President Barack Obama meets with recipients at the National Medal of Honor Day ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns on March 25, 2009
There are currently 67 living recipients of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.[1] The Medal of Honor is bestowed upon a member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes themselves "conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States."[2]
Of the 67 living recipients, one earned his Medal of Honor in World War II,four in the Korean War, 47 in the Vietnam War, 13 in the War in Afghanistan, one in the War in Iraq and one in Operation Inherent Resolve. One earned his medal while serving in the U.S. Air Force, 46 in the U.S. Army, 12 in the U.S. Marine Corps, and eight in the U.S. Navy. The oldest recipient is Hershel Williams, aged 98, whereas the youngest is Kyle Carpenter, aged 32. Three medal holders are still on active duty in the U.S. military, soldiers William D. Swenson, Thomas Payne and Matthew O. Williams of the U.S. Army. Among the living recipients are former U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey and three retired generals: Patrick Henry Brady and Robert F. Foley of the Army and James E. Livingston of the Marine Corps.
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. The recipient must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their own life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an enemy of the United States. Due to the nature of this medal, it is commonly presented posthumously.[3]
World War II
During World War II 464 United States military personnel received the Medal of Honor, 266 of them posthumously. A total of 42 Medals of Honor were presented for action in just two battles – 15 for actions during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and 27 for actions during the Battle of Iwo Jima. A total of 21 (4.5% of all World War II Medals of Honor) were received by members of the all-Japanese American 100th Infantry Battalion of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, for actions in numerous battles across six different campaigns.[4] Additionally, the only Medal of Honor ever presented to a member of the United States Coast Guard was received for actions during this war.[5]
Image | Name | Branch | Birth date and age | References |
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Hershel W. Williams | Marine Corps | October 2, 1923 (age 99) | [6] |
Korean War
During the Korean War, 146 Medals of Honor were presented for bravery in action. As of 2021, four recipients were still living.[5]
Image | Name | Branch | Birth date and age | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
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Duane E. Dewey | Marine Corps | November 16, 1931 (age 91) | [7] |
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Hiroshi H. Miyamura | Army | October 6, 1925 (age 97) | [8] |
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Ralph Puckett | Army | December 8, 1926 (age 96) | [9] |
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Robert E. Simanek | Marine Corps | April 26, 1930 (age 92) | [10] |
Vietnam
During the Vietnam War, 249 Medals of Honor were received, 156 (62.9%) of them posthumously. Of the living recipients who received their medals for actions in the Vietnam War, 52 are alive as of 2018.[11]
The first person to earn the Medal of Honor in this war was Roger Donlon who, on 6 July 1964, rescued and administered first aid to several wounded soldiers and led a group against an enemy force.[12]
Image | Name | Branch | Birth date and age | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
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Bennie Adkins | Army | February 1, 1934 (age 88) | |
File:JBaca.jpg | John Baca | Army | January 10, 1949 (age 73) | [13] |
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Donald E. Ballard | Navy | December 5, 1945 (age 77) | [14] |
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Harvey C. Barnum, Jr. | Marine Corps | July 21, 1940 (age 82) | [15] |
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Gary B. Beikirch | Army | August 29, 1947 (age 75) | [16] |
Patrick Henry Brady | Army | October 1, 1936 (age 86) | [17] | |
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Paul Bucha | Army | August 1, 1943 (age 79) | [18] |
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John Canley | Marine Corps | February 1, 1938 (age 84) | [19] |
Bruce P. Crandall | Army | February 17, 1933 (age 89) | [15] | |
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Sammy L. Davis | Army | November 1, 1946 (age 76) | [20] |
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Drew Dennis Dix | Army | December 14, 1944 (age 78) | [8] |
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Roger Donlon | Army | January 30, 1934 (age 88) | [21] |
