Medal Of Honor & Branch Service:
Medal of Honor and Branch Tribute
May & June 2012
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the president, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through “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 an enemy of the United States. Due to the nature of its criteria, it is often awarded posthumously.
Members of all branches of the armed forces are eligible to receive the medal, and there are three versions (one for the Army, one for the Air Force, and one for the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard). The Medal of Honor is then presented to the recipient or, for posthumous awards, to the next of kin. The President of the United States presents the medal in person, on behalf of the Congress, representing and recognizing the gratitude of the American people as a whole. Due to its honored status, the medal is afforded special protection under U.S. law.
The Medal of Honor is one of two military neck order awards issued by the United States and is the sole neck order awarded to members of the armed forces (the Commander’s Degree of the Legion of Merit is a neck order but it is only authorized for issue to foreign dignitaries).
As the award citation includes the phrase “in the name of Congressâ€, it is sometimes erroneously called the Congressional Medal of Honor; however, the official title is simply the Medal of Honor.
There have been a total of 3,459 recipients of the Medal of Honor, 19 double recipients and there are currently 81 living recipients.
The 1st recipient was Private Jacob Parrott on March 25, 1863. The most recent living recipient is Sgt. Dakota Meyer on September 15, 2011. The most recent posthumous recipient is Leslie H. Sabo, Jr. on May 16, 2012.
The 81 living recipients are:
John Baca – California – Vietnam
Donald Ballard – Missouri – Vietnam
Harvey Barnum, Jr. – Virginia – Vietnam
Gary Beikirch – New York – Vietnam
Patrick Brady – Washington – Vietnam
Paul Bucha – Connecticut – Vietnam
Hector Cafferata, Jr. – Florida – Korea
Jon Cavaiani – California – Vietnam
Charles Coolidge – Tennessee – WWII
Bruce Crandall – Washington – Vietnam
Francis Currey – New York – WWII
Sammy Davis – Illinois – Vietnam
George “Bud†Day – Florida – Vietnam
Duane Dewey – Michigan – Korea
Drew Dix – New Mexico – Vietnam
Roger Donlon – Kansas – Vietnam
Walter Ehlers – California – WWII
Frederick Ferguson – Arizona – Vietnam
Bernard Fisher – Idaho – Vietnam
Michael Fitzmaurice – South Dakota – Vietnam
James Fleming – Washington – Vietnam
Robert Foley – ?? – Vietnam
Wesley Fox – Virginia – Vietnam
Harold Fritz – Illinois – Vietnam
Salvatore Giunta – Colorado – Afghanistan
Charles Hagemeister – Kansas – Vietnam
John Hawk – Washington – WWII
Frank Herda – Ohio – Vietnam
Rodolfo Hernandez – North Carolina – Korea
Thomas Hudner, Jr. – Massachusetts – Korea
Einar Ingman, Jr. – Wisconsin – Korea
Robert Ingram – Florida – Vietnam
Daniel Inouye – Hawaii – WWII
Arthur Jackson – Idaho – WWII
Joe Jackson – Washington – Vietnam
Jack Jacobs – New Jersey – Vietnam
Don Jenkins – Kentucky – Vietnam
Thomas Kelly – Massachusetts – Vietnam
Allan Kellogg – Hawaii – Vietnam
Bob Kerrey – New York – Vietnam
Thomas Kinsman – Washington – Vietnam
Howard Lee – Oregon – Vietnam
Peter Lemon – Colorado – Vietnam
Charles Liteky – California – Vietnam
Gary Littrell – Florida – Vietnam
James Livingston – South Carolina – Vietnam
Allen Lynch – Illinois – Vietnam
Walter Marm – North Carolina – Vietnam
Robert Maxwell – Oregon – WWII
Vernon McGrity – Tennessee – WWII
John McGinty – California – Vietnam
Dakota Meyer – Kentucky – Afghanistan
Hiroshi Miyamura – New Mexico – Korea
Ola Mize – Alabama – Korea
Robert Modrzejewski – California – Vietnam
Thomas Norris – Idaho – Vietnam
Robert O’Malley – New York – Vietnam
Nicholas Oresko – New Jersey – WWII
Robert Patterson – Florida – Vietnam
Leroy Petry – Washington – Afghanistan
Richard Pittman – California – Vietnam
Alfred Rascon – Maryland – Vietnam
Ronald Ray – Florida – Vietnam
Gordon Roberts – ?? – Vietnam
Wilburn Ross – Washington – WWII
Ronald Rosser – Ohio – Korea
Tibor Rubin – California – Korea
George Sakato – Colorado – WWII
Clarence Sasser – Texas – Vietnam
Robert Simanek – Michigan – Korea
James Sprayberry – Alabama – Vietnam
James Stone – Texas – Korea
Kenneth Stumpf – Wisconsin – Vietnam
James Taylor – California – Vietnam
Brian Thacker – Maryland – Vietnam
Michael Thornton – Texas – Vietnam
Leo Thorness – Alabama – Vietnam
Jay Vargas – California – Vietnam
Ernest West – Kentucky – Korea
Gary Wetzel – Wisconsin – Vietnam
Hershel Williams – West Virginia – WWII
U.S. Military Branches:
Army
As the oldest branch of the U.S, Military, the Army protects the security of the United States and its resources.
Army Reserve
The Army Reserve trains part-time near home until needed, and members deploy alongside the Army.
Army National Guard
Army National Guard members deploy with the Army on a part-time basis, with a special focus on homeland security and relief programs. The National Guard is a State militia and controlled by Governors.
Army Special Warfare Units:
Rangers, Green Berets, Snipers
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Navy
The Navy defends the right to travel and trade freely on the world’s oceans and protects national interests overseas.
Navy Reserve
The Navy Reserve trains service members close to home until they are needed in action.
Navy Special Warfare Units:
SEAL Teams (Sea, Air, Land)
UDT Teams (Underwater Demolition Teams)
Seabees (Civil Engineering Teams)
Snipers
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Air Force
The U.S. Air Force protects American interests at home and abroad with a focus on air power.
Air Force Reserve
The Air Reserve gives service members the opportunity to train and serve on a part-time basis as needed.
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard trains part-time to assist in domestic disasters and international conflicts.
Air Force Special Warfare Units
AF Special Operations Command
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Marine Corps
The Marine Corps is often first on the ground in combat situations.
Marine Corps Reserve
Marine Corps reservists train domestically until needed then deploy with the rest of the Corps.
Marines Special Warfare Units:
Snipers, Recon Teams, Presidential Guardians, Nuclear Asset Protection
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Coast Guard
The Coast Guard protects America’s waterways and deploys with the Navy during wartime.
Coast Guard Reserve
The Coast Guard Reserve offers a part-time service opportunity for service members to train near home.
*Note: ALL information was obtained via Wikipedia on the internet.