Congressional Medal of Honor – Dale’s Daily Data
It was during the Civil War that President Lincoln signed a bill that created the Congressional Medal of Honor to be presented to soldiers who distinguished themselves in battle, risking their lives beyond the call of duty. Originally it was intended for soldiers in the Civil War. The first to receive it were six Union soldiers who traveled deep into Confederate territory to destroy key rebel transportation routes by blowing up bridges and railroads in Georgia and Tennessee.
Since then a total of 3,456 Medals of Honor have been awarded including Marine Corporal Jason Dunham of Scio, New York who gave his life to save the lives of other nearby soldiers when he covered an enemy grenade in Iraq. He was the first Marine since the Vietnam War to earn the Medal of Honor.
84 recipients are still alive including Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta who risked his life to save the lives of other wounded soldiers in his squad during an ambush in Afghanistan. One of the wounded men was being carried away by two enemy soldiers, so Giunta immediately began firing killing one and wounding the other. He then started giving medical aid until others in his unit were able to arrive in support.
There are actually 3 versions of the Medal of Honor – one used by the Navy, Marines and Coast Guard, a second one used by the Army and a third one used by the Air Force.
58 medals were awarded for actions at Gettysburg.
15 sailors were honored for actions at Pearl Harbor.
There have been 19 double recipients of the Medal of Honor.
President Lincoln signed the bill creating the Medal of Honor on this date in 1862.
SOURCE: Congressional Medal of Honor Society
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