Medal of Honor |
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There are currently 60 living recipients of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.[1] The Medal of Honor is bestowed upon a member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes themselves "conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States."[2]
Of the 60 living recipients, 44 earned their medal in the Vietnam War, 14 in the War in Afghanistan, and two in the War in Iraq. One earned his medal while serving in the U.S. Air Force, 43 in the U.S. Army, eight in the U.S. Marine Corps, and eight in the U.S. Navy. The oldest recipient is Bruce P. Crandall, aged 91, whereas the youngest is Kyle Carpenter, aged 34. Four medal holders are still on active duty in the U.S. military, William D. Swenson, Thomas Payne, Matthew O. Williams and Earl Plumlee of the U.S. Army. Among the living recipients are former U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey and three retired generals: Patrick Henry Brady and Robert F. Foley of the Army and James E. Livingston of the Marine Corps.
Medal of Honor
editThe Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. The recipient must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their own life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an enemy of the United States. Due to these requirements, it has frequently been presented posthumously.[3]
Vietnam War
editDuring the Vietnam War and in the following twelve months, 236 Medals of Honor were awarded and since 1978 a further 32 awards have been presented.[4]
War in Afghanistan
editThe War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001 and was the beginning of the Global War on Terrorism. The war was launched by the United States, the United Kingdom, and NATO allies in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks. The stated purpose of the invasion was to capture Osama bin Laden, destroy al-Qaeda, and remove the Taliban regime which had provided support and safe harbor to al-Qaeda.[38] Since 2001, 20 U.S. servicemen have received the Medal of Honor for actions in Afghanistan, five of them posthumously.
Image | Name | Branch | Birth date and age | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Edward Byers | Navy | August 4, 1979 | ||
Kyle Carpenter | Marine Corps | October 17, 1989 | ||
Ty Carter | Army | January 25, 1980 | [39] | |
Salvatore Giunta | Army | January 21, 1985 | [40] | |
Florent Groberg | Army | May 8, 1983 | [41] | |
Dakota Meyer | Marine Corps | June 26, 1988 | [42] | |
Leroy Petry | Army | July 29, 1979 | [43] | |
Ryan M. Pitts | Army | October 1, 1985 | [44] | |
Earl Plumlee | Army | April 6, 1980 | [45] | |
Clinton Romesha | Army | August 17, 1981 | [46] | |
Britt K. Slabinski | Navy | December 1, 1969 | [47] | |
William D. Swenson | Army | November 2, 1978 | [48] | |
Kyle J. White | Army | March 27, 1987 | [49] | |
Matthew O. Williams | Army | October 3, 1981 | [50] |
Iraq War
editSeven Iraq War veterans have received the Medal of Honor, five of them posthumously.
Image | Name | Branch | Birth date and age | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
David Bellavia | Army | November 10, 1975 | [51][52] | |
Thomas Payne | Army | April 2, 1984 | [53][54] |
Recently deceased
editRecipients who died within the last twelve months are listed below.[55]
Image | Name | Branch | Conflict | Birth date | Death date | Place of death | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Frank A. Herda | Army | Vietnam War | September 13, 1947 | October 13, 2023 | Cleveland, Ohio | [56] | |
Roger Donlon | Army | Vietnam War | January 30, 1934 | January 25, 2024 | Leavenworth, Kansas | [57] | |
Larry Taylor | Army | Vietnam War | February 12, 1942 | January 28, 2024 | Signal Mountain, Tennessee | [58] | |
Ralph Puckett | Army | Korean War | December 8, 1926 | April 8, 2024 | Columbus, Georgia | [59] | |
Clarence Sasser | Army | Vietnam War | September 12, 1947 | May 13, 2024 | Sugar Land, Texas | [60] | |
Paul Bucha | Army | Vietnam War | August 1, 1943 | July 31, 2024 | West Haven, Connecticut | [61] |
References
edit- ^ "Medal of Honor FAQs | CMOHS".
- ^ United States Department of the Army (1 July 2002). "Section 578.4 Medal of Honor". Code of Federal Regulations Title 32, Volume 2. Government Printing Office. Retrieved 23 July 2006.
