Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor is the highest award given to members of the United States Military. It is given to people who show a lot of bravery in wartime. Because of this, many people who get the Medal of Honor die earning it. It was first given in 1863 during the American Civil War.

From left to right, the Army, Navy/Marine Corps and Air Force medals

The Medal of Honor has been given to 3,458 different people,^[1] including

• Dakota L. Meyer, who is the youngest and most recent living recipient^[2]

• Jacob Parrott, who was the first man to be awarded the medal in 1863^[3]
• Mary Walker, who was the first and only woman awarded the medal.^[3]

• Leslie H. Sabo Jr., who is the most recent person to receive the medal in 2012.^[1]

According to Medal of Honor recipient Retired Army Maj. Gen. Patrick Brady who flew more than 2,500 combat missions over Vietnam and helped rescue more than 5,000 wounded, "it is harder to wear it than to earn it".^[4][5]

Gallery

Army

• 
  US Army Medal of Honor, 1903-present
• 
  US Army Medal of Honor, 1862-1895, 1896-1903

Navy

• 
  US Navy Medal of Honor, 1942-present
• 
  US Navy Medal of Honor, 1862-1912, 1913-1942

Air Force

• 
  US Air Force Medal of Honor,

References

1. Congressional Medal of Honor Society (CMOHS), "Archive Statistics"; retrieved 2012-12-24.
2. Medal of Honor News, "Veterans Day parade NYC 2011: Youngest Medal of Honor recipient meets oldest living recipient," November 11, 2011; retrieved 2012-12-24.
3. CMOH, "Frequently Asked Questions"; retrieved 2012-12-24.
4. Smith, John. "It's Harder To Wear The Medal Of Honor Than To Earn It," Spartanburg Herald-Journal (South Carolina). October 29, 1972; Brady, Patrick. "Harder to wear Medal of Honor than to earn it" at MySanAntonio.com, November 17, 2010; retrieved 2012-12-31.
5. Patrick Brady

Other websites

• Congressional Medal of Honor Society website
• Medal of Honor Archived 2007-09-15 at the Wayback Machine at the United States Army Center of Military History