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[[Image:MOH.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Medals of Honor from each branch of the [[United States Military]]]]
[[Image:MOH.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Medals of Honor from each branch of the [[United States Military]]]]
The '''Medal of Honor''' is the highest [[military]] decoration given in the [[United States]]. Only 3,445 people have earned the Medal of Honor in the history of the United States, though nineteen have earned the honor twice.<ref>http://www.cmohs.org/medal/medal_faq.htm#4A</ref> The first Medal of Honor was awarded in 1863 during the [[American Civil War|Civil War]],<ref>http://www.cmohs.org/medal/medal_stats.htm</ref> and the most recent posthumously awarded to Lieutenant [[Michael P. Murphy]] of the [[United States Navy]] in 2005, during [[Operation Enduring Freedom]].<ref>http://www.navy.mil/moh/mpmurphy/</ref>
The '''Medal of Honor''' is the highest military decoration given in the [[United States]] for valor in [[combat]], and is presented by the [[President of the United States|President]] in the name of the [[Congress]]. It sometimes is referred to as the "Congressional Medal of Honor."<ref name=mil>[http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/history.html Army.mil Features]</ref> The medal is presented only to the bravest of the brave; to date, 3,465 Medals of Honor have been awarded, and only five have been presented for service in Iraq and Afghanistan, covering all branches of the [[United States military]].<ref>Harry Hayward. [http://depts.washington.edu/memorial/what-is-the-medal-of-honor/ What is the Medal of Honor?], ''University of Washington'', August 21, 2009.</ref> Individuals who wear it call themselves "recipients," not winners.
== History ==
On December 9, 1861 Iowa Senator James W. Grimes introduced ''S. No. 82'' in the United States Senate, a bill designed to "promote the efficiency of the Navy" by authorizing the production and distribution of "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 (Civil 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>
Two months later on February 17, 1862 [[Massachusetts]] Senator Henry Wilson introduced a similar bill, this one 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 Medal of Honor was born. It read in part:
{{cquote|Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized to cause two thousand "medals of honor" to be prepared with suitable emblematic devices, and to direct that the same be presented, in the name of the Congress, to such non--commissioned officers and privates as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action, and other soldier-like qualities, during the present insurrection (Civil War).<ref>Carl Sandburg. [http://www.pbs.org/weta/americanvalor/history/ American Valor . History of the Medal], ''PBS''.</ref>}}
<references/>
With this simple and rather obscure act Congress created a unique award that would achieve prominence in American history like few others. The table below will acquaint you with a chronological time line of key events in the history of the Medal of Honor.<ref name=cmohs/>
==Links==
=== First honor ===
During the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], the job of color bearer was one of the most hazardous as well as [[important]] duties in the [[United States Army|Army]]. Soldiers looked to the flag for direction and inspiration in battle and the bearer was usually out in front, drawing heavy enemy fire while holding the flag high. On November 16, 1863, regimental color bearer Pvt. Joseph E. Brandle, from the 17th Michigan Infantry, took part in a battle near Lenoire, [[Tennessee]] "...[H]aving been twice wounded and the sight of one eye destroyed, [he] still held to the colors until ordered to the rear by his regimental commander."<ref name=mil/>
=== Valor ===
Valor is found across the times as well as across the ranks, as [[World War II]] 2nd Lt. Robert Craig, from the 3rd Infantry Division, demonstrated.
According to his citation, 2nd Lt. Robert Craig volunteered to defeat an enemy machine gun that three other officers before him could not. After locating the gun, he found himself and his men without cover, as they were out in the open and completely vulnerable to approximately 100 enemies. His citation reads:
{{cquote|Electing to [[sacrifice]] himself so that his platoon might carry on the battle, he ordered his men to withdraw [...] while he drew the enemy fire to himself. With no hope of survival, he charged toward the enemy until he was within 25 yards of them. Assuming a kneeling position, he killed five and wounded three enemy soldiers. While the hostile force concentrated fire on him, his platoon reached the cover of the crest. 2nd Lt. Craig was killed by enemy fire, but his intrepid action so inspired his men that they drove the enemy from the area, inflicting heavy casualties on the hostile force.<ref name=mil/>}}
The most recent posthumously awarded Medals of Honor were given to four heroes for actions in [[Iraq]] during [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] and [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] and also for valor in [[Afghanistan]]; to U.S. Marine Corporal [[Jason Dunham]], Navy Seal Lt. [[Michael P. Murphy]], Navy Seal Master-at-Arm [[Michael Monsoor]] and Army Private 1st Class [[Ross McGinnis]].<ref name=cmohs/><ref>http://www.navy.mil/moh/mpmurphy/</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
==See Also==
*[http://www.homeofheroes.com/hallofheroes/1st_floor/wall/2living.html The Living Medal of Honor Recipients] Statistics and history
*[http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/history/history_timeline.html A Virtual Encyclopedia of Medal of Honor History] Home of Heroes
*[http://depts.washington.edu/memorial/a-gathering-of-honorees/ UW’s Medal of Honor Memorial] Honoring sixteen Medal of Honor recipients, [[University of Washington|UW]] Alumni
==External links==
*[http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/history.html Army.mil Features]
*[http://www.homeofheroes.com/ HomeofHeroes]
*[http://www.medalofhonor.com/ MedalofHonor.com] Profiles of America's Military Heroes
*[http://www.medalofhonor.com/ MedalofHonor.com] Profiles of America's Military Heroes