This is a column about the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest award for military valor. In a time when we do not seem to appreciate our military as we should, in an era when we do not give the respect and appreciation to military members who, through the draft in earlier times, or through volunteerism always, put their lives on the line to protect the integrity, values and pride we as Americans should have in our nation and all who protect it, I offer this column as my own small part in promoting more respect for our active military and veterans.
Beginning
Beginning with the history of the Medal of Honor, the column will include stories about each of the recipients from New Jersey, with an accent on those heroes from Monmouth County. There will be stories on brothers, fathers and sons, and the one woman who have received the Medal, stories about Medals that were given, then taken back, and stories about some of the actions in which these brave men showed their bravery, their courage, and their integrity.
Love Affair
These are the stories about a love affair of men of stature with the United States of America. May they inspire you to look a bit differently and with a bit more pride in any military member you see, perhaps to shake his hand, buy him a cup of coffee, or simply say thanks for doing such a great job.
Not ever military member can be the recipient of the nation’s highest military award. There have been little more than 3500 receiving the honor since it was first awarded in 1861. But every military member nonetheless runs the risk of being in the position when his mettle could be tested to see if he could be so honored.
Senator James W. Grimes
It was Senator James W. Grimes who got and acted on the idea first. The Iowan Senator introduced a bill authorizing the production and distribution of “medals of honor” to be presented to seamen and Marines who “distinguish themselves by gallantry in action and other seaman-like qualities.
A native of New Hampshire, Grimes attended Dartmouth College, studied law and moved West, settling in the Black Hawk Purchase land that was part of the Wisconsin Territory and later became the state of Iowa. He then served as the new state’s third governor before going on to the Senate as a Republican and serving for ten years. He resigned the office in 1869 because of ill health and died three years later.
But as a Senator, he served on the Committee on Naval Affairs and was a member of the peace convention put together to try and prevent the Civil War. Recognizing the bravery of the Naval and Marine forces fighting the war his efforts failed to avoid, led him to introduce the bill to honor them.
The Navy
The Navy Medal of Honor was the beginning. Congress created it in December 1861, with President Abraham Lincoln signing Grimes’ legislation into law. The Purple Heart, which had been created by General George Washington to honor bravery during the Revolution had rather fallen along the wayside in the years since the war, and faced with a civil war, Congress realized its fighting forces on land and sea should be rightfully honored.
The Army
The Navy Medal of Honor, the first Medal, was followed seven months later by the Army’s Medal of Honor. That was signed into law after Senator Henry Wilson, another New Hampshire native and Republican who later became vice-president under President US Grant, introduced the Congressional legislation.
The Air Force
The Air Force was not created as a separate military unit until 1947, with honorees serving in the Army Air Corps prior to the establishment of the Air Force. But in 1965, with the Navy and the Army both having their own designs on the Medals of Honor, the Air Force also introduced its own design.
Enlisted First
At first, both Army and Navy Medals of Honor were only to be presented to enlisted soldiers and seamen. Two years later, the Army Medal was also made eligible to officers; but the Navy waiting another 52 years before authorizing officers to also be recognized.
Firsts
It was March 25, 1863, when the first Army Medals of Honor were presented and these went to Andrew’s Raiders, Union soldiers on a spy mission in Georgia .
The first Navy Medal of Honor was presented in May of the same year to Robert Williams, honored for his distinguished action aboard the USS Bendon during the Yazoo River Expedition.
The first Marine to receive the honor was John F. Mackie serving aboard the USS Galena, presented in July 1863.
The first recipient as a member of the Air Force was Major Louis Sebille who joined the Army Air Corps as a pilot, serving in WWII then returning to civilian life. He returned two years later when the Air Force was formally established and was commanding officer of a fighter-Bomber group. He received the nation’s highest honor for his last mission in 1950 in defense of South Korea.
Army Air Corps/Army Air Forces. US. Air Force members recognized for actions prior to July 1948 are listed as Army members; after then, they are listed as Air Force members.
Presented by the President
After President Theodore Roosevelt took office, he issued an Executive Order requiring that the Medal of Honor always be presented by the President of the United States, or a designated representative, in a formal ceremony.
In 1916, an Army and Navy Medal of Honor Roll was created and recipients were given a special pension in addition to their Medal.
Between 1916 and 1917, five Army generals reviewed all the Army Medals of Honor that had been awarded, and determined that 911 recipients did not deserve the honor. They rescinded their awards.
Other Valor Awards
The following year, 1918, during World War I, the US Military codified other valor awards, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal and the Silver Star, with the Congressional Medal remaining the pinnacle.
Regardless of changes, the Medal of Honor remains the highest award for military valor, and its recipients are entitled to several honoraria because of their value and recognition. But the values remain…together with a deep love of country and the strong desire to always do the right and necessary thing at the right and necessary time.
Watch for the Nest Article in this series: The Selection Process and the Honors
Stories about our Veterans
Ok GREAT Article and a MUCH-needed history lesson! Now can you tell us which State has the most Medal of Honor recipients??
New York, 672
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