The Highest Honor, given to only the nations bravest in Armed Forces in the sky, by sea, or land. It highlights acts of bravery and heroism. What is this medal?

The Medal of Honor marks those who go above and beyond the call of duty. Since its’ creation in December 9, 1861 by Iowa Senator James W. Grimes, it has been awarded to 3,400 Military Personnel; 94 of which are still living and 19 who are double recipients

The design of the Medal is designed as a 5 point Star. On each of the five points was a cluster of laurel leaves to represent victory, mixed with a duster of OAK to represent state. It also depicts the head of the statue of liberty.

Here is just a few of the many Men and Woman who earned the Medal of Honor

The first recipient of the Medal of Honor was back in the Civil war to a man named Bernard J.D. Irwin, an assistant Surgeon of the U.S Army. Born in June 24, 1830. He entered service at New York.

  Voluntarily took command of troops and defeated hostile Indians he met along his way, he volunteered to go to the rescue of 2d Lt. George N. Bascom, 7^th infantry who was trapped with 60 men by Chiricahua Apaches under Cochise. Irwin and his 14 men, with not even horses, marched 100 miles while riding mules. After capturing the Indians, the stolen horses and cattle and broke the siege on Bascom’s column and helped break the siege.

 Even though all this happened before the Actual creation of the Medal of Honor  ((not yet being proposed in Congress)), he was presented with the Medal of Honor in 1904.

Have women ever been issued the Medal of Honor? Yes, her name was Mary E. Walker with the rank of Contract Acting Assistant Surgeon. She was born November 26, 1832 in Oswego, New York. She graduated form the electric Syracuse Medical College not only the first Medical school, but also the first one, which accepted men and women equally.

            When the Civil War broke out, she went to Washington to try and join the Union army, but she was denied a commission as medical officer, but she didn’t’ give up and ended serving as a Acting Assistant Surgeon, the first female surgeon in the Union Army, unpaid she worked at the US Patent Office Hospital in Washington and later a field surgeon new the Union front lines for almost two years.

  After finally appointed Assistant Surgeon in Sept 1863 in the Army of the Cumberland she appointed assistant surgeon of the 52^nd Ohio Infantry, even served to cross Confederate lines to treat civilians while acting as a spy to the Union. But she was discovered in 1864 by Confederate Troops and imprisoned in Richmond for 4 months until exchanged with 2-dozen other Union Doctors for 17 confederate ones.

     She was taken back to the 52^nd Ohio Infantry as a Contract Surgeon but spent the rest of the war practicing at a Louisville female prison and orphans asylum in Tennessee.

 In November 11 1865, she was presented with the Medal of Honor by President Johnson; for Meritorious Service. She was the only woman to ever receive the USA’s highest military honor.

  But after an attempt to have her medal taken away ((along with 910 others)) after the standards for the MH were changed to only combat soldiers, the refused and wore it till she died 1919.

In World War II, a man named Charles H. Coolidge went above and beyond the call of duty. Born and entered service in Signal Mountain, Tennessee. He was of the 141^st Infantry, 36^th Infantry of the US Army.

Awarded for his leadership and bravery. He was at position East of Belmont sur Buttant, France on 1944; his mission was covering and supporting the right flank of the 3d Battalion.

 Coolidge went with a sergeant of Company K to check positions for coordinating fire under various enemies machine-guns. They ran into a enemy infantry company. He tried to bluff them by a show of confidence and boldness calling upon them to surrender, but they opened fine. Coolidge wounded 2 of them, and since there were no officer present Coolidge took charge, many of the men being recently arrived replacements with no pervious combat history. Coolidge encouraged his men and directed their fire. The attack was thrown back. This went on till the 26^th and despite the enemies repeated attacks, were unrepulsed due to Coolidge’s able leadership.

             On the 27^th of October, the enemies attempted another attack with 2 tanks, the area was swept by enemy small arms, machine guns, and tank fire.

Coolidge armed himself with a bazooka and advanced within 25 yards of the tanks. When his weapon failed he throw it aside, but he continued forward with his hand grenades and inflicted heavy casualties on the advancing enemy. Only leaving when it was apparent that the enemy would overrun the position, he was the last one to leave.

  For displaying great coolness and courage, heroic and superior leadership he was awarded the Medal of Honor a year later July 1, 1945.