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Recipients of the Medal of Honor Listed by War and Branch of Service

"A total of 3,466 Medals of Honor have been awarded to 3,447 soldiers and civilians 
for 3,461 individual actions of heroism."
(A detailed explanation of these numbers is provided at the bottom of this page.)

Click on the Buttons below for a COMPLETE LIST of all recipients accredited to that war.

*Medal of Honor statistics:
Medal of Honor statistics can often be confusing and even contradictory, especially if you take information from a variety of published or inter-net sources.  Usually well researched material is NOT contradictory, even when the numbers differ from source to source.  Consider the following:

"Medals of Honor have been awarded to 3,466 American Soldiers."

This statement is FALSE for several reasons.  The first is in the actual numbers:

• Since it was established in 1862 a total of 3,466 Medals of Honor (Army, Navy/Marine Corps, and Air Force) have been awarded for specific acts of heroism.  During World War I, however, FIVE MARINES received BOTH the Army Medal of Honor and the Navy Medal of Honor for THE SAME ACTION.  This means that there have actually been 3,461 SEPARATE ACTS OF VALOR THAT HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED WITH A MEDAL OF HONOR AWARD.

• Of the 3,461 heroic actions, 14 were performed by men who had previously been awarded Medals of Honor for a different action (these 14 + the 5 World War I Marines comprise the 19 DOUBLE AWARDEES of the Medal of Honor).  When these 14 SECOND ACTIONS by a previous Medal Recipient are subtracted from the total number of Medal of Honor actions, the statement becomes more correct if stated:

"3,466 Medals of Honor have been awarded to 3,447 individual American Soldiers."

There are 2 additional corrections that are required of this final sentence, however.

• Of the 3,447 INDIVIDUALS who have received Medals of Honor, FIVE were awarded to FOREIGN NATIONALS (the unknown soldiers of Belgium, Great Britain, France, Italy, and Rumania.)

• Eight civilians have received Medals of Honor including Dr. Mary Edwards Walker (the only woman to ever receive the award), one civilian scout and two civilian Naval pilots during the Civil War, and 4 civilian scouts during the Indian Campaigns (including William Cody..."Buffalo Bill").

Web Note: The above information is a brief attempt at explaining the actual Medal of Honor numbers.  Other factors about Medal of Honor statistics are from time to time, similarly confusing or seemingly contradictory.    For instance, during World War I, one MARINE received ONLY the ARMY Medal of Honor for his heroism.  When figures regarding the MEDAL itself are presented, this would count as an ARMY award.    We know, it does get confusing. Our emphasis at the Hall of Heroes is on the MAN behind the award, not the Award itself.  We list this brave soldier with his fellow Marines out of respect to all members of the Marine Corps. We have prepared a DETAILED analysis of these other factors regarding common Medal of Honor stastics for your reference under our Medal of Honor History pages.  MOH STATISTICS Any questions not answered there we are happy to research and provide for you.  Please feel free to: E-Mail the Web Master

 

 

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