Changes

| [[File:308px-Medal of honor old.jpg|50px]]||Original, 1862 design of the Army's version.  

| [[File:308px-Medal of honor old.jpg|50px]]||Original, 1862 design of the Army's version.  

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| [[File:MOH 1896.jpg|50px]]||Non-military organizations creating unauthorized copies of the Medal of Honor led to Joint Resolution of Congress, Fifty-Fourth Congress, Sess. I, on May 2, 1896, which caused a slight change in design, principally with the ribbon.  A bowknot (rosette) was also adopted, to be worn on occassions in lieu of the medal.

| [[File:MOH 1896.jpg|50px]]||Non-military organizations creating unauthorized copies of the Medal of Honor led to Joint Resolution of Congress, Fifty-Fourth Congress, Sess. I, on May 2, 1896, which caused a slight change in design, principally with the ribbon.  A bowknot (rosette) was also adopted, to be worn on occasions in lieu of the medal.

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| [[File:MOH WWI.jpg|50px]]||The '''Gillespie version''', reflecting the changes authorized by the Army and Congress in 1904.  Designed by Major General George L. Gillespie, the new version included the replacement of the central portrait for the profile of Minerva, the encirclement of the star with a laurel wreath, and a change to the ribbon.  

| [[File:MOH WWI.jpg|50px]]||The '''Gillespie version''', reflecting the changes authorized by the Army and Congress in 1904.  Designed by Major General George L. Gillespie, the new version included the replacement of the central portrait for the profile of Minerva, the encirclement of the star with a laurel wreath, and a change to the ribbon.  

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The Medal of Honor is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who distinguish themselves conspiciously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty  

The Medal of Honor is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who distinguish themselves conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty  

*while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;  

*while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;  

*while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or  

*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.  

*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.  

To justify the decoration, the individual's service must clearly be rendered conspicious above their comrades by an act so outstanding that it clearly distinguishes their gallantry beyond the call of duty from lesser forms of bravery; and it must be the type of deed which if not done would not subject the indidual to any justified criticism. The deed must be without detriment to the mission of the command or to the command to which attached.

To justify the decoration, the individual's service must clearly be rendered conspicuous above their comrades by an act so outstanding that it clearly distinguishes their gallantry beyond the call of duty from lesser forms of bravery; and it must be the type of deed which if not done would not subject the indidual to any justified criticism. The deed must be without detriment to the mission of the command or to the command to which attached.

The recommendations as to awarding the medal must be made within a two-year period for service members of the Army and Air Force, or three years for the Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard.  Documentation must be made establishing no doubt as to the valor of the individual, which is forwarded up the chain of command to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.  Once approved, the recommendation is referred to the Secretary concerned for appropriate action.  A formal ceremony is then held in Washington, D.C., where the president personally presents the award to the recipient, or postumously to the next of kin.

The recommendations as to awarding the medal must be made within a two-year period for service members of the Army and Air Force, or three years for the Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard.  Documentation must be made establishing no doubt as to the valor of the individual, which is forwarded up the chain of command to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.  Once approved, the recommendation is referred to the Secretary concerned for appropriate action.  A formal ceremony is then held in Washington, D.C., where the president personally presents the award to the recipient, or postumously to the next of kin.

He further wrote that the issuing of the award must be grounded in "incontestible proofs" as to the valor of the man receiving it, ''"accompanied with certificates from the Commanding officers of the regiment and brigade"''.  Only three men received what was then known as the "Badge of Military Merit" before it fell into disuse for nearly 150 years; resurrected by General [[Douglas MacArthur]] in 1932, it became - with slight changes - the [[Purple Heart]].

He further wrote that the issuing of the award must be grounded in "incontestible proofs" as to the valor of the man receiving it, ''"accompanied with certificates from the Commanding officers of the regiment and brigade"''.  Only three men received what was then known as the "Badge of Military Merit" before it fell into disuse for nearly 150 years; resurrected by General [[Douglas MacArthur]] in 1932, it became - with slight changes - the [[Purple Heart]].

