[benjamin032]

I remember when the question was whether or not we had seen the last MOH.

[Doogle]

...a push by the rats in Congress over the last 8 1/2 years to not salute and recognize real American heroes

[darkwing104]

If you left the inter-service politics and the beltway politics out of it the truly deserving would get the metal.

[DieHard the Hunter]

The MOH is an elite medal.

Similarly, in these current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, I am aware of one Victoria Cross being awarded to New Zealand, and one Victoria Cross to Australia. I do not know if any have been awarded to British forces during this time.

It doesn’t surprise me at all that there have been only six MoH recipients during these conflicts.

[phormer phrog phlyer]

Since Viet Nam all Medal of Honor awards have been posthumous.

[MrEdd]

The Iraq war began in 1990.
That makes this it's 19th year.

I have a gift for Kevin Freking.

[Venturer]

I remember reading a story about a Marine who was wounded by an explosion set of by an insurgent, He forced himself up and gave the insurgent the finger. This guy has my vote for the medal.

http://viewfromtonka.blogspot.com/2005/09/injured-marine-defies-attackers-1.html

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

I have long argued that the MoH, while recognizing great heroism, is not given to the recipient for that heroism. Instead, it is to him, his family, his town, his State and the United States as a whole.

As such, it designates him as the conveyor of the Medal of Honor, that for the rest of his life, it is his status. There is no higher honor, and even if he is elected President of the United States, his title will still be “Medal of Honor Recipient and President of the United States.”

There is no military regulation that higher ranking military personnel must salute a Medal of Honor Recipient first, but from private to highest ranking flag officer, they will.

That there was a combat action that brought about the presentation of the Medal of Honor, is just a discriminator of its issuance. After then, the recipient wears the MoH so that his fellow citizens will be able to see heroism personified.

There are now fewer than one living MoH recipient for every 3 million Americans, with fewer ever year. If you ever have a chance to meet one, take it.