The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy
force that can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States. 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.
l The Medal of Honor was established by a joint resolution of Congress in July 1862, and was first issued during the Civil War.
l The first Medal of Honor was awarded on March 25, 1863, to Army Pvt. Jacob Parrot, and five other members of Andrews’ Raiders, who, during the Civil War crossed over enemy lines to tear up railroad track and sabotage the Confederate Army.
l In 1917, before the United States entered World War I, the Medal of Honor criteria tightened. A board was created with the power to rescind awards that did not meet the new standards of heroism in combat. 911 recipients, more than a third of the previous total, had their Medals rescinded.
l To date, there have been 3,473 Medals of Honor awarded
l Only seven Medals of Honor have been awarded since the Vietnam War, all posthumously – two for service in Somalia, one in Afghanistan and four in Iraq.
l Today, there are 103 living recipients of the Medal of Honor.
l There have been 87 African-American recipients, 41 Hispanic-American recipients, 22 Native American recipients, 22 Asian-American recipients, and only one female recipient. There have been 19 double Medal of Honor recipients.
l By the 1990s, it was obvious that minorities had been overlooked for the Medal of Honor; not a single African-American or Asian-American had received one in either of the world wars. The Army ordered a review and seven black veterans were awarded the Medal of Honor. Only one of them, Vernon Baker, was still alive to receive it. Another review resulted in twenty-two medals for Asian- Americans.
l The Medal of Honor is the only U.S. military award worn around the neck as opposed to being pinned on the uniform. Among other privileges, Medal of Honor recipients receive invitations to attend presidential inaugurations and accompanying festivities.
