Acts of Valor
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States government’s highest and most prestigious military decoration that may be awarded to recognize American Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen, Space Force Guardians, and Coast Guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. The medal is normally awarded by the President of the United States, but as it is presented “in the name of the United States Congress”, it is often referred to as the “Congressional Medal of Honor”.
There are three distinct variants of the medal: one for the Department of the Army, awarded to Soldiers, one for the Department of the Navy, awarded to Sailors and Marines, as well as Coast Guardsmen of the Department of Homeland Security, and one for the Department of the Air Force, awarded to Airmen and Space Force Guardians. The Medal of Honor was introduced for the Department of the Navy in 1861, soon followed by the Department of the Army’s version in 1862. The Department of the Air Force used the Department of the Army’s version until they received their own distinctive version in 1965. The Medal of Honor is the oldest continuously issued combat decoration of the United States Armed Forces.
The president typically presents the Medal of Honor at a formal ceremony intended to represent the gratitude of the American people, with posthumous presentations made to the primary next of kin. According to the Medal of Honor Historical Society of the United States, there have been 3,526 Medals of Honor awarded to 3,507 individuals since the decoration’s creation, with over 40% awarded for actions during the American Civil War. In 1990, Congress designated March 25 annually as “National Medal of Honor Day”.
Although not required by law or military regulation, members of the uniformed services are encouraged to render salutes to recipients of the Medal of Honor as a matter of respect and courtesy regardless of rank or status, whether or not they are in uniform. This is one of the few instances where a living member of the military will receive salutes from members of a higher rank.
MOH awarded by branch (to date):
Army-2,457
Navy-749
Marines-300
Air Force-19
Coast Guard-1
