Only one female holds the Medal of Honor

Huntington Examiner ^ | 11/11/2009 | Mark Shoffner

[mshoffner]

Women have served in military conflict, in one position or another, since the American War of Independence. Now, women are in most, if not all parts of the US Military. Many have been awarded honors for their bravery and service. But only one has earned the right to wear the Medal of Honor.

[Irishguy]

5,4,3....before obama realises here is a group to target

[Blueflag]

What she did was brave, self-sacrificing and honorable. Truly.

I think the modern-day reasons for awarding the MOH have shifted away from the reasons why she was awarded the MOH. Meaning today there seems to be more of a requirement for extraordinary heroism in battle, not just service and sacrifice. Just my early perspective, and not to diminish her efforts; just noting the difference.

[Cronos]

Only one female holds the Medal of Honor

hilary Clinton for her courage under fire? /sarc

[urroner]

HA HA HA HA. Chronos, that cracked me up.

[Polybius]

Mary Walker's Medal of Honor was revoked in 1917 and so were the Medals of Honor of 911 other individuals.

Great care must be taken when comparing Civil War era "Medals of Honor" with the current Medal of Honor.

Prior to the Civil War, the United States armed forces awarded no medals. During the Mexican-American War, a "certificate of merit" was established to honor those who distnguished themselves in action but no medal went with the award.

At the start of the Civil War a medal for individual valor was proposed to General-in-Chief of the Army Winfield Scott. However, Scott felt that medals smacked of European affectation and nixed the idea.

The Navy, however, established a medal of valor in December 1861. The Army followed suit with a medal of honor in July 1862 and the measure provided for awarding a medal of honor "to such noncommissioned officers and privates as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action, and other soldierlike qualities, during the present insurrection."

Therefore, during the Civil War, the "medal of honor" was the only medal that the U.S. Army handed out.

It was given out for "gallantry" with great risk to life.

It was given out for "soldierlike qualities" to individuals that never heard a shot fired in battle.

For example, in June, 1863, approximately 300 of the 864 members of the 27th Maine agree to remain to guard Washington, DC after their enlistment had expired. In return Secretary of War Edwin Stanton submitted the entire group of volunteers for Medals of Honor. Later, Medals of Honor were awarded to members of President Licoln's Funeral Guard. The Civil War era "Medal of Honor" was therefore America's first "Gedunk Medal" too.

In later years, more U.S. medals were created and a certain pecking order was established. The Medal of Honor was no longer given out like Halloween candy. It became reserved for the highest acts of bravery in the U.S. Armed Forces. For example, not a single American fighter ace in the entire European Theater was awarded the Medal of Honor. They were deemed worthy of only the Distinguished Service Cross which ranked below the Medal of Honor in the gallantry pecking order.

This change came about with America's entry into World War One when strict criteria were instituted.

During the "Medal of Honor Purge of 1917", a commission was form to review the awards of all Civil War era Medals of Honor to determine if they met the new criteria. In all, 911 individuals their "Medals of Honor" revoked.

The Medals of Honor handed out to the 27th Maine and Lincoln's Funeral Guard as "Gedunk Medals" were revoked.

Mary Walker's Medal of Honor was also revoked. (Feminists usually leave this part out.) However, Walker refused to turn the Medal of Honor back to the Army as requested. (Feminists usually leave this part out.)

Yes, it is true that Mary Walker, the first American woman to be a military doctor and a prisoner of war, received the medal in 1866 for her service during the Civil War. However, the Medal of Honor did not mean the same in 1866 as is does today.

[Joe Boucher]

I WISH.
HER COMING UNDER FIRE I MEAN.

[Joe Boucher]

Good post mshoffner,
Thanks.

[Never on my watch]

Don’t let General Casey hear about this. To paraphrase Gen. Casey:

“The under representation of women among MOH recipients clearly undermines our diversity, which is the true strength of our military.” /s

[Puppage]

Only one female holds the Medal of Honor

hilary Clinton for her courage under fire? /sarc

I think it's Michelle Obama for all her recent sacrifices.

[I Buried My Guns]

WAR:

WOMEN AND CHILDREN AFFECTED MOST, EXPERTS SAY.

[Rappini]

Thanks for the update.

[SES1066]

The modern Medal of Honor (MoH) is exclusive to documented combat bravery. Given that our distaff soldiers have only been recently been even exposed to combat, it is hardly surprising that they do not have MoHs. I am still an old fogey in this area though. As an Army brat, I knew my father was in harm’s way during his year in Vietnam but I still had my mom for comfort. I weep for those children who have lost their mothers in the military (or for any reason while in childhood). It seems to me that this is not what a civilized society does, but it appears that this is what is brought to us by societal equity.

[silverleaf]

interesting stuff- what is your source?

[mquinn]

Didn’t Jimmy Peanut reverse the revocation?

[fortheDeclaration]

Exactly correct.

From the article

IN 1917, CONGRESS CHANGED THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE MEDAL OF HONOR TO ONLY INCLUDE THOSE OF AN ACTIVE COMBAT DUTY, WHILE ENGAGING THE ENEMY, DURING WAR. IT WAS REQUESTED OF DR. EDWARDS TO RELINQUISH THE MEDAL, ALONG WITH OVER 900 OTHERS. SHE REFUSED AND WORE THE MEDAL UNTIL THE TIME OF HER DEATH, IN 1919.

[Polybius]

Didn’t Jimmy Peanut reverse the revocation?

He most certainly did, for the sake of Political Correctness.

That, however, does not change the fact that Dr. Walker's "Medal of Honor" was the same medal that was handed out to 300 members of the 27th Maine for simply volunteering to reenlist and stay "in the rear with the gear" defending the Washington, DC.

It was simply a different class of medal at the time that, in no way, shape or form, had the same significance that the post-1917 Medal of Honor had. Calling it a "Medal of Honor" in the modern sense does not change that historical context.

"How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg." .... Abraham Lincoln

In the modern service, Dr. Walker would have received the POW Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal.

[Polybius]

interesting stuff- what is your source?

It was one of my old Free Republic posts that I researched one day a long time ago when many on Free Republic wanted to give Jessica Lynch the Medal of Honor for simply getting shot and getting rescued and Dr. Walker's name came up in another post.

A quick Google search now yields this link.

The Purge of 1917: ..... 27th Maine - The names of all 864 men of the 27th Maine (including the name of Colonel Mark Wentworth), were stricken from the Roll of Honor. ...... Lincoln Funeral Guard - The names of 4 officers and 25 senior NCOs who had received ceremonial Medals of Honor as Abraham Lincoln's funeral guard were stricken.

Douglas MacArthur was always in awe of his father, Arthur, for having won the Medal of Honor by storming Missionary Ridge during the Battle of Chattanooga.

Maybe Douglas would have had less Oedipal issues if he had known you could have gotten the very same medal in Arthur's day simply by being a funeral guard at Lincoln's funeral.

To be fair, though, Arthur's Medal of Honor stood the 1917 test for equivalency for the modern medal.

[FrPR]

Source: Porf Richard’s Almanac

[masanf]

Feminists may leave out the part about Walker having her Medal of Honor rescinded, but you left out the part about how it was given back by Jimmy Carter in 1977.