Today is Medal of Honor Day in honor of the award instituted on this day by Pres. Lincoln in 1861. There have been over 3,500 recipients. Here are some interesting facts:
1. It is simply called the Medal of Honor, not the Congressional Medal of Honor. There are three versions of the medal. One for the Navy, Army, and Air Force. It is the only military medal worn around the neck.
2. There are some perks that come with receiving it. For instance, higher officers must salute you, including the President. You are invited to every presidential inauguration and inaugural ball.
3. There have been 19 double winners, including Tom Custer (George’s brother).
4. The first recipient was Pvt. Jacob Parrott. He participated in the Andrew’s Raid in the Civil War. He and his 18 comrades earned the award for capturing a Southern train and attempting to take it to Union lines. Four of the Raiders received it posthumously. Over half of the medals over the years have been awarded posthumously. Ironically, Andrews did not get the award because at the time civilians were not eligible.
5. Eight civilians have received it, including the only women, Mary Edwards Walker. Walker was a surgeon who worked on wounded soldiers at several Civil War battles.
6. The youngest recipient was Willie Johnston. He was eleven years old when he refused to abandon his drum during a retreat in the Civil War. The oldest was Douglas MacArthur, who was 62 when he made his perilous escape from the Philippines.
7. MacArthur is also part of the two father-son recipients. His father Arthur also received the award. The other pair is Teddy and Teddy Roosevelt, Jr. Interestingly, the son got his first, for bravery in D-Day. Teddy was recognized for the Battle of San Juan Hill in 2001 by Pres. Clinton.
8. There have been five pairs of brothers who have gotten the award. Four pairs were for the same battle, but Antoine (Philippine-American War) and Julien (action rescuing Americans during the Mexican Revolution) Gaujot received theirs for separate conflicts.
9. In 1916, 911 were revoked for actions not deemed worthy of the medal. 864 of the revocations were for members of the 27th Maine Regiment in the Civil War. The soldiers were promised the medal if they reenlisted. “Buffalo Bill” Cody lost his also.
10. The battle that had the most medals awarded was Iwo Jima. 21 Medals of Honor were awarded for that battle. Seven were for jumping on grenades to save comrades. One of those Marines survived. Jack Lucas put two grenades under his helmet and then covered it with his body. He spent the rest of his life with two hundred pieces of shrapnel in his body. Another rare survivor of grenade covering is Kyle Carpenter who saved several squad members in Afghanistan in 2010.
https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/medal-of-honor-amazing-facts/
https://www.hfotusa.org/five-facts-about-the-medal-of-honor/
https://www.warhistoryonline.com/instant-articles/facts-you-didnt-know-moh.html
https://connectingvets.radio.com/articles/9-facts-about-medal-honor
Mary Edwards Walker
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