CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR

ABOUT THE AWARDABOUT THE AWARD

upon an individual serving in the Armed Forces upon an individual serving in the Armed Forces The Congressional Medal of Honor is the highest The Congressional Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against the enemy which award for valor in action against the enemy which can be bestowed of the United Statescan be bestowed of the United States

It is generally presented by the President in the It is generally presented by the President in the name of Congressname of Congress

1st military decoration formally authorized by our 1st military decoration formally authorized by our governmentgovernment

President Harry S. Truman said that he would President Harry S. Truman said that he would have rather won the Medal of Honor then become have rather won the Medal of Honor then become President of the United StatesPresident of the United States

HISTORY OF HISTORY OF AWARDAWARD

Senator James Grimes introduced a bill on Senator James Grimes introduced a bill on December 21, 1861 for the awardDecember 21, 1861 for the award

President Abraham Lincoln signed the bill into President Abraham Lincoln signed the bill into law in July of 1862law in July of 1862

The Medal of Honor was created to inspire sailors The Medal of Honor was created to inspire sailors in the Navy to distinguish themselves in combatin the Navy to distinguish themselves in combat

Although it was created for the Civil War, Although it was created for the Civil War, Congress made it a permanent decoration in Congress made it a permanent decoration in 18631863

A total of 3,427 have been awarded to dateA total of 3,427 have been awarded to date

THREE TYPES OF MEDALSTHREE TYPES OF MEDALS

Navy, Marines,Coast Guard

Arm y Air Force

Congressional Medal of Honor

NAVY, MARINES, COAST NAVY, MARINES, COAST GUARDGUARD

First Medal of Honor First Medal of Honor Original simple star Original simple star

established in 1861established in 1861 745 presented to 745 presented to

Navy personnelNavy personnel 294 to Marines294 to Marines 1 to Coast Guard, 1 to Coast Guard,

Douglas Munro for Douglas Munro for service in WW IIservice in WW II

A wreath version was A wreath version was designed for the designed for the Army in 1904Army in 1904

Jacob Parrot received 1st Jacob Parrot received 1st in March 1862 for his in March 1862 for his actions in “The Great actions in “The Great Locomotive Chase”Locomotive Chase”

2,362 have been 2,362 have been awarded to Army awarded to Army personnelpersonnel

The highest of all armed The highest of all armed servicesservices

ARMYARMY

AIR FORCEAIR FORCE

Designed in 1963 Designed in 1963 and adopted in and adopted in 19651965

first awarded to first awarded to Bernard F. Fisher in Bernard F. Fisher in 1967 for actions in 1967 for actions in VietnamVietnam

the Air Force has the Air Force has had 16 recipients to had 16 recipients to datedate

AWARDS BY BRANCH AWARDS BY BRANCH OF SERVICEOF SERVICE

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Army Navy Marines AirForce

CoastGuard

medals

MEDALS BY MAJOR MEDALS BY MAJOR CONFLICTCONFLICT

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

CivilWar

WW I WW II Korea Vietnam

Medals Won

DR. MARY WALKERDR. MARY WALKER

Only woman to ever Only woman to ever win the Medal win the Medal

assistant surgeon in assistant surgeon in the Union armythe Union army

captured and held as captured and held as a POW by the Southa POW by the South

President Johnson President Johnson signed citation on signed citation on January 11, 1865January 11, 1865

Postal stamp=1982Postal stamp=1982

RECENT AWARDEESRECENT AWARDEES

MSgt. Gary Gordon, Army sniper team leaderMSgt. Gary Gordon, Army sniper team leader SFC. Randall Shugart, Army sniper team memberSFC. Randall Shugart, Army sniper team member Killed in action in Somalia on Oct. 3, 1993Killed in action in Somalia on Oct. 3, 1993 Volunteered to provide cover fire to protect Volunteered to provide cover fire to protect

downed US helicopters until help arriveddowned US helicopters until help arrived Killed undetermined number of Somali attackers Killed undetermined number of Somali attackers

while the downed helicopter crew was rescued.while the downed helicopter crew was rescued. Killed when their ammo ran outKilled when their ammo ran out President Clinton said, “These men died in the President Clinton said, “These men died in the

most courageous and selfless way any human most courageous and selfless way any human being can.”being can.”

CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR SOCIETYOF HONOR SOCIETY

Formed in 1946 Formed in 1946 Uphold the integrity Uphold the integrity

of the Medal of Honorof the Medal of Honor Remember those Remember those

who received the who received the CMHCMH

Provide aid to Provide aid to widows and children widows and children of deceased of deceased honorees honorees