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Frederick Edgar Ferguson | Army | August 18, 1939 (age 83) | [22] |
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Michael John Fitzmaurice | Army | March 9, 1950 (age 72) | [23] |
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James P. Fleming | Air Force | March 12, 1943 (age 79) | [17] |
Robert F. Foley | Army | May 30, 1941 (age 81) | ||
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Harold A. Fritz | Army | February 21, 1944 (age 78) | [20] |
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Frank A. Herda | Army | September 13, 1947 (age 75) | |
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Robert R. Ingram | Navy | January 20, 1945 (age 77) | [24] |
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Joe M. Jackson | Air Force | March 14, 1923 (age 99) | [17] |
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Jack H. Jacobs | Army | August 2, 1945 (age 77) | [25] |
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Don J. Jenkins | Army | April 18, 1948 (age 74) | [6] |
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Thomas G. Kelley | Navy | May 13, 1939 (age 83) | [26] |
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Allan J. Kellogg | Marine Corps | October 1, 1943 (age 79) | [27] |
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Bob Kerrey | Navy | August 27, 1943 (age 79) | [8] |
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Charles Kettles | Army | January 9, 1930 (age 92) | [28] |
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Howard V. Lee | Marine Corps | August 1, 1933 (age 89) | [29] |
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Peter C. Lemon | Army | June 5, 1950 (age 72) | [30] |
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Gary L. Littrell | Army | October 26, 1944 (age 78) | [31] |
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James E. Livingston | Marine Corps | January 12, 1940 (age 82) | [32] |
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Allen James Lynch | Army | October 28, 1945 (age 77) | [20] |
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Walter Joseph Marm, Jr. | Army | November 20, 1941 (age 81) | [33] |
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James C. McCloughan | Army | April 30, 1946 (age 76) | [34] |
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Robert J. Modrzejewski | Marine Corps | July 3, 1934 (age 88) | [35] |
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Melvin Morris | Army | January 7, 1942 (age 80) | [36] |
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Thomas R. Norris | Navy | January 14, 1944 (age 78) | [17] |
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Robert Emmett O'Malley | Marine Corps | June 3, 1943 (age 79) | [10] |
Robert Martin Patterson | Army | April 16, 1948 (age 74) | [37] | |
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Alfred V. Rascon | Army | September 10, 1945 (age 77) | [8] |
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Ronald E. Ray | Army | December 7, 1941 (age 81) | [38] |
Gordon Ray Roberts | Army | June 14, 1950 (age 72) | ||
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Jose Rodela | Army | June 15, 1937 (age 85) | [39] |
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Gary M. Rose | Army | October 17, 1947 (age 75) | [40] |
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Clarence Sasser | Army | September 12, 1947 (age 75) | [41] |
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James M. Sprayberry | Army | April 24, 1947 (age 75) | [42] |
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Kenneth E. Stumpf | Army | September 28, 1944 (age 78) | [43] |
File:James Allen Taylor.jpg | James Allen Taylor | Army | December 31, 1937 (age 85) | [44] |
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Brian Thacker | Army | April 25, 1945 (age 77) | [10] |
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Michael E. Thornton | Navy | March 23, 1949 (age 73) | [8] |
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Jay R. Vargas | Marine Corps | July 29, 1938 (age 84) | [35] [45] |
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Gary Wetzel | Army | September 29, 1947 (age 75) | [46] |
War in Afghanistan
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001 and was the beginning of the War on Terrorism. The war was launched by the United States, the United Kingdom, and NATO allies in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks. The stated purpose of the invasion was to capture Osama bin Laden, destroy al-Qaeda, and remove the Taliban regime which had provided support and safe harbor to al-Qaeda.[47] Since 2001, twelve American service-members have received the Medal of Honor for actions in Afghanistan, three of them posthumously.
