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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]] 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.
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.
==Criteria==
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
*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 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.
There must be no margin of doubt or possibility of error in awarding this honor. 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.
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.
== History ==
== History ==