MEDAL OF HONOR (MH)
a. 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."
b. 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.
c. The initial law was amended by an Act of
Congress on 3 March 1863 to extend its provisions to
d. 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.
e. 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
f. The present neck ribbon was adopted in 1944.
It is worn outside the shirt collar and inside the
coat, hanging above all other decorations.
g. Special entitlements for recipients of the
Medal of Honor include:
- 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
- Enlisted recipients of the Medal of Honor
are entitled to a supplemental uniform
- Special entitlements to air transportation
under the provisions of DOD Regulation
- Identification card, commissary and exchange
privileges for Medal of Honor recipients and
their eligible dependents.
- Children of recipients are eligible for
admission to the U.S. Service Academies without
regard to the quota requirements.
- Ten percent increase in retired pay under
Title 10, USC 3991, subject to the 75% limit on
total retired pay.
"[Conspicuous] gallantry and intrepidity at the
risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of
duty while engaged in an action against any 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 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.
A gold five pointed star, each point tipped with
trefoils, 1 ½ inches wide, surmounted by an eagle.
On each ray of the star is a green oak leaf. On the
reverse is a bar engraved "THE CONGRESS TO" with a
space for engraving the name of the recipient. A
ribbon bar that is the same shade of light blue as
the neckband, and includes five white stars, pointed
upwards, in the shape of an "M" is worn for
situations other than full dress uniform. When the
ribbon is worn, it is placed alone, ¼ inch (6 mm)
above the center of the other ribbons. For wear with
civilian clothing, a rosette is issued instead of a
miniature lapel pin (which usually shows the ribbon
bar). The rosette is the same shade of blue as the
neck ribbon and includes white stars. The ribbon and
rosette are presented at the same time as the medal.