Military Medal
The Medal of Honor and the Soldier
Since March 26, 1863, the Medal of Honor has been given to soldiers who have given their all or performed extraordinary feats on the battlefield. The medal is not something that soldiers seek to receive. It is a medal unlike any other in the ranks of the military. There are no requirements that automatically qualify a soldier to receive it. It is a medal that exemplifies the true meaning of honor.
The first soldiers to receive the Army’s highest honor came from a Union Army scouting detachment known as “Andrews’s Raiders”. Six of these soldiers were captured after an 1862 exploit that involved a daring mission to steal a Confederate railroad locomotive.
The story about their Medal of Honor presentation states that Private Jacob Parrot was the spokesperson for the six Union soldiers. He was only nineteen and was the youngest of the group. After their release, the soldiers were taken to Washington D.C. to debrief the Judge Advocate General about their last mission. During this debriefing, leaders of the Union learned that of the original 22 soldiers of “Andrews’s Raiders” six had been executed, eight soldiers escaped successfully, and six had escaped and had been recaptured. For their heroic efforts in fighting for the Union, the six soldiers received $100 dollars, a commission in Ohio regiments, and the first medals of honor.
President Lincoln signed the Army Medal of Honor bill into law on 12 July 1862. The government contracted Wilson Silver Smiths in Philadelphia to produce the medals. The initial 500 medals were given to the War Department on February 14, 1863.
Since the Civil War, the Medal of Honor has been given to soldiers who faced incredible odds, resulting in extraordinary successes. While many of these medals have been given posthumously, they are just a small token of our appreciation to these brave soldiers who stood to defend our freedoms and our way of life.
Learn more about the Medal of Honor and the soldiers who receive it at www.patriotman.com.
About the Author
Duane Shoemaker has been in the Ohio Army National Guard for 22 years. He also has 14 years of experience as an instructional designer for a major corporation. http://www.patriotman.com
Military Medals of the US
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Al Valore Militare, obverse Photo Mugs Medal for Military Valour (Al Valore Militare) awarded to Vice-Admiral Sir Alfred Englefield Evans, KBE, CB….. |
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Al Valore Militare, obverse Photo Mugs Medal for Military Valour (Al Valore Militare) awarded to Commander H. J. Bray, RNR….. |
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Al Valore Militare, reverse Photo Mugs Medal for Military Valour (Al Valore Militare) awarded to Vice-Admiral Sir Alfred Englefield Evans, KBE, CB….. |
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Hispanics and the Medal of Honor, the History Channel $29.95 They have served in conflicts dating back to the 19th century, and they are an increasingly important and growing part of the U.S. military. But the role of Hispanics in the armed services is largely overlooked, despite the fact that many Hispanic soldiers have won the highest military award the nation bestows, the Medal of Honor. They served in every theater of operations, manning the gun decks … |
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Military Aircraft Video Report, Volume II Number I In this isuue Ride with the Thunderbirds F-15 Interceptors Talons of the Hawk The reign of the Stratojet… |
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Unsung Heroes – Hispanics and the Medal of Honor (The History Channel) (VHS) $24.99 … |
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Flag Display Case Plan (Woodworking Plan) $12.99 The cabinet is designed to hold a flag and various service medals, emblems or photograph.. Hang on a wall or sit it on a shelf or fireplace mantle. Includes full size patterns. Size: 23″ H x 20″ W x 5″ D. Embossed wood eagle, glass, wood and wood finish are not included…. |
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The Legion of Merit Medal. – 24W x 17H – Peel and Stick Wall Decal by Wallmonkeys $33.99 WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l… |
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Camouflage Military Medals Self Adhesive 5 Wall Border … |
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To Hell and Back $7.55 The most decorated soldier of World War II, Audie Murphy, stars as himself in this gritty, unflinching film biography. Follow the exploits of a reluctant, unlikely hero who left his life as a Texas sharecropper to enlist in the army where he would serve in Africa, Italy, France, Austria, and Germany. David Janssen, Marshall Thompson, Charles Drake, Denver Pyle co-star. 107 min. Widescreen (Enhance… |