The Medal of Honor is
awarded by the President, in the name of Congress, to a
person who, while a member of the Army, distinguishes
himself or herself conspicuously by gallantry and
intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond
the call of duty while engaged in 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. The deed
performed must have been one of personal bravery or
self-sacrifice so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the
individual above his or her comrades and must have involved
risk of life. Incontestable proof of the performance of the
service will be exacted and each recommendation for the
award of this decoration will be considered on the standard
of extraordinary merit.
General George Washington
had created the Badge of Military Merit on 7 August 1792
but it had fallen into disuse after the Revolutionary War.
Decorations, as such, were still too closely related to
European royalty to be of concern to the American people.
However, the fierce fighting and deeds of valor during the
Civil War brought into focus the realization that such
valor must be recognized. Legislation was introduced in the
Senate on 17 February 1862, which authorized the medal for
the Army and followed the pattern of a similar award
approved for Naval personnel in December 1861. The
Resolution provided 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 Congress, to such noncommissioned
officers and privates as shall most distinguish themselves
by their gallantry in action, and other soldier-like
qualities during the present insurrection, and the sum of
ten thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby
appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise
appropriated, for the purpose of carrying this resolution
into effect."
The original design for
the Army was created by Christian Schussel and engraved by
Anthony C. Pacquot. The pendant was identical to the design
approved by the Navy, with the exception of the suspension
and clasp. It consisted of a five-pointed star, tipped with
trefoils containing a crown of laurel and oak. In the
middle, a band of 34 stars represented the number of States
in 1862. Minerva, personifying the United States, stands
with a left hand resting on fasces and right hand holding a
shield blazoned with the United States arms. She repulses
Discord, represented by snakes. The pendant was suspended
by a trophy of crossed cannons, balls, sword and an
American eagle. The clasp was two cornucopias and the arms
of the United States.
The initial law was
amended by an Act of Congress on 3 March 1863 to extend its
provisions to include officers. In 1896, misuse of the
medal led to a change in the design of the ribbon because
the original had been imitated by nonmilitary
organizations. This change was authorized by Joint
Resolution of Congress, Fifty-Fourth Congress, Sess. I, 2
May 1896. At this time a bowknot (rosette) was adopted to
be worn in lieu of the medal. The ribbon and bowknot
(rosette), established and prescribed by the President, was
promulgated in War Department Orders dated 10 November
1896.
On 23 April 1904, Congress
authorized a new design of the medal. The design adopted at
that time was designed by Major General George L. Gillespie
and is the one currently in use. The medal was worn either
suspended from the neck or pinned over the left breast in
precedence to other military decorations.
The present neck ribbon
was adopted in 1944. It is worn outside the shirt collar
and inside the coat, hanging above all other decorations.
Special entitlements for
recipients of the Medal of Honor include:
(1) Each Medal of Honor awardee may have
his name entered on the Medal of Honor Roll (38 USC 560).
Each person whose name is placed on the Medal of Honor Roll
is certified to the Department of Veterans Affairs as being
entitled to receive the special pension of $1069.00 per
month.
(2) Enlisted recipients of the Medal of
Honor are entitled to a supplemental uniform allowance.
(3) Special entitlements to air
transportation under the provisions of DOD Regulation
4515.13-R.
(4) Identification card, commissary and
exchange privileges for Medal of Honor recipients and their
eligible dependents.
(5) Children of recipients are eligible
for admission to the U.S. Service Academies without regard
to the quota requirements.
(6) Ten percent increase in retired pay
under Title 10, USC 3991, subject to the 75% limit on total
retired pay.
