The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. The recipients must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their own life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an enemy of the United States. Tibor Rubin. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Corporal Rubin distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism during the period from July 23, 1950 to April 20, 1953 while serving as a rifleman with Company I, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division in the Republic of Korea. It was established on 4 June 1917 by King George V and comprises five classes across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two of which make the recipient either a knight if male or dame if female. There is also the related British Empire Medal, whose recipients are affiliated with, but not members of, the order. Prior to World War I, 49 African Americans had been awarded the Medal of Honor, including 25 men who fought for the Union in the Civil War. There were 119 Medals of Honor recipients in World War I, with Stowers being the only African American. His long overdue recognition in 1991 is a small but important sign of the progress we as a nation have Rank: Master-at-Arms. Conflict/Era: War on Terrorism (Iraq) Unit/Command: U.S. Navy SEALS. Military Service Branch: U.S. Navy. Medal of Honor Action Date: September 29, 2006. Medal of Honor Action Place: Ar Ramadi, Iraq. Citation. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as automatic Thomas Jerome Hudner Jr. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a pilot in Fighter Squadron 32, while attempting to rescue a squadron mate whose plane, struck by antiaircraft fire and trailing smoke, was forced down behind enemy lines. Quickly maneuvering to circle the downed pilot These are the 15 Medal of Honor recipients from Pearl Harbor. 1. Capt. Mervyn S. Bennion. (Naval Historical Center) As captain of the battleship USS West Virginia (BB-48), Capt. Bennion dutifully directed his sailors in defense of the ship during the attack. When the nearby USS Tennessee (BB-43) was hit by a bomb, shrapnel cut through West Medal of Honor recipients, citations, and other resources concerning the nation's highest medal for valor in combat. Rslk.

highest ranking medal of honor recipient