Image | Name | Branch | Birth date and age | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
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Kyle Carpenter | Marine Corps | October 17, 1989 (age 33) | |
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Ty Carter | Army | January 25, 1980 (age 42) | [48] |
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Salvatore Giunta | Army | January 21, 1985 (age 37) | [49] |
Dakota Meyer | Marine Corps | June 26, 1988 (age 34) | [50] | |
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Leroy Petry | Army | July 29, 1979 (age 43) | [51] |
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Ryan M. Pitts | Army | 1985 (age 36–37) | |
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Clinton Romesha | Army | August 1981 (age 40) | [52] |
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Ronald J. Shurer | Army | 1978 (age 43–44) | [53] |
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Britt K. Slabinski | Navy | December 1, 1969 (age 53) | [54] |
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William D. Swenson | Army | November 2, 1979 (age 43) | |
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Kyle White | Army | 1987 (age 34–35) | [55] |
Recently deceased
Recipients who died within the last twelve months are listed below.[56]
Image | Name | Branch | Conflict | Birth date | Death date | Place of death | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Ronald E. Rosser | Army | Korean War | October 24, 1929 | August 26, 2020 | Bumpus Mills, Tennessee | [57] |
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Charles H. Coolidge | Army | World War II | August 4, 1921 | April 6, 2021 | Chattanooga, Tennessee | [58] |
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Ernest E. West | Army | Korean War | September 2, 1931 | May 1, 2021 | Huntington, West Virginia | [59][60] |
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Charles C. Hagemeister | Army | Vietnam War | August 21, 1946 | May 19, 2021 | Leavenworth, Kansas | [61] |
References
- ↑ http://www.cmohs.org/medal-statistics.php
- ↑ United States Department of the Army (July 1, 2002). "Section 578.4 Medal of Honor". Code of Federal Regulations Title 32, Volume 2. Government Printing Office. http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2002/julqtr/32cfr578.4.htm. Retrieved 2006-07-23.
- ↑ "A Brief History — The Medal of Honor". Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). Department of Defense. August 8, 2006. http://www.defenselink.mil/faq/pis/med_of_honor.html. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
- ↑ Congressional Medal of Honor Society
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Medal of Honor recipients". Statistics of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen who received the Medal of Honor. United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/mohstats.html. Retrieved October 17, 2013. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>
tag; name "AMOHWStat" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 6.0 6.1 Elson, Martha (November 10, 2010). "Sullivan will dedicate plaza to vets". Louisville, Kentucky. Archived from the original on November 10, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.courier-journal.com%2Farticle%2F20101110%2FZONE01%2F311100029&date=2010-11-10.
- ↑ Wolffis, Susan Harrison (November 11, 2006). "Muskegon's Medal of Honor winner 'just doing his job'". Muskegon, Michigan. http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36933. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 "Medal of Honor - Recipients Bios". Arlington, Virginia: WETA-TV. 2010. http://www.weta.org/about/press/kits/85128/additional/85241. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
- ↑ 'An Honor Long Overdue:' After 70 Years, Ranger Legend Ralph Puckett Receives Medal of Honor
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Williams, Rudi (June 14, 2004). "Nine Medal of Honor recipients Attend Gala". United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5q3N6YOUp.
- ↑ "Medal of Honor statistics". Medal of Honor citations archive. United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. Archived from the original on 2010-12-14. http://www.webcitation.org/5uyUFEgJQ. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
- ↑ Murphy, 1987, pp. 13–23
- ↑ Vargo, Joe (May 14, 2008). "Cross-country flight to honor lives lost in Vietnam". Riverside, California. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5q3CyKgQw.
- ↑ Gooding, Mike (November 29, 2010). "Medal of Honor recipient says being corpsman isn't for everyone". Hampton, Virginia: WVEC. Archived from the original on November 30, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5udYSRqLX.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Vargo, Joe (March 2, 2008). "Medal of Honor recipients give support, thanks to fellow veterans". Riverside, California. Archived from the original on May 30, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5q80bYnxC.
