MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS:
A LEGACY OF VALOR
The Medal of Honor is the United States’ highest military decoration, awarded to service members who have demonstrated extraordinary bravery and selflessness in combat, often at the cost of their own lives.
Originally created during the Civil War, the Medal was first authorized for the Navy on December 21, 1861, and later for the Army on July 12, 1862. It became a permanent military honor in 1915, with criteria formalized during World War I to recognize those who acted “above and beyond the call of duty.”
ARMY
MEDAL OF HONOR
NAVY,
MARINE CORPS &
COAST GUARD
MEDAL OF HONOR
AIR FORCE
MEDAL OF HONOR
Notable honorees include:
- Private Jacob Parrott, the first recipient and a member of the legendary “Andrews Raiders.”
- Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, a Civil War surgeon and the only woman ever awarded the Medal.
More than 3,500 Medals of Honor have been awarded as of 2024. Over 60% were given posthumously, a sobering testament to the valor required to earn this distinction. Recipients are respectfully referred to as “recipients,” not “winners,” to honor the profound sacrifice the medal represents.
To learn more about the many heroic individuals who have received this prestigious award, you can visit the new National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas — a stunning new tribute to valor that opened in March 2025. The National Medal of Honor Museum honors the inspiring lives and legacies of ordinary Americans who took extraordinary action in the service of others.