[July 11, 2021] The U.S. Civil War had been raging for nearly two years. President Abraham Lincoln wanted some way to recognize the heroic actions that helped the Union in its fight. He signed a resolution establishing the United States Army Medal of Honor.1 It was awarded to noncommissioned officers and privates for gallantry in action and other soldiers with like qualities.
The prior December, Lincoln approved a provision for the United States Navy Medal of Valor. In 1863, the Medal of Honor was made available to all members of the United States Military.
A few points of interest regarding the Medal of Honor: The only President to be awarded the Medal of Honor was Theodore Roosevelt. His son, Theodore Roosevelt Jr., was also awarded the Medal of Honor for action at Normandy during World War II. He died a month later and was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously. His father also received his Medal of Honor posthumously.
Nineteen soldiers have received two Medals of Honor. One of those was Dan Daly, who was nominated for a third medal for his actions in attacking a German machine gun nest in WWI. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross instead. The youngest person awarded the Medal of Honor was to Willie Johnston, age 11, a Drummer Boy. During the Civil War, General McClellan ordered a retreat. Most of the Union troops abandoned their equipment but not Willie. He kept his drum and kept the beat going until the retreat was completed. The drumbeat held the troops and prevented panic. Willie was 13 years old when he finally received his medal.
The only woman to receive the Medal of Honor was Mary Edwards Walker. Walker was a doctor and was the first female U.S. Army Surgeon. Although her Medal of Honor was rescinded, it was rewarded to her in 1977.
The Medal of Honor has a long and famous history. It does what Abraham Lincoln wanted, and I’m sure far surpassed what he thought possible. Sometimes what we do carries forward in history. Lincoln’s action this day, 158 years ago, continues. Let us pray that his ideas will continue.
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- Medal of Honor Society: https://www.cmohs.org/
President Lincoln, a great man. If only he had lived, what great things would have been done.
Good article, thanks Gen. Satterfield. Keep these coming our way.
Exactly why I keep coming back to this website.
Thanks, Gen. Satterfield for giving us a bit of history about the Medal of Honor and Pres Lincoln, as well. I always appreciate these quick tidbits and they are something I can use when talking with others and it also helps put things in perspective for me.
FYI folks, Gen. Satterfield has an article on Mary Edwards Walker and I recommend it. Gen. Satterfield makes note of the fact that she was the only one to earn the highly prized medal.
https://www.theleadermaker.com/mary-edwards-walker/
And now with Pres Biden in office, and his antics about giving things to women and minorities because we are a “racist nation,” I predict he will give the MOH to a woman very soon.
ah, never thought of that one.
Hmmmm, interesting thinking. Biden panders to the tribal instincts in all of us. That is why he is relatively popular with blacks and women. Maybe he should consider putting together some “committee” to study what it would take to make real Americans to like him a bit more. He is hated among many groups because he is weak, both emotionally and physically.
To paraphrase Napoléon Bonaparte, “If I had enough ribbon (for medals of bravery from my country), I could conquer the world.”
Great man. Abraham Lincoln was always underrated and perhaps he was the greatest president even surpassing George Washington.
Yep, and now his state of Illinois is one of the worst states in the USA. They ban guns and go after law abiding citizens. And, ignore criminals who riot in their streets and murder others. Downward ole Abe’s state descends.
I’m not into debating which president was the best but in the last 100 years I can tell you who the worst president was and that was Jimmy Carter. Gen. Satterfield has written on him several times here in his leadership blog and I would like to read more. Why? Because Carter’s way is an example of how not to be a leader. Now, the 21st century will have the likes of Biden who will like be considered America’s worst president ever.
Plato, we don’t have to be smart to figure that out. Thanks!!