Posted by
Ron on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 11:04:11 PM
Today is the 144th anniversary of the creation of the Medal of Honor. At National Review Online,
W. Thomas Smith Jr. writes:
On July 12, 1862 — exactly
144 years ago, today — President Abraham Lincoln signed into law the
authorization for some 2,000 “medals,” which were said to be “for
non-commissioned officers and privates as shall most distinguish
themselves by their gallantry in action.” These were the first official
Army “Congressional Medals of Honor.”
The
Navy had established a Medal of Honor, several months earlier, for its
enlisted sailors and Marines. Over time, both the Army and the Navy
awards would be extended to commissioned officers who similarly proved
themselves in combat.
Though
signed into law in mid-July, the congressionally mandated National
Medal of Honor Day is actually March 25 as that was the day in 1863
that the first MOHs were presented to six Union Army soldiers. Less
than two weeks later, the first 41 American sailors were awarded MOHs.
The article goes on to describe the actions of different recipients of
the MOH, and background into why and how the medal itself is awarded.
It's a great article, read the whole thing. It will inspire you.