   

   

A need for military decorations was presented at least once early in the [[American Civil War]]; Lt. Colonel Edward Davis Townsend, an assistant to Army Adjutant General Lorenzo Thomas, recommended the creation of a "medal for valor", but the idea was quashed by then-Army head Lt. General [[Winfield Scott]], who felt that decorations were too close to European royalty.  However, indivdual acts of soldiers on the battlefields of the Civil War demonstrated that such valor and heroism could not go unrecognized; moreover, Navy Secretary [[Gideon Welles]] liked Townsend's idea, which he placed in a series of recommendations to President [[Abraham Lincoln]].  On December 9, 1861 Iowa Senator James W. Grimes introduced ''S. No. 82'', a bill intended to "promote the efficiency of the Navy" by the authorization, production, and distribution of what was termed "medals of honor". On December 21, the bill was passed, authorizing 200 such medals be produced "which shall be bestowed upon such petty officers, seamen, landsmen and marines as shall distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action and other seamanlike qualities during the present war." President Lincoln signed the bill and the Medal of Honor was born, authorized for [[United States Navy|Sailors]] and [[United States Marine Corps|Marines]].<ref name=cmohs>[http://www.cmohs.org/medal-history.php History of the Medal of Honor], CMOHS.org.</ref>

A need for military decorations was presented at least once early in the [[American Civil War]]; Lt. Colonel Edward Davis Townsend, an assistant to Army Adjutant General Lorenzo Thomas, recommended the creation of a "medal for valor", but the idea was quashed by then-Army head Lt. General [[Winfield Scott]], who felt that decorations were too close to European royalty.  However, individual acts of soldiers on the battlefields of the Civil War demonstrated that such valor and heroism could not go unrecognized; moreover, Navy Secretary [[Gideon Welles]] liked Townsend's idea, which he placed in a series of recommendations to President [[Abraham Lincoln]].  On December 9, 1861 Iowa Senator James W. Grimes introduced ''S. No. 82'', a bill intended to "promote the efficiency of the Navy" by the authorization, production, and distribution of what was termed "medals of honor". On December 21, the bill was passed, authorizing 200 such medals be produced "which shall be bestowed upon such petty officers, seamen, landsmen and marines as shall distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action and other seamanlike qualities during the present war." President Lincoln signed the bill and the Medal of Honor was born, authorized for [[United States Navy|Sailors]] and [[United States Marine Corps|Marines]].<ref name=cmohs>[http://www.cmohs.org/medal-history.php History of the Medal of Honor], CMOHS.org.</ref>

Less than two months later on February 17, 1862 [[Massachusetts]] Senator Henry Wilson introduced a similar bill to authorize ''"the President to distribute medals to privates in the [[United States Army|Army]] of the United States who shall distinguish themselves in battle."'' Over the following months wording changed slightly as the bill made its way through Congress. When [[President Abraham Lincoln]] signed S.J.R. No 82 into law as 12 Stat. 623-624 on July 14, 1862, the Army had its own Medal of Honor:

Less than two months later on February 17, 1862 [[Massachusetts]] Senator Henry Wilson introduced a similar bill to authorize ''"the President to distribute medals to privates in the [[United States Army|Army]] of the United States who shall distinguish themselves in battle."'' Over the following months wording changed slightly as the bill made its way through Congress. When [[President Abraham Lincoln]] signed S.J.R. No 82 into law as 12 Stat. 623-624 on July 14, 1862, the Army had its own Medal of Honor:

The Navy version of the medal was suspended from an anchor; the Army's version was suspended from an eagle over the word "VALOR"; both were hung from a red, white, and blue ribbon representing the flag.

The Navy version of the medal was suspended from an anchor; the Army's version was suspended from an eagle over the word "VALOR"; both were hung from a red, white, and blue ribbon representing the flag.

The present Medal of Honor reflects changes made to the design during the period of the [[First World War]].  The striped ribbon was replaced by a blue field bearing 13 stars, but it remained a "pin-on" medal until [[World War II]], when the pin-clasp was replaced with a rounded pad suspended from a blue silk neck ribbon.  A change was made to the star as well: the Army replaced the central figures with a profile of the head of Minerva; and when the newly-created United States Air Force had theirs, they chose the profile of the head of Liberty.  Both added a green wreath of laurel around the star.  The Navy retained the original design.

The present Medal of Honor reflects changes made to the design during the period of the [[First World War]].  The striped ribbon was replaced by a blue field bearing 13 stars, but it remained a "pin-on" medal until [[World War II]], when the pin-clasp was replaced with a rounded pad suspended from a blue silk neck ribbon.  A change was made to the star as well: the Army replaced the central figures with a profile of the head of Minerva; and when the newly created United States Air Force had theirs, they chose the profile of the head of Liberty.  Both added a green wreath of laurel around the star.  The Navy retained the original design.

==Famous recipients==

==Famous recipients==