Medal Of Honor

Medal Of Honor Picture

Medal Of Honor Picture

Medal Of Honor Image

Medal Of Honor Photo

Medal of Honor
From left to right, the Army, Navy/Marine Corps/Coast Guard, and Air Force medals
Awarded by the President in the name of Congress
Type	Single-grade neck order
Eligibility	Military personnel only
Awarded for	"Conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against any enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party."[1][2]
Status	Currently awarded
Statistics
Established	July 12, 1862
First awarded	American Civil War
Last awarded	September 15, 2011
Total awarded	3,475[3]
Posthumous awards	627
Distinct recipients	3,458[3]
Precedence
Next (higher)	None
Next (lower)	Army: Distinguished Service Cross Navy: Navy Cross Marine Corps: Navy Cross Air Force: Air Force Cross Coast Guard: Navy Cross
ribbon bar and rosette

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous 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."^[1] Due to the nature of its criteria, it is often awarded posthumously (more than half have been since 1941).^[4]

Members of all branches of the armed forces are eligible to receive the medal, and there are three versions (one for the Army, one for the Air Force, and one for the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard). The Medal of Honor is then presented to the recipient or, for posthumous awards, to next of kin. The President of the United States presents the medal in person, on behalf of the Congress, representing and recognizing the gratitude of the American people as a whole. Due to its honored status, the medal is afforded special protection under U.S. law.^[5]

The Medal of Honor is one of two military neck order awards issued by the United States and is the sole neck order awarded to members of the armed forces (the Commander's Degree of the Legion of Merit is a neck order but it is only authorized for issue to foreign dignitaries).^[6]

As the award citation includes the phrase "in the name of Congress", it is sometimes erroneously called the Congressional Medal of Honor; however, the official title is simply the Medal of Honor.^[7][8]