Block, SkipCaptcha, Automoderated users, edit
2,206
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 43:
Line 43: − 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. − − 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. − − Line 58:
Line 52: − + − + − + − + + + + + + Line 71:
Line 70: + + + + + + + + + + + +
updates; famous recipients
==Description==
==Description==
{| border="1" align="right" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" width="600" style="margin-left:5px"
{| border="1" align="center" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" width="600" style="margin-left:5px"
|align="center" colspan="3"|
|align="center" colspan="3"|
|-
|-
! width="200" | United States Air Force
! width="200" | United States Air Force
|-
|-
| [[File:Moh army.jpg|center|200px]]
| [[File:Moh army.jpg|center|150px]]
| [[File:Moh navmarinecg.jpg|center|200px]]
| [[File:Moh navmarinecg.jpg|center|150px]]
| [[File:Moh airforce.jpg|center|200px]]
| [[File:Moh airforce.jpg|center|150px]]
|-
|-
|}
|}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.
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==
<center>
<center>
File:Audiemurphy.jpg|Capt. Audie Murphy, United States Army, and America's most-decorated soldier
File:Audiemurphy.jpg|Capt. Audie Murphy, United States Army, and America's most-decorated soldier
</gallery></center>
</gallery></center>
===First recipient===
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/>
===Generational 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/>}}
===Iraq and Afghanistan===
For actions in [[Iraq]] during [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] and [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]], and also for valor in [[Afghanistan]], the most recent recipients of the Medal of Honor is 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==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}