It is awarded by the President in the name of Congress . For this reason, it is often referred to as the Congressional Medal of Honor. Since it was first presented in 1863, the medal has been awarded 3,512 times to 3,493 recipients.
How much money does a Medal of Honor recipient receive?
Medal of Honor recipients receive the following privileges and special benefits: A Special Medal of Honor pension of $1,406.73 per month above and beyond any military pensions or other benefits for which they may be eligible.
Who gives the Congressional Medal of Honor?
The Medal of Honor is the nation’s highest award for military valor. It is generally presented by the president in the name of Congress.
Who earned the Congressional Medal of Honor after the Civil War?
American Civil War
The Medal of Honor was established during this conflict; 1523 were awarded (33 posthumously) for acts of bravery and gallantry in combat. Most awards were granted after the end of the Civil War with two late awards to Andrew Jackson Smith and Alonzo Cushing in 2001 and 2014.
Is there a difference between the Medal of Honor and the Congressional Medal of Honor?
The Medal of Honor is awarded by the president of the United States for valorous actions in combat. ... The award is often erroneously called the “Congressional Medal of Honor ,” but it’s an award whose recipients are chosen exclusively by the executive branch.
What is higher than the Medal of Honor?
Service Crosses are the second-highest military medal awarded for valor. Like the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) has evolved into a medal presented for valor to qualifying service members from any branch of the U.S. military. The Distinguished Service Cross was first awarded by the Army in 1918.
Do Medal of Honor recipients pay taxes?
Medal of Honor recipients are invited to every presidential inaugural ball and they never pay federal income tax again .
Do Medal of Honor recipients get paid for life?
Medal of Honor recipients receive these benefits for life: Added to the Medal of Honor Roll . Retired pay is increased by 10%. A special Medal of Honor pension of $1,406.73 (effective date: December 1, 2020) per month above and beyond any other benefits including pensions.
Do Purple Heart recipients get paid?
Those who still serve on active duty and were awarded the Purple Heart are exempt from paying the funding fee (as of January 1, 2020), the same as those who receive or are entitled to receive VA compensation for their service-related conditions.
Do you salute a Medal of Honor recipient indoors?
While military members aren’t required to salute Medal of Honor recipients, they are encouraged to do so as long as the recipient is physically wearing the medal , even when the recipient is in civilian clothes. ... There have even been cases of American presidents saluting MoH recipients.
Has a woman ever received the Congressional Medal of Honor?
An American feminist, suffragist, suspected spy, prisoner of war and surgeon, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker remains the only women ever to receive the Medal of Honor, which she was awarded for her service during the Civil War. ... The practice failed, ostensibly because the public would not accept a female doctor.
Has anyone won 2 Medals of Honor?
To date, the maximum number of Medals of Honor earned by any service member has been two. The last living individual to be awarded two Medals of Honor was John J. Kelly 3 Oct 1918; the last individual to receive two Medals of Honor for two different actions was Smedley Butler, in 1914 and 1915.
Does anyone have more than one Medal of Honor?
Perhaps the most notable two-time Medal of Honor recipients are Smedley Butler and Dan Daly, both Marines who began their careers in the late-19th century before serving in World War I. ... Dan Daly received his two Medals of Honor for actions in China and Haiti in 1900 and 1915.
Is there such a thing as the Congressional Medal of Honor?
5. The award is not called the Congressional Medal of Honor . Contrary to popular belief, the official title of the highest U.S. military distinction is simply the Medal of Honor, not the Congressional Medal of Honor.
What benefits do Medal of Honor winners get?
- A Monthly Pension and Special Retirement Pay. ...
- Uniform Allowances. ...
- On-Base Parking Spots. ...
- Priority Space-A Travel. ...
- Invitations to Presidential Inaugurals. ...
- Academy Appointments for Dependents. ...
- A Medal of Honor Flag. ...
- Full Military Burial Honors.
What is the rarest war Medal?
Atlantic Star, World War II Medal
This is in our opinion one of the Rarest of the World War II Stars. The Atlantic Star was instituted in May of 1945 to honour those who took place in the Battle of the Atlantic. It was mainly for those who were part of shipping convoys, a mission that many did not come back from.
