lantry and other seamanlike qualities during the present war.” General in Chief of the Army
Winfield Scott bristled at the idea of an award that smacked of European military tradition, but the Army’s Medal of Honor was signed into law July 12, 1862. Like the Navy’s medal, this award was for NCOs and privates who distinguished “themselves by their gallantry in action, and other sol- dierlike qualities, during the present insurrection.” In 1863, Congress made the Medal
of Honor the nation’s first perma- nent military award.
Defining valor During the years between the Civil War and World War I, with no other tangible recognition available, Medals of Honor were awarded in peacetime. Some were awarded for lifesaving. One double recipient saved two ships from probable destruction by calming potentially explosive boilers. A total of 193 Medals of Honor have been awarded for noncombat actions, with 185 of those given by the Navy. In 1913, officers were deemed eligi- ble for the medal. In 1914, nine Marine Corps and more than 20 naval officers were awarded the Medal of Honor at Veracruz, Mexico. One went to Ma- rine Maj. Smedley Butler. He earned his second award soon after in Haiti.
With World War I came a fresh perspective on valor awards. Leaders grew concerned that any measure of heroism could be eligible for the na- tion’s singular and highest honor. A pyramid of medals was developed, including the Navy Cross, the Distin- guished Service Cross, and the Dis- tinguished Service Medal, and made retroactive to April 6, 1917. To help ensure the Medal of
Honor retained its luster, previous awards underwent a comprehensive review. In 1917, the Medal of Honor Review Board evaluated the more than 2,000 medals awarded during the Civil War and stripped about 900 recipients of their awards. Six civilians were considered ineli-
gible. The board cut the 29 members of Lincoln’s funeral guard. It nullified the medals awarded to 864 members of the 27th Maine volunteers. Secre- tary of War Edwin Stanton submitted for Medals of Honor approximately 300 members of the 27th who agreed to continue to guard Washington, D.C., in 1893 after their enlistment had expired, but a typographical error resulted in all 864 members being awarded Medals of Honor. Some other awards seem ques- tionable in retrospect. Although most of the 19 double recipients honored between the Civil War and World War I received their med-
*Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor, USN, SEAL Team Three, saved the lives of his fellow SEALs at his sniper position by diving on a grenade in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, Sept. 29, 2006.
Recipients long have been held in high re- gard by the American people ...
*Lt. Michael P. Murphy, USN, SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team One, led a four-man recon- naissance team in a fight against superior numbers and exposed himself to hostile fire in order to call for help near Asadabad, Afghan- istan, June 28, 2005.
PHOTOS: ABOVE, COURTESY USN; RIGHT, COURTESY 10TH MOUNTAIN DIVISION; TOP, COURTESY USN; FACING PAGE, FROM LEFT, COURTESY 3RD INFANTRY DIVISION; DON HEUPE/AP
*Sgt. 1st Class Jared C. Monti, USA, 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, was killed while trying to rescue a wounded sol- dier in Nuristan Prov- ince, Afghanistan, June 21, 2006.
D ECEMBER 2011 MILITARY OFFICER 53
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