WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 30: A military aide holds U.S. Army Master Sgt. Matthew Williams' Medal of Honor during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House October 30, 2019 in Washington, DC. Serving with Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha in Afghanistan's Shok Valley in 2008, Williams repeatedly risked his life to evacuate four wounded teammates and lead counterassaults after they were pinned down by enemy fire during a mission to capture or kill high-value targets. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 05: A military aide holds a Medal of Honor as President Joe Biden awards the Medal of Honor to retired Army Specialist Five Dennis M. Fujii during an event in the East Room of the White House on Tuesday, July 5, 2022 in Washington, DC. Biden presented the Medal of Honor to Army Specialist Dwight W. Birdwell, Major John J. Duffy, Specialist Dennis M. Fujii, and posthumously to Staff Sergeant Edward N. Kaneshiro. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Sergeant Henry Johnson of the 369th Colored Infantry was awarded the Croix de Guerre for bravery during an outnumbered battle with German soldiers.

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World War I pitted Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire against Great Britain, the United States, France, Russia, Italy and Japan. New military technology resulted in unprecedented carnage. By the time the war was over and the Allied Powers claimed victory, more than 16 million people—soldiers and civilians alike—were dead.

World War I

The Vietnam War pitted communist North Vietnam and the Viet Cong against South Vietnam and the United States. The war ended when U.S. forces withdrew in 1973 and Vietnam unified under Communist control two years later.

Vietnam War

The years following the American Revolution were challenging for the new nation, which struggled with the Articles of Confederation, Shay's Rebellion, Federalism, the Alien and Sedition Acts and more.

Early U.S.

The U.S. government, with its three branches of government and a system of checks and balances, is responsible for governing the 50 states and all districts and territories of the United States.

U.S. Government and Politics

1965

World War II was the biggest and deadliest war in history, involving more than 30 countries. Sparked by the 1939 Nazi invasion of Poland, the war dragged on for six bloody years until the Allies defeated the Axis powers of Nazi Germany, Japan and Italy in 1945. Explore the battles, leaders and atrocities from the war and its impact on geopolitics and humankind.

World War II

1945

1861

Though the 19th century saw the rise of populism, the labor movement and Jacksonian democracy, it also ushered in the Gilded Age, when men like Cornelius Vanderbilt and J. P. Morgan wielded vast control over politics and business.

Medal of Honor

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WWI Hero Henry Johnson Finally Receives Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor: 6 Surprising Facts

This Day in History

Medal of Honor created

First Medal of Honor action

Conscientious objector awarded Medal of Honor

Lawrence Joel awarded Medal of Honor

Sergeant Duane D. Hackney receives Air Force Cross

First Marine to receive Medal of Honor for action in Vietnam is killed