The Medal of Honor

The following is a letter written by my dad and published in the March 17 edition of the Wall Street Journal:

Dear Editor

Thank you, Daniel Henning, for giving respectful attention to the Medal of Honor, America's highest military award for combat valor. It is given for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States."

The Medal of Honor is worn around the neck on formal occasions, whether the recipient is in uniform or civilian clothes. The service ribbon is worn above the left breast pocket when otherwise in uniform. The rosette is worn in the lapel of a civilian jacket.

You showed the Army’s version of the Medal, but readers should know there are two others, one for the Navy, Marines and Coast Guard, and one for the Air Force. The people to whom it is awarded are recipients, awardees or holders. The medal is never "won" so don’t call such people winners. Saying that cheapens the award because it is not an object of competition.

Of the tens of millions of Americans who have served in our armed forces, only 3,462 men and one woman have received the Medal of Honor since it was instituted by Congress in 1861 and signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln. From the beginning of World War II until now, fewer than 900 men have received the medal and only 112 recipients are still alive. Most received their award posthumously. To indicate how the military respects recipients of the Medal, by tradition everyone in uniform is supposed to salute them first. Even if the recipient is of the lowest rank, a general or an admiral salutes first. But it is the Medal itself which is saluted, not the person wearing it.

Readers may also be interested to know that my home town of Cheshire, Connecticut, has a Medal of Honor Plaza in recognition of two residents who received the Medal. They are Col. Harvey C. Barnum, USMC (Ret.), who received his for a battle action in Vietnam in 1965, and Sgt. Eri Woodbury of the Vermont Cavalry, who received his in 1864. I know of only one other city Norwalk, Connecticut which can claim two residents who were awarded the Medal of Honor.

Sincerely,
John White