Medal of Honor Facts and Figures

 

 Ok, This posting is about the facts, figures and numbers concerning the Medal of Honor.  We'll start with the very first ones, then the number awarded in each of the wars and other "operations" and then the latest Recipient from each service.  One may surprise you.  

Enjoy! 

 

The Medal of Honor throughout the Ages

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History of The Medal of Honor (Source)

"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 U. S. Army recipients are listed below

Since 1998 at least 15 other Medals of Honor have been awarded to correct past administrative errors, oversights and follow-up on lost recommendations or as a result of new evidence.

Here are just a few examples of Soldiers who were awarded the Medal of Honor from three wars. Their actions, like the other recipients of the medal, were far and above the call of duty.

During the Civil War, the job of color bearer was one of the most hazardous as well as important duties in the Army. Soldiers looked to the flag for direction and inspiration in battle and the bearer was usually out in front, drawing heavy enemy fire while holding the flag high. On Nov. 16, 1863, regimental color bearer Pvt. Joseph E. Brandle, from the 17th Michigan Infantry, participated in a battle near Lenoire, Tenn. "...[H]aving been twice wounded and the sight of one eye destroyed, [he] still held to the colors until ordered to the rear by his regimental commander."

Cpl. Alvin C. York, from the 82nd Division, fearlessly engaged the numerically superior German force at Chatel-Chehery, France, on Oct. 8, 1918 - just a month before the armistice was signed. His citation reads: "...After his platoon had suffered heavy casualties and three other noncommissioned officers had become casualties, Cpl. York assumed command. Fearlessly leading seven men, he charged with great daring toward a machine gun nest, which was pouring deadly and incessant fire upon his platoon. In this heroic feat the machine gun nest was taken, together with four officers and 128 men and several guns."

Valor is found across the times as well as across the ranks, as World War II 2nd Lt. Robert Craig, from the 3rd Infantry Division, demonstrated. According to his citation, 2nd Lt. Craig volunteered to defeat an enemy machine gun that three other officers before him could not. He quickly located the gun outside of Favoratta, Sicily, but without cover, he and his men found themselves vulnerable to approximately100 enemies. "Electing to sacrifice himself so that his platoon might carry on the battle, he ordered his men to withdraw... while he drew the enemy fire to himself. With no hope of survival, he charged toward the enemy until he was within 25 yards of them. Assuming a kneeling position, he killed five and wounded three enemy soldiers. While the hostile force concentrated fire on him, his platoon reached the cover of the crest. 2nd Lt. Craig was killed by enemy fire, but his intrepid action so inspired his men that they drove the enemy from the area, inflicting heavy casualties on the hostile force."

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 I found the above source to be very well written, so copied it verbatim.

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The first Medal of Honor was awarded to  Jacob Parrot pictured above.

Medal of Honor Recipients by Conflict

Conflicts	Recipients
Civil War	1522
Indian Campaigns	426
Korea 1871	15
Spanish American	110
Samoa	4
Philippine Insurrection	80
Philippine Outlaws	6
Boxer Rebellion	59
Mexican Campaign	56
Haiti	6
Dominican Republic	3
World War I	124
Haiti 1919-1920	2
Nicaraguan Campaign	2
World War II	464
Korean War	133
Vietnam	246
Somalia	2
Operation Iraqi Freedom	4
Operation Enduring Freedom	6
Operation Inherent Resolve	6
Non-Combat	193
Unknowns	9

 There have been 3520  of Medals of Honor awarded of which 62 recipients are still alive.  19 were double awards and 204 were awarded in Non-Combat incidents. Non-Combat awarding was discontinued in 1945.  Most had been boiler explosions on the old Navy ships.

The latest Army Medal of Honor recipient is Major Nicholas Dockery.   

 
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The latest USAF Medal of Honor recipient is  MSGT John A Chapman. 

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The latest USN Medal of Honor recipient is Elmer Royce Williams. He is known for his solo Dogfight with seven Soviet pilots during the Korean War shooting down four.

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The latest USMC Medal of Honor Recipient is Corporal Kyle Carpenter

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The latest USCG Medal of Honor Recipient is Douglas A. Munro 

(The Only USCG Medal of Honor Recipient) 

 

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Well, Campers, that's all I got.  Hope you folks realize how much Americans have given to keep this Country free.

 

"Never give up. Never surrender!" While it is quoted in a comedy, I think that's a pretty good strategy which was and is followed by an awful lot of Americans. 

 

 It caught my Eye that there were Non Combat Medal of Honor Recipients. 193 of them, their stories can be found here. For those interested this is  a policy for awarding that has been changed. 

 Finally, it occurred to me as I read the stories that every one of them to one degree or another was scared to death, yet continued to do there duty.  I think that's a pretty good definition of the word "Valor"!

Sources

https://www.cem.va.gov/history/Medal-of-Honor-history.asp

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Medal_of_Honor_recipients   All of them

https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/overview 

https://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/statistics.html   Number chart