Changes

[[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, 3,457 Medals of Honor have been awarded,<ref>[http://www.cmohs.org/medal-statistics.php Statistics] CMOHS.org</ref> and nine have been presented for service in Iraq and Afghanistan, covering all branches of the [[United States military]]. Individuals who wear it call themselves "recipients," not winners.  

==Criteria==

==Criteria==

For actions in [[Iraq]] during [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] and [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]], the Medal of Honor has been awarded to Army Sergeant First Class [[Paul Ray Smith]], Army Private First Class [[Ross McGinnis]], Marine Corps Corporal [[Jason Dunham]] and Navy SEAL, Master-at-Arms Second Class [[Michael Monsoor]].

For actions in [[Iraq]] during [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] and [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]], the Medal of Honor has been awarded to Army Sergeant First Class [[Paul Ray Smith]], Army Private First Class [[Ross McGinnis]], Marine Corps Corporal [[Jason Dunham]] and Navy SEAL, Master-at-Arms Second Class [[Michael Monsoor]].

For actions in [[Afghanistan]], the Medal of Honor has been awarded to Navy SEAL Lieutenant [[Michael P. Murphy]], Army Sergeant First Class [[Jared C. Monti]] and Army Staff Sergeant [[Robert James Miller]]. Army Staff Sergeant [[Salvatore Giunta]] and Army Sergeant First Class [[Leroy Petry]] are the first and second living recipients of the award since the Vietnam War.<ref name=cmohs/><ref>http://www.navy.mil/moh/mpmurphy/</ref> On August 12, 2011, the [[White House]] announced that United States [[Marine]] Sergeant [[Dakota Meyer]] will become the third living Medal on Honor recipient on September 15, 2011. Meyer is the first Marine in 41 years to receive the award.<ref>Lamonthe, Dan (July 19, 2011) [http://www.navytimes.com/news/2011/07/marine-dakota-meyer-medal-of-honor-071911w/ Obama OKs Medal of Honor for living Marine] ''Navy Times'', accessed August 15, 2011</ref>

For actions in [[Afghanistan]], the Medal of Honor has been awarded to Navy SEAL Lieutenant [[Michael P. Murphy]], Army Sergeant First Class [[Jared C. Monti]] and Army Staff Sergeant [[Robert James Miller]]. Army Staff Sergeant [[Salvatore Giunta]] and Army Sergeant First Class [[Leroy Petry]] are the first and second living recipients of the award since the Vietnam War.<ref name=cmohs/><ref>[http://www.navy.mil/moh/mpmurphy/ Michael M. Murphy]</ref> On August 12, 2011, the [[White House]] announced that United States [[Marine]] Sergeant [[Dakota Meyer]] will become the third living Medal on Honor recipient on September 15, 2011. Meyer is the first Marine in 41 years to receive the award.<ref>Lamonthe, Dan (July 19, 2011) [http://www.navytimes.com/news/2011/07/marine-dakota-meyer-medal-of-honor-071911w/ Obama OKs Medal of Honor for living Marine] ''Navy Times'', accessed August 15, 2011</ref>

==References==

==References==