Medal of Honor

Medal of Honor From Wikipedia

English: Picture of the medal of honor (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President in the name of Congress, and is conferred only upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States.”^[1] Due to the nature of its selection criteria, it is often awarded posthumously, with more than half of all awards since 1941 given to individuals who were deceased.^[5] As the award citation includes the phrase “in the name of Congress”, it is sometimes erroneously called the “Congressional Medal of Honor“. The official title, however, is simply the “Medal of Honor”.^[6][7]

Members of all branches of the armed forces are eligible to receive the medal, and there are three different versions (one for the Army, one for the Air Force, and one for the Navy, the Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard). The Medal of Honor is presented directly to the recipient (or for posthumous awards, to the next of kin) by the President of the United States on behalf of the US Congress, a procedure and ceremony intended to represent and recognize the gratitude not just of the American government, but of the American people as a whole. Due to its honored status, the medal is afforded special protection under U.S. law.^[8] 

English: Congressional Medal of Honor Navy/Marines (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Medal of Honor is one of only two military neck order awards issued by the United States, and is the only neck order that is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces. The Commander’s Degree of the Legion of Merit is a neck order of the US, but it is only authorized for issue to foreign dignitaries.^{[9]  Read More http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medal_of_Honor}

US Air Force Medal Honor

66-50-D Italy Knight Grand Cross of the Military Order of Italy

The insignia of a Military Knight of Italy (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Accession: 66-50-D
Medal, Badge, Italy, Knight Grand Cross of the Military Order of Italy.

Medal awarded to FADM C. Nimitz

Collection of Curator Branch, Naval History and Heritage Command.

[Medal of Honor] (LOC) (Photo credit: The Library of Congress)

Soviet Defense Stalingrad

759,560 Soviet personnel were awarded this medal for the defense of Stalingrad from 22 December 1942.