say we have the greatest country in the world. And that goes with the men and women in the past, and the men and women of today, and the men and women of the future. As long as Mike Thornton lives, that medal will always stand for all them. Not for me. Not for what I’ve done, but for what I was trained to do and what they have been trained to do to give us our freedom today.” Second Lieutenant Daniel Inouye (U.S. Army 2000 – for service in WW II): “I’ve always felt that if I am deserving of the Medal of Honor, there are many, many others who are. I felt a little bad receiving it, so I received it on behalf of the fellows, because there’s no such thing as a single-handed war. There’s always a support group, and if you didn’t have people who supported you, you couldn’t fight a war.”
By Jeff Olson
Jeff Olson, Author
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Thank you Jeff.