The Highest Honor in American Military Service

The Medal of Honor is awarded by the President of the United States, in the name of Congress, to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their own life above and beyond the call of duty in actual combat against an enemy of the United States.

That phrase — above and beyond the call of duty — is not rhetorical. It is the legal and administrative threshold that separates the Medal of Honor from every other decoration in the American military system. Acts that would earn lesser decorations — the Silver Star, the Distinguished Service Cross — are not sufficient. The action must be so extraordinary that it stands apart even from other examples of uncommon courage.

Origins: The Civil War

The Medal of Honor was created during the Civil War. Congress authorized a Navy version in December 1861 and an Army version in July 1862. President Lincoln signed the Army bill into law, making it the first formalized system of individual valor recognition in American military history.

Early awards were inconsistently applied. Over 900 Medals of Honor were issued during the Civil War, a number that led to later scrutiny. In 1917, a review board revoked 911 awards that did not meet the increasingly rigorous standards — including the entire 27th Maine Infantry regiment, whose members had been awarded the medal simply for reenlisting.

The Three Versions of the Medal

Today, the Medal of Honor exists in three distinct versions, one for each major branch:

  • Army Medal of Honor: A five-pointed star suspended from a bar engraved "VALOR," hung from a light blue silk neck ribbon. The star features the head of Minerva, Roman goddess of wisdom and war.
  • Navy Medal of Honor (for Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard): An anchor-based design, also hung from a neck ribbon, reflecting naval heritage.
  • Air Force Medal of Honor: Created in 1965 when the Air Force received its own version, featuring a star centered on a cloud formation and a thunderbolt.

Criteria and the Nomination Process

The process for nominating a service member for the Medal of Honor is lengthy and deliberate by design:

  1. A recommendation must be initiated, usually by a commanding officer, and accompanied by eyewitness statements
  2. The nomination travels up the chain of command, reviewed at each level
  3. The relevant service secretary reviews and approves the nomination
  4. The Joint Chiefs of Staff review the recommendation
  5. The Secretary of Defense approves and forwards it to the President
  6. The President, as Commander-in-Chief, awards the medal — typically in a White House ceremony

There is a statutory time limit of three years from the act to the nomination, though Congress has the authority to waive this requirement in cases where evidence was delayed or suppressed — something that has occurred multiple times, often to correct historical injustices.

Recipients and Notable Facts

The Medal of Honor has been awarded roughly 3,500 times since its creation. Many things distinguish recipients and the award itself:

  • Recipients are entitled to a special pension and other lifetime benefits
  • All members of the military are required to salute a Medal of Honor recipient, regardless of rank
  • The medal is worn around the neck — it is not a breast decoration — signifying its unique status
  • A significant number of Medals of Honor have been awarded posthumously
  • Several individuals have received the medal twice, a nearly impossible distinction

Why It Stands Apart

What makes the Medal of Honor different from all other American military awards is not just its criteria or its rarity — it is the combination of both, placed in the context of direct combat with enemy forces. Other nations have equivalents: the Victoria Cross in Britain, the Croix de Guerre in France, the George Cross. Each reflects a nation's particular values around military service and sacrifice.

The Medal of Honor endures as a symbol not of military power, but of individual human courage at its most extreme — the decision, made in seconds, to place the lives of others above one's own.