The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government, similar to the British Victoria Cross or the French Legion of Honor. It is bestowed on a member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself "…conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States…" Because of its nature, the medal is commonly awarded posthumously.
Members of all branches of the U.S. military are eligible to receive the medal, and each service has a unique design with the exception of the Marine Corps and Coast Guard, which both use the Navy's medal.
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From left to right, the Army, Navy/Marine Corps/Coast Guard, and Air Force medals
The Medal of Honor is often presented personally to the recipient or, in the case of posthumous awards, to survivors, by the President of the United States. Due to its high status, the medal has special protection under U.S. law.
The Medal of Honor is one of only two military neck order awards issued by the United States Armed Forces and the Medal of Honor is the only neck order issued to members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The other is the Commander's Degree of the Legion of Merit and is only authorized to be issued to foreign dignitaries usually equal to military chiefs of staff. While American military personnel can be awarded the Legion of Merit, they are awarded the Legionnaire's Degree, which is a standard suspended medal.
464 Medals of Honor were awarded for service in World War II. There has been controversy surrounding what has been described as "systematic" racial discrimination in awarding it. As a result, in 1997 President Clinton awarded it to seven African American World War II veterans, of whom only one was still living. At least several of them had received the Distinguished Service Cross, the United States' second highest military award. The following year he awarded 21 new Medals of Honor, 20 to previously overlooked Asian-Americans. In 2005 President George W Bush awarded the Medal of Honor to Jewish veteran and Holocaust survivor Tibor Rubin, who many believed to have been overlooked because of his religious beliefs.
The Medal of Honor has been awarded twice to 19 men. In five of those cases it was awarded by the Army and the Navy (Marines) for the same action.