The Medal of Honor

Medal of Honor recipients

General information

Established July 12, 1862

First awarded American Civil War Last awarded June 2, 2008

Total awarded 3,465

Posthumous awards 618 Distinct recipients 3,446

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed on a member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes him- or herself "conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his [or her] life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States."Because of the nature of its criteria, the medal is often awarded posthumously.

Jacob Wilson Parrott Jacob Wilson Parrott (July 17, 1843–December 22, 1908) was a soldier in the volunteer Union army during the American Civil War. He was the first recipient of the Medal of Honor, a new military award first presented by the United States Department of War to several soldiers for their participation in the Great Locomotive Chase.

Medal of Honor citation:One of the 19 of 22 men (including 2 civilians) who, by direction of Gen. Mitchell (or Buell) penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and tracks between Chattanooga and Atlanta.

Mary Edwards Walker Mary Edwards Walker (November 26, 1832 – February 21,1919) was an American feminist, abolitionist, prohibitionist, alleged spy, prisoner of war, surgeon, and the only woman to receive the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor citation:She rendered valuable service to the Government, and her efforts have been earnest and untiring in a variety of ways,she was assigned to duty and served as an assistant surgeon in charge of female prisoners at Louisville, Ky;devoted herself with much patriotic zeal to the sick and wounded soldiers, both in the field and hospitals, to the detriment of her own health.

John H. Pruitt

John Henry Pruitt (October 4, 1896–October 4, 1918) was a United States Marine during World War I and is 1 of only 19 people who received 2 Medals of Honor. The Medals of Honor were presented posthumously for his actions during World War I.

Medal of Honor citation:For extraordinary gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 78th Company, 6th Regiment, 2d Division, in action with the enemy at Blanc Mont Ridge, France, October 3, 1918. H.Pruitt, single-handed attacked 2 machineguns, capturing them and killing 2 of the enemy. He then captured 40 prisoners in a dugout nearby. This gallant soldier was killed soon afterward by shellfire while he

was sniping the enemy.

Awards

Medal of Honor ArmyMedal of Honor NavySilver StarPurple HeartCroix de Guerre

Peter C. Lemon Peter C. Lemon (born June 5, 1950) is one of the youngest surviving recipients of the Medal of Honor; he received the award for his actions on April 1, 1970 while serving in Tay Ninh province during the Vietnam War.Lemon is the only Canadian citizen to be presented the medal for fighting in the Vietnam War.

Medal of Honor citation:Peter C. Lemon distinguished himself while serving as an assistant machine gunner during the defense of Fire Support Base Wingworth. When the base came under heavy enemy attack, Sgt. Lemon engaged a numerically superior enemy with machine gun and rifle fire from his defensive position until both weapons malfunctioned. He then used hand grenades to fend off the intensified enemy attack launched in his direction. After eliminating all but 1 of the enemy soldiers in the immediate vicinity, he pursued and disposed of the remaining soldier in hand-to-hand combat. Despite fragment wounds from an exploding grenade, Sgt. Lemon regained his position, carried a more seriously wounded comrade to an aid station, and, as he returned, was wounded a second time by enemy fire. Disregarding his personal injuries, he moved to his position through a hail of small arms and grenade fire. Sgt. Lemon immediately realized that the defensive sector was in danger of being overrun by the enemy and unhesitatingly assaulted the enemy soldiers by throwing hand grenades and engaging in hand-to-hand combat. He was wounded yet a third time, but his determined efforts successfully drove the enemy from the position. Securing an operable machine gun, Sgt. Lemon stood atop an embankment fully exposed to enemy fire, and placed effective fire upon the enemy until he collapsed from his multiple wounds and exhaustion. After regaining consciousness at the aid station, he refused medical evacuation until his more seriously wounded comrades had been evacuated. Sgt. Lemon's gallantry and extraordinary heroism, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

Awards:Medal of HonorBronze Star (x2)Air Medal (x2)Army Commendation

MedalPurple Heart

Ross Andrew McGinnis

Ross Andrew McGinnis (June 14, 1987 – December 4, 2006) was a soldier in the United States Army who was killed in action on December 4, 2006 during the Iraq War when he threw himself on a live grenade thereby saving the lives of at least four other Soldiers. For his action, McGinnis was posthumously promoted to specialist and awarded the Medal of Honor as well as the Silver Star and Purple Heart. His family was presented the Medal of Honor by President George W. Bush on June 2, 2008 at a ceremony at the White House.

Medal of Honor citation:

A fragmentation grenade thrown by an insurgent fell through the gunner's hatch into the vehicle. Reacting quickly, he yelled "grenade," allowing all four members of his crew to prepare for the grenade's blast. Then, rather than leaping from the gunner's hatch to safety, Private McGinnis made the courageous decision to protect his crew. In a selfless act of bravery, in which he was mortally wounded, Private McGinnis covered the live grenade, pinning it between his body and the vehicle and absorbing most of the explosion.

Awards:Medal of HonorSilver StarBronze StarPurple Heart

Legal protection

Until late 2006, the Medal of Honor was the only service decoration singled out in federal law to protect it from being imitated or privately sold. All Medals of Honor are issued in the original only, by the Department of Defense, to a recipient. Misuse of the medal, including unauthorized manufacture or wear, is punishable by a fine up to $100,000 and imprisonment up to one year pursuant to (18 U.S.C § 704(b)). After the Army redesigned its medal in 1903, a patent was issued (United States Patent #D37,236) to prevent others from making the medal. When the patent expired, the Federal government enacted a law making it illegal to produce, wear, or distribute the Medal of Honor without proper authority. A number of veterans' organizations and private companies devote themselves to exposing those who falsely claim to have received the Medal of Honor.

The End

Thank you for attention

MSLU 2009 Zhuravlev Alexander