The Medal of Honor: The Shiniest Badge of Courage

The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the crème de la crème of U.S. military awards. It’s that shiny badge given to the brave souls in military uniform who didn’t just do their jobs—they went above and beyond, risking life and limb in the name of valor. While the rest of us were busy debating whether to brave rush-hour traffic, these heroes made willingly risked their lives to change the course of battles, history, and quite frankly, the lives of everyone else.

Those of us in the Commonplace Fun Facts editorial department generally have no difficulty being flippant about just about any subject. We confess, however, that we are more than a little intimidated to tackle this topic. The recipients of the Medal of Honor are, as far as we are concerned, absolute giants who tower over the rest of us. Certain things we tend to take for granted, such as freedom of speech, are ours to enjoy because of heroes such as the Medal of Honor recipients.

So, with feelings of inadequacy that are surpassed only by sentiments of extreme gratitude, we invite you to join us on this journey of exploration about the shiniest badge of courage you will ever find.

What is it?

Awarded by none other than the President of the United States, the MOH is presented “in the name of Congress”—just to add an extra layer of gravitas. That’s why some folks mistakenly call it the Congressional Medal of Honor. But let’s clear that up: it’s simply the Medal of Honor. You don’t see anyone calling a Grammy the Congressional Grammy Award, do you?

Learn how a double Medal of Honor recipient uncovered an attempted coup against FDR

A Civil War Inception

So where did this prestigious little metal come from? Well, like many things in American history, it all started with the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln formally established the Medal of Honor in 1861, recognizing that bravery is expected of everyone who wears the uniform but certain individuals go way beyond everyday expectations.

Since the institution of the Medal of Honor, less than .01% of service members have been awarded a Medal of Honor. Roughly 40 million Americans have served in the military since the Civil War, but as of January 2025, only 3,519 have received the Medal of Honor. These are the most elite of the elite.

Learn more about the Medal of Honor at the Congressional Medal of Honor Society

Three Flavors of Bravery

Just as ice cream comes in more than one flavor, so does the Medal of Honor. There are three variants:

1. Army MOH: For the soldiers, because who else will be staring down the barrel of a cannon (literal or metaphorical)?
2. Navy MOH: For sailors, marines, and coast guardsmen—because riding the high seas while dodging enemy fire? That takes guts.
3. Air Force MOH: For the airmen and Space Force members soaring above the clouds, looking down on all of us (literally, if not figuratively).

Each of these medals is designed to look a bit different, just so there’s no confusion about which branch you were braving certain doom for. Oh, and fun fact—the Air Force just got their very own shiny version in 1965. Before that, they were borrowing the Army’s MOH.

Now, let’s talk aesthetics. Because if you’re going to risk your life, the least they can do is give you a medal that looks good, right?

• The Army MOH is all about that five-pointed star, with an eagle perched on top—because what’s more American than an eagle? Add in some green oak leaves for that classic touch of valor, and you’ve got yourself one fancy piece of hardware.
• The Navy MOH goes a bit more nautical, with an anchor because, well, it’s the Navy. You’ve also got the goddess Minerva fighting off snakes. Apparently, secession was once compared to a serpent (oh, those political metaphors).
• The Air Force MOH gets a star within a wreath, topped off with Lady Liberty’s head. In case you were wondering, that’s 34 stars surrounding her, representing the number of states in the union during the Civil War, which is a nice historical touch.

The Numbers Game

• As of January 2025, a total of 3,519 Medals of Honor have been awarded, with a hefty chunk (over 40%) going to those Civil War heroes. It was, after all, the war that kicked off the whole MOH tradition. But not all was smooth sailing. In 1917, a Congressional review led to the revocation of 911 Army medals—yes, even Buffalo Bill Cody lost his. (Don’t worry, though, his medal was later restored, proving that bureaucracy even affects legends.)
• March 25 was officially declared Medal of Honor Day in 1990—a day to recognize these living legends. Though, truth be told, we should probably be giving them their due every single day of the year.

Drama in Medal-land: The Revocation Scandals

Back in 1917, Congress decided it was time to clean house. They took a look at some of the previously awarded Medals of Honor and said, “Wait, these folks did what to get a medal?” Cue the Medal of Honor Review Board, which revoked a total of 911 medals—talk about a buzzkill. Among the casualties of this bureaucratic purge were William “Buffalo Bill” Cody and Dr. Mary Edwards Walker.

