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== History ==

== 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>

A need for military decorations was presented at least once early in the [[American Civil War]]; Lt. Colonel Edward Davis Townsend, and 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, the valor demonstrated 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>

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:

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:

{{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>}}

{{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>}}

With this simple and rather obscure act Congress created a unique award that would achieve prominence in [[United States of America|American history]] like few others.<ref name=cmohs/>

Secretary Welles delegated the crafting and design of the medal to James Pollock, Director of the [[United States Mint]], who in turn delegated responsibility for the actual design to artist Christian Schuller.  The medal was cast from bronze in the shape of an inverted star; within the center is the Roman goddess [[Minerva]], bearing the shield of the Union of the states in her right hand, and the ''[[fasces]]'' - ancient Roman symbol of authority - in her left.  She is repulsing the figure of Discord, who was shown crouching with snakes in his hand. Pollock referred to Discord as "the foul spirit of secession and rebellion" in a letter he sent to Welles.  Circling the figures were thirty-four stars, representing the Union of states prior to the secession. 

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.

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/>

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.

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==

==References==

==External links==

==External links==

*[http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/history.html Army.mil Features]

*[http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/history.html Army.mil Features]

*[http://www.homeofheroes.com/ HomeofHeroes]

*[http://www.homeofheroes.com/ HomeofHeroes]