- ↑ "Army Cadet Henson Wins Medal of Honor Scholarship". Potsdam, New York: Clarkson University. September 18, 2006. Archived from the original on May 30, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5q7bFJrc1.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Marshall, John (November 11, 2003). "Medal of Honor recipient Patrick Brady epitomizes the humble hero". Seattle, Washington. Archived from the original on May 30, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5q7wUzdDt.
- ↑ Miller, Robert (November 6, 2009). "Ridgefield veteran to head state parade". Danbury, Connecticut. Archived from the original on June 4, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5qVqb9mdw.
- ↑ "Medal of Honor: Sgt. Maj. John Canley". https://www.marines.mil/News/Press-Releases/Press-Release-Display/Article/1644927/medal-of-honor-sgt-maj-john-canley/. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Reich, Howard (September 13, 2009). "Medal of Honor recipients say you can be hero too". Chicago. Archived from the original on June 4, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5qf8Ycn9I.
- ↑ Gittler, Juliana (November 23, 2003). "Medal of Honor recipient encourages peace". Washington D.C.. Archived from the original on July 2, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5qviY4rr2.
- ↑ "Veterans speak of war service". Mesa, Arizona. November 10, 2007. Archived from the original on July 2, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5qvkTwWe8.
- ↑ "Eight Medal of Honor recipients are buried in SD". Wisconsin. May 28, 2007. Archived from the original on July 2, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5qvmtM28Q.
- ↑ Gaddis, Rebecca (June 18, 2009). "Medal of Honor recipient administers oath". Jacksonville, Florida. Archived from the original on July 6, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5r21kZrt9.
- ↑ DiIonno, Mark (June 15, 2010). "Medal of Honor recipient from N.J. swears in 300 U.S. Army recruits at Statue of Liberty". New Jersey On-Line. Archived from the original on July 6, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5r22eKwlw.
- ↑ Haneisen, Rob (June 3, 2009). "Framingham veteran keeps Flag Day event alive". Framingham, Massachusetts. Archived from the original on July 6, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5r24mJ7aI.
- ↑ O'Brien, B.J. (July 21, 2006). "Kellogg honored by alumni association". Bethel, Connecticut. Archived from the original on May 30, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5q7ucx63d.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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- ↑ Mishalov, Neil. "List of Living Medal of Honor Recipients". Neil Mishalov. http://www.mishalov.com/Living_MoH_Recipients.html. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
- ↑ Roper, Peter (May 13, 2010). "Medal of Honor golf tourney to host Fort Carson vets". Pueblo, Colorado. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5q3JRpo1F.
- ↑ Archer, Bill (August 23, 2010). "'I had a job to do'". Bluefield, West Virginia. Archived from the original on November 19, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5uMnYfVO2.
- ↑ Kropf, Schuyler (October 3, 2009). "Convention of heroes shaping up". Charleston, South Carolina. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5q3Dga0MN.
- ↑ Voss, Mike (April 23, 2010). "A healing wall". Washington, North Carolina. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5q3Lg5XOl.
- ↑ "Medal of Honor Goes to Vietnam Medic Who Ran Through ‘Hell on Earth’". https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/31/us/politics/medal-of-honor-trump-james-mccloughan.html. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 Liewer, Steve (November 11, 2007). "Medal of Honor process under fire". San Diego, California. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5q3KjhFmg.
- ↑ Melvin Morris's biography
- ↑ Griggs, Travis (October 17, 2010). "Wannabe warriors an 'insult' to their bravery". Pensacola, Florida. Archived from the original on October 17, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5tYOm4P0T.
- ↑ George, Justin (August 5, 2005). "A rare and Honorable gathering". St. Petersburg, Florida. Archived from the original on July 6, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5r28S0Ucz.
- ↑ Jose Rodela's biography
- ↑ Medal of Honor: Captain Gary M. Rose
- ↑ Tompkins, John (February 11, 2008). "Legion post pays tribute to Sasser". Clute, Texas. Archived from the original on May 30, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5q82B3EP0.