Walker, by the way, is a fascinating figure: the only woman ever to receive the MOH, she was a surgeon during the Civil War and a staunch advocate for women’s rights. Her medal was restored in 1977 after years of dispute. Buffalo Bill’s medal also made a comeback, because really, how can you take a medal from a man who once rode a buffalo? (Okay, maybe he didn’t actually do that, but you get the point.)

The Medal’s Evolution

The Medal of Honor has seen more wardrobe changes than a pop star on tour. The Army version’s ribbon has been redesigned multiple times, moving from horizontal to vertical stripes (because why not?), and in 1904, General George Lewis Gillespie gave the MOH a makeover to distinguish it from other medals. After all, you wouldn’t want to confuse the Medal of Honor with a Boy Scout badge. The Navy even introduced a “Tiffany Cross” version in 1919, designed by—you guessed it—Tiffany & Co. Apparently, even medals weren’t immune to the lure of designer labels.

By the time World War II rolled around, the medal’s look was mostly settled. Today, if you see someone wearing that light blue ribbon with white stars around their neck, you know you’re in the presence of greatness. And they’re allowed to wear their uniforms whenever they want, which is just one of the many perks that come with the medal.

Privileges and Courtesies Granted to Medal of Honor Recipients

• Saluted By Higher Ranks — Although not mandated by law or military regulations across all branches, members of the uniformed services are encouraged to salute Medal of Honor recipients as a sign of respect and courtesy, regardless of the recipient’s rank or status, whether in uniform or not. This is one of the rare instances where a living service member may be saluted by those of higher rank. The U.S. Air Force explicitly requires this honor, as stated in Air Force Instruction 1-1, paragraph 1.8.1.1.

• Medal of Honor Roll – Recipients may have their names entered on the Medal of Honor Roll if they qualify under modern statutory authority (10 U.S.C. § 1134a and 38 U.S.C. § 1562).

• Special Pension – Recipients listed on the Medal of Honor Roll receive a monthly pension in addition to other military benefits. As of December 1, 2023, this pension is $1,671.16 per month and is subject to cost-of-living increases.

• Supplemental Uniform Allowance – Enlisted recipients are entitled to additional funds for maintaining their uniforms.

• Air Travel Benefits – Recipients receive special entitlements to air transportation under DOD Regulation 4515.13-R, allowing them and their dependents to travel as needed, including between the continental U.S. and overseas locations.

• Military Base Privileges – Recipients and their eligible dependents receive special identification cards granting access to commissaries and exchanges.

• Arlington National Cemetery Eligibility – Recipients are eligible for interment at Arlington National Cemetery, even if they do not otherwise qualify.

• Service Academy Nominations – Fully qualified children of Medal of Honor recipients are automatically nominated to attend any of the U.S. military service academies.

• Retirement Pay Increase – Recipients receive a 10% increase in retired pay.

• Medal of Honor Flag – Recipients awarded the medal after October 23, 2002, receive a Medal of Honor Flag. All 103 living prior recipients as of that date were also awarded the flag.

• Presidential Inauguration Invitations – Recipients are invited to all future presidential inaugurations and inaugural balls.

• Uniform Privileges – Retired recipients may wear the Medal of Honor on appropriate civilian clothing. They are also permitted to wear their military uniform at their discretion, subject to standard restrictions on political, commercial, or extremist purposes.

• Special License Plates – Forty states offer Medal of Honor recipients a special license plate at little or no cost. The remaining states provide veteran-specific plates for which recipients may be eligible.

• Nebraska Hall of Fame Induction – Nebraska law mandates that all Nebraskans awarded the Medal of Honor be named to the Nebraska Hall of Fame, with a plaque commemorating their achievements. (A high honor, for sure, but as far as we’re concerned, being an admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska should be thrown in, as well.)

National Medal of Honor Museum

After a century and a half of honoring the nation’s best and bravest defenders, the Medal of Honor is getting its own museum. The National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas, is scheduled to open on March 25, 2025. It will preserve the heroic stories of the medal’s recipients and promote its best ideals. The museum’s website offers an interactive database, identifying all of the recipients.

Remember and Respect the MOH

If you are reading this and happen to have been awarded the MOH, we take our hats off to you and thank you for your service and for going above and beyond anything we would ever dare to ask or expect. We’re grateful for our freedom, and we thank you for your part in protecting it.

As for the rest of us… Let’s take a moment to consider the “challenges” we face, such as running out of printer ink, having to sit in rush hour traffic, or not being able to decide which Netflix series to binge-watch next. In those moments, let’s also remember those who have shown true courage in the face of challenges most of us will never see. Spare a thought for those wearing the blue ribbon, and maybe—just maybe—consider what it means to truly go above and beyond.

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