- ^ "A Brief History — The Medal of Honor". Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). Department of Defense. 8 August 2006. Archived from the original on 15 June 2009. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
- ^ The Medal of Honor Historical Society of the United States at http://www.mohhsus.com/medal-of-honor shows 268 awards for Vietnam excluding the Vietnam Unknown listed with the group of nine Unknowns. The Congressional Medal of Honor Society at http://www.cmohs.org/medal-statistics.php lists 268 awards for Vietnam excluding the Vietnam Unknown. Both societies include US Navy recipient William McGonagle, in the Eastern Mediterranean on June 8, 1967, in their Vietnam totals.
- ^ Vargo, Joe (14 May 2008). "Cross-country flight to honor lives lost in Vietnam". The Press-Enterprise. Riverside, California. Archived from the original on 28 May 2010.
- ^ Gooding, Mike (29 November 2010). "Medal of Honor recipient says being corpsman isn't for everyone". Hampton, Virginia: WVEC. Archived from the original on 30 November 2010.
- ^ a b Vargo, Joe (2 March 2008). "Medal of Honor recipients give support, thanks to fellow veterans". The Press-Enterprise. Riverside, California. Archived from the original on 31 May 2010.
- ^ "President Biden to Award Medal of Honor". The White House. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ a b c Marshall, John (11 November 2003). "Medal of Honor recipient Patrick Brady epitomizes the humble hero". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Seattle, Washington. Archived from the original on 31 May 2010.
- ^ Dave Phillips (15 February 2021). "A Black Soldier's Heroism, Overlooked in 1965, May Finally Be Lauded in 2021". The New York Times.
- ^ a b c Reich, Howard (13 September 2009). "Medal of Honor recipients say you can be hero too". Chicago Tribune. Chicago. Archived from the original on 21 June 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Medal of Honor - Recipients Bios". Arlington, Virginia: WETA-TV. 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2010.
- ^ Maegan Vazquez; Oren Liebermann (5 July 2022). "Biden awards 4 Vietnam veterans with the Medal of Honor". CNN. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
- ^ "Veterans speak of war service". East Valley Tribune. Mesa, Arizona. 10 November 2007. Archived from the original on 2 July 2010.
- ^ "Eight Medal of Honor recipients are buried in SD". News From Indian Country. Wisconsin. 28 May 2007. Archived from the original on 2 July 2010.
- ^ "President Biden to Award Medal of Honor". The White House. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ Gaddis, Rebecca (18 June 2009). "Medal of Honor recipient administers oath". Jax Air News. Jacksonville, Florida. Archived from the original on 7 July 2010.
- ^ DiIonno, Mark (15 June 2010). "Medal of Honor recipient from N.J. swears in 300 U.S. Army recruits at Statue of Liberty". New Jersey On-Line. Archived from the original on 7 July 2010.
- ^ Elson, Martha (10 November 2010). "Sullivan will dedicate plaza to vets". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. Archived from the original on 10 November 2010.
- ^ Haneisen, Rob (3 June 2009). "Framingham veteran keeps Flag Day event alive". The MetroWest Daily News. Framingham, Massachusetts. Archived from the original on 7 July 2010.
- ^ O'Brien, B.J. (21 July 2006). "Kellogg honored by alumni association". The Bethel Beacon. Bethel, Connecticut. Archived from the original on 31 May 2010.
- ^ Roper, Peter (13 May 2010). "Medal of Honor golf tourney to host Fort Carson vets". The Pueblo Chieftain. Pueblo, Colorado. Archived from the original on 28 May 2010.
- ^ Archer, Bill (23 August 2010). "'I had a job to do'". Bluefield Daily Telegraph. Bluefield, West Virginia. Archived from the original on 19 November 2010.
- ^ Kropf, Schuyler (3 October 2009). "Convention of heroes shaping up". The Post and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. Archived from the original on 28 May 2010.
- ^ Voss, Mike (23 April 2010). "A healing wall". Washington Daily News. Washington, North Carolina. Archived from the original on 28 May 2010.
- ^ Fandos, Nicholas (31 July 2017). "Medal of Honor Goes to Vietnam Medic Who Ran Through 'Hell on Earth'". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
- ^ a b Liewer, Steve (11 November 2007). "Medal of Honor process under fire". The San Diego Union-Tribune. San Diego, California. Archived from the original on 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Sergeant First Class Melvin Morris | Valor 24 | Medal of Honor | The United States Army". www.army.mil.
- ^ a b Williams, Rudi (14 June 2004). "Nine Medal of Honor recipients Attend Gala". United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on 28 May 2010.
