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medal of honor

6 articles

1775
- Jun 1
  What was the first major battle fought by Americans in World War I?
  
  The first major battle fought by American troops in World War I erupted in June 1918 at Belleau Wood, a dense forest near Château-Thierry, France, just 53 miles from Paris. This fierce, twenty-six-day clash marked the Americans’ debut on the Western Front and proved pivotal in halting the final German advance toward Paris, setting the stage for the Allied counter-offensive that would end the war. During the battle, U.S. Marines fought so tenaciously that the Germans nicknamed them "Teufel Hunden," or "Devil Dogs," a legacy still honored at Belleau Wood each Memorial Day. The Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, at the base of the hill where the battle raged, now marks the graves of 2,289 Americans lost in the fighting, with the names of 1,060 missing inscribed inside its memorial chapel.
1919
- Feb 21
  Who is the only woman to be awarded the U.S. Medal of Honor?
  
  Dr. Mary Edwards Walker of Oswego, New York, remains the only woman ever awarded the U.S. Medal of Honor. As a pioneering Civil War surgeon and women's rights advocate, Walker volunteered her medical expertise on the battlefield when women were barred from official military commissions. Captured as a suspected spy in 1864 and enduring four months in a Confederate prison, she was honored by President Andrew Johnson with the Medal of Honor in 1865—only to have it rescinded in 1917 and later reinstated in 1977. Walker's legacy endures not only through her medal, now displayed at the Richardson-Bates House Museum, but also in the ongoing recognition of her extraordinary commitment to both her country and to gender equality.
1941
- Sep 16
  Who is the youngest recipient of the U.S. Medal of Honor?
  
  William H. "Willie" Johnston, born in New York in 1850 and raised in Vermont, became the youngest recipient of the U.S. Medal of Honor for his service as an 11-year-old drummer boy during the Seven Days Battles of the American Civil War. His remarkable bravery was recognized when, unlike many soldiers who discarded their equipment during a difficult retreat, Willie safely carried his drum to Harrison’s Landing and was the only drummer to do so, earning praise from commanding officers and a personal medal presentation from Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. On September 16, 1863, at just age 13, Johnston was awarded the Medal of Honor, a legacy commemorated today by three monuments, including a granite stele in Derby, Vermont, unveiled on the 156th anniversary of his achievement. Willie’s inspiring story continues to resonate, marking milestones like the 164th anniversary of his medal presentation and the ongoing remembrance of his extraordinary courage in American history.
1942
- Jan 12
  Who was the first United States soldier to be awarded the Medal of Honor in World War II?
  
  Second Lieutenant Alexander R. Nininger Jr., born in Gainesville, Georgia and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, became the first United States soldier to receive the Medal of Honor in World War II for his extraordinary heroism during the Battle of Bataan in the Philippines. Voluntarily joining the embattled Company K, Nininger was killed in action on January 12, 1942, after single-handedly attacking enemy positions despite being wounded three times. His legacy is unique—not only was he the first among his West Point class to fall in WWII, but he remains memorialized at West Point’s Nininger Hall, on the Tablets of the Missing in Manila, and in numerous places across Florida and the nation. The 84th anniversary of his death is honored on January 12, 2026, celebrating a story of valor that continues to inspire generations.
2013
- Nov 9
  What Vietnam War battlefield rescue is memorialized depicting the only time when one Medal of Honor recipient was rescued by a person who would eventually be awarded a Medal of Honor for rescuing him?
  
  At the entrance of the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida, a striking ten-foot bronze statue called 'Swim Buddies' commemorates an extraordinary Vietnam War battlefield rescue. The sculpture memorializes the night of October 31, 1972, when SEAL Petty Officer Michael "Mike" Thornton braved enemy fire to carry his critically injured teammate, Lieutenant Thomas "Tommy" Norris, to safety—an act that would result in both men receiving the Medal of Honor, uniquely marking the only time one recipient saved another. Thornton towed Norris for two hours through darkness and surf before they were rescued, exemplifying the SEAL ethos of mutual responsibility known as the "swim buddy" system. Unveiled on November 9, 2013, and commissioned by H. Ross Perot, the statue stands as a powerful symbol of valor and brotherhood at the historic training grounds of America’s original WWII "frogmen."
2017
- Sep 16
  What national monument is dedicated to the memory of those Canadians who served during the American Civil War?
  
  The National Memorial in memory of Canadians who served during the American Civil War is located in Long Sault, Ontario. Unveiled on September 16, 2017, this unique monument recognizes the contributions of more than 40,000 Canadians who volunteered for both the Union and Confederate forces—an astonishing two percent of Canada's population at the time. The memorial’s three-metre black granite obelisk, along with commemorative walls and benches, stands as the only monument in Canada solely dedicated to these volunteers and their complex legacy. As of September 2025, it marks its 8th anniversary, honoring the individuals whose names and stories might otherwise remain hidden in history.