- ↑ Beyerle, Dana (June 25, 2000). "At first a casualty, Gadsden native became a hero". Tuscaloosa, Alabama. p. 6A. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RModAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RKYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6851,4744588&dq=sprayberry. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
- ↑ Diedrich, John (August 22, 2007). "Medal of Honor is fake, say officials". Milwaukee, Wisconsin. p. 6B. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=c3AeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=E0cEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4912,952922&dq=kenneth+stumpf+medal-of-honor&hl=en. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
- ↑ Fattig, Paul (June 28, 2010). "Clothes suited for an honorable vet". Medford, Oregon. Archived from the original on July 6, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5r29SU55x.
- ↑ http://www.azdvs.gov/SearchResults.aspx?q=Frederick+Edgar+Ferguson&cx=013173311846497028359%3ahre03lpbgt4&cof=FORID%3a10
- ↑ Wideman, Steve (May 22, 2010). "LZ Lambeau motorcycle ride kicks off event". Appleton, Wisconsin. Archived from the original on June 4, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5qFDKfO8B.
- ↑ "The United States Army in Afghanistan". Operation Enduring Freedom. United States Army. March 17, 2006. http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/Afghanistan/Operation%20Enduring%20Freedom.htm. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
- ↑ "Obama awards Ty Carter Medal of Honor for Afghan battle". BBC. August 26, 2013. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23843629. Retrieved August 26, 2013. Cite error: Invalid
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tag; name "tycarter" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Obert, Lori (February 10, 2012). "Blackhawk lands at Pepsi Center". Denver, Colorado: KUSA. Archived from the original on February 11, 2012. http://www.webcitation.org/65NjeMJby.
- ↑ Lamothe, Dan (July 19, 2011). "Obama OKs Medal of Honor for living Marine". Springfield, Virginia. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/60MHLMWKw.
- ↑ "Army Ranger to be awarded Medal of Honor". Washington, D.C.. May 31, 2011. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5z6TnuVR3.
- ↑ Ogden, Eloise (January 12, 2013). "Minot man to receive Medal of Honor". http://www.minotdailynews.com/page/content.detail/id/572334/Minot-man-to-receive-Medal-of-Honor.html?nav=5010. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
- ↑ Vanden Brook, Tom; Jackson, David (September 21, 2018). "President Donald Trump Award Medal of Honor". USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/09/21/president-donald-trump-award-medal-honor-heroic-combat-medic/1383318002. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
- ↑ Naval Special Warfare Command (2018-05-07). "Retired Master Chief Britt Slabinski to Receive Medal of Honor". http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=105491.
- ↑ "Profile: Sergeant Kyle Jerome White". U.S. Army. http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/white/profile/index.html. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
- ↑ "Recently Departed". Congressional Medal of Honor Society. 2019. http://www.cmohs.org/recently-departed-recipients.php. Cite error: Invalid
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tag; name "cmohsrecent" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ "Medal of Honor Recipient Ronald E. Rosser Passes Away at 90" (in en). https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/medal-of-honor-recipient-ronald-e-rosser-passes-away-at-90-301119271.html.
- ↑ Carroll, David. "Local World War II veteran & Medal of Honor recipient Charles H. Coolidge dies at 99". https://www.wrcbtv.com/story/43622304/local-world-war-ii-veteran-and-medal-of-honor-recipient-charles-h-coolidge-dies-at-99.
- ↑ News Staff, WSAZ. "Medal of Honor recipient, Greenup County resident Earnie West, has died". https://www.wymt.com/2021/05/01/medal-of-honor-recipient-greenup-county-resident-earnie-west-has-died/.
- ↑ Ernest E. West Obituary
- ↑ "Medal of Honor Recipient Charles C. Hagemeister Passes Away at 74" (in en). https://www.johnsoncitypress.com/medal-of-honor-recipient-charles-c-hagemeister-passes-away-at-74/article_24b5c074-a624-552b-8d6f-5024991d00c0.html.
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