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Medal of Honor

Stories


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)

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Has anyone earned two Medals of Honor?

Some 3,500 Americans have received the Medal of Honor since it was first introduced in the 1860s, but to date, only 19 have earned the military’s highest award for valor on two occasions. The first was Civil War cavalryman Thomas Ward Custer, younger brother of George Armstrong Custer, who received his medals for capturing Confederate […]

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

WWI Hero Henry Johnson Finally Receives Medal of Honor

Private Henry Johnson, a member of the all-black unit known as the “Harlem Hellfighters,” used a rifle, a knife and his hands to fight off nearly two dozen German soldiers during World War I.

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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)

The Medal of Honor: 6 Surprising Facts

Discover six things you may not know about the Medal of Honor, which was signed into law 150 years ago, and its recipients.

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This Day in History

See All

1862

Medal of Honor created

U.S. Government and Politics
1861

First Medal of Honor action

19th Century
1945

Conscientious objector awarded Medal of Honor

World War II
1965

Lawrence Joel awarded Medal of Honor

Vietnam War
1967

Sergeant Duane D. Hackney receives Air Force Cross

Vietnam War
1965

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

Vietnam War
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