- ^ Griggs, Travis (17 October 2010). "Wannabe warriors an 'insult' to their bravery". Pensacola News Journal. Pensacola, Florida. Archived from the original on 17 October 2010.
- ^ George, Justin (5 August 2005). "A rare and Honorable gathering". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. Archived from the original on 7 July 2010.
- ^ "Master Sergeant Jose Rodela | Valor 24 | Medal of Honor | The United States Army". www.army.mil.
- ^ "Captain Gary Michael Rose | Medal of Honor Recipient| U.S. Army". www.army.mil.
- ^ Beyerle, Dana (25 June 2000). "At first a casualty, Gadsden native became a hero". The Tuscaloosa News. Tuscaloosa, Alabama. p. 6A. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
- ^ Fattig, Paul (28 June 2010). "Clothes suited for an honorable vet". Mail Tribune. Medford, Oregon. Archived from the original on 7 July 2010.
- ^ "Search | Arizona Department of
Veterans' Services". - ^ Wideman, Steve (22 May 2010). "LZ Lambeau motorcycle ride kicks off event". The Post-Crescent. Appleton, Wisconsin. Archived from the original on 4 June 2010.
- ^ "The United States Army in Afghanistan". Operation Enduring Freedom. United States Army. 17 March 2006. Archived from the original on 1 February 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
- ^ "Obama awards Ty Carter Medal of Honor for Afghan battle". BBC. 26 August 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
- ^ Obert, Lori (10 February 2012). "Blackhawk lands at Pepsi Center". Denver, Colorado: KUSA. Archived from the original on 11 February 2012.
- ^ Gibbons-Neff, Thomas (14 October 2015). "This Army captain will get the Medal of Honor for tackling an Afghan suicide bomber". The Washington Post. Retrieved 15 October 2015.[dead link]
- ^ Lamothe, Dan (19 July 2011). "Obama OKs Medal of Honor for living Marine". Marine Corps Times. Springfield, Virginia. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011.
- ^ "Army Ranger to be awarded Medal of Honor". Stars and Stripes. Washington, D.C. 31 May 2011. Archived from the original on 1 June 2011.
- ^ "Staff Sergeant Ryan M. Pitts, Medal of Honor". army.mil. 21 July 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
- ^ Biden awards Medal of Honor to 3 soldiers, including the first African American since the Vietnam War
- ^ Ogden, Eloise (12 January 2013). "Minot man to receive Medal of Honor". Minot Daily News. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
- ^ Naval Special Warfare Command (7 May 2018). "Retired Master Chief Britt Slabinski to Receive Medal of Honor". navy.mil. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
- ^ "CAPTAIN WILLIAM D. SWENSON • MEDAL OF HONOR". army.mil. 13 October 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
- ^ "Profile: Sergeant Kyle Jerome White". U.S. Army. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
- ^ Lange, Katie. "Medal of Honor Monday: Army Master Sgt. Matthew Williams". United States Department of Defense. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
- ^ Medal Of Honor Awarded To Iraq War Veteran
- ^ Staff Sergeant David G. Bellavia
- ^ "Soldier Who Helped Rescue 75 Hostages Awarded Medal Of Honor". NPR. 11 September 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ Sgt. Maj. Thomas Payne Will Be 1st Living Delta Force Member to Receive Medal of Honor
- ^ "Recently Departed". Congressional Medal of Honor Society. 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
- ^ "Medal of Honor Recipients Announce Passing of Medal of Honor Recipient Frank A. Herda". CMOHS. 26 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
- ^ "Congressional Medal of Honor Society Announces Passing of Medal of Honor Recipient Roger H. C. Donlon". CMOHS. 25 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ "Congressional Medal of Honor Society Announces Passing of Medal of Honor Recipient Larry L. Taylor". CMOHS. 29 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ "Congressional Medal of Honor Society Announces Passing of Medal of Honor Recipient Ralph Puckett Jr". CMOHS. 8 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ "Congressional Medal of Honor Society Announces Passing of Medal of Honor Recipient Clarence E. Sasser". CMOHS. 14 May 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
- ^ "Medal of Honor Recipient Paul W. Bucha Passes Away at 80". CMOHS. 31 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
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External links
edit- Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation: List of Recipients
- Congressional Medal of Honor Society: Living Recipients
Media related to Medal of Honor (United States) at Wikimedia Commons