Question about Congressional Medal of Honor

I believe many recieved for administering medical aid under fire.
http://www.cmohs.org/


England awards the Victoria's Cross

Legion of Honor (France)

[Historical]
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Germany)
Hero of the Soviet Union (USSR)

My great uncle PFC Henry Gurke.

http://www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c...000003c919889c0385255fa40059862b?OpenDocument

Destroyer class USS Gurke.

http://www.in-forms.com/gurke/pg10.htm

Yes.

Here is one. I not only knew him, but worked for him during the summers between school, 1954 and 1955, after he'd retired from the Navy.

One of the finest men I've known and it was not only a pleasure to have worked for him, but an honor.

http://www.maritimequest.com/warshi...igates/pages/antrim_ffg_20_richard_antrim.htm

You would never have known that he was awarded "the Medal." He never mentioned it, whatsoever.

L.W.

WOW! I consider myself well versed in WW2 lore but had never heard of Cmdr Antrim. That was a very interesting read, thank you.

Jim

BTW, Britain has the Victoria Cross.

Check out the wiki on it.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_military_decorations#China

1) Has anyone ever received the CMH and not used a firearm?

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There were several pilots who recieved the MOH. Here's the most recent: Captain Ed W. Freeeman

Ed Freeman was an Army captain in Vietnam who flew 14 dangerous helicopter rescue missions in which he delivered needed supplies and evacuated 30 wounded American soldiers.

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Bavaria - Military Order of Max Joseph
Philippines - Medal of Valor

The UK's Victoria Cross is made by one specific jeweller in London, Hancock and Co.

1) Has anyone ever received the CMH and not used a firearm?

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Yes - Desmond Doss: A War Hero Without a Gun

Many have been awarded the MOH for selflessly saving the lives of others. Medics, Corpsmen, and those who throw themselves on grenades are examples of awardees who weren't using firearms. I would guess that the percentage of such awards is very high.

As an aside, the official name of the medal is the Navy or Army or Air Force Medal of Honor.

I saw this guy's grave marker at the Belleau Wood Cemetary. Almost couldn't believe it.

Lt (j.g.) Weedon E. Osborne, U.S. Navy Dental Corps (scroll down, citiations in alpha order)
Medal of Honor (US)
Navy Cross (US)
Croix de Guerre (France)

---------------
*OSBORNE, WEEDON E.

Rank and organization: Lieutenant, Junior Grade, (Dental Corps), U.S. Navy. Born: 13 November 1892, Chicago, Ill. Appointed from: Illinois. Citation: For extraordinary heroism while attached to the 6th Regiment, U.S. Marines, in actual conflict with the enemy and under fire during the advance on Bouresche, France, on 6 June 1918. In the hottest of the fighting when the marines made their famous advance on Bouresche at the southern edge of Belleau Wood, Lt (j.g.). Osborne threw himself zealously into the work of rescuing the wounded. Extremely courageous in the performance of this perilous task, he was killed while carrying a wounded officer to a place of safety.

A young marine just recevied one (well his family did) for jumping on a gernade in iraq. he did not use a firearm but his helmet and body to protect his fellow marines sadly he died later from sharpnel wounds.

Desmond Doss is the only Conscientious Objector to win the CMOH.

During World War II, instead of accepting a deferment, Mr. Doss voluntarily joined the Army as a conscientious objector. Assigned to the 307th Infantry Division as a company medic he was harassed and ridiculed for his beliefs, yet he served with distinction and ultimately received the Congressional Medal of Honor on Oct. 12, 1945 for his fearless acts of bravery.

According to his Medal of Honor citation, time after time, Mr. Doss’ fellow soldiers witnessed how unafraid he was for his own safety. He was always willing to go after a wounded fellow, no matter how great the danger. On one occasion in Okinawa, he refused to take cover from enemy fire as he rescued approximately 75 wounded soldiers, carrying them one-by-one and lowering them over the edge of the 400-foot Maeda Escarpment. He did not stop until he had brought everyone to safety nearly 12 hours later.

When Mr. Doss received the Medal of Honor from President Truman, the President told him, “I’m proud of you, you really deserve this. I consider this a greater honor than being President.”

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USAF pilot Bernie Fisher landed his single-seat A-1 Skyraider on a shot up runway, under fire, and picked up another pilot who had made a forced landing! He had to drag the other pilot head first into the cockpit with him and made his getaway with the other guy on his lap.

Desmond Doss, the greatest war hero of all time, maybe in the history of the world. Never even picked up a gun. I suggest everyone get the documentary on him.

No one has received a "Congressional Medal of Honor" as there is none that I'm aware of. What you're referring to is the Medal of Honor which is awarded by the President of the United States of America and not Congress.

The president awards it in the name of the congress, which is why it's also referred to as the congressional medal of honor.

USAF pilot Bernie Fisher landed his single-seat A-1 Skyraider on a shot up runway, under fire, and picked up another pilot who had made a forced landing! He had to drag the other pilot head first into the cockpit with him and made his getaway with the other guy on his lap.

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Actually Maj. Myers (man he rescued) climbed in beside Fisher, the Aircraft in involved was an A-1E which has a side-by-side dual control cockpit.

picture HERE

Fisher incidentally was the first person to receive an Air Force MOH, instead of the older Army version (each service has their own design for the gold portion of the medal)

MG (Ret) Patrick H. Brady was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism on 6 Jan 68. Then MAJ Brady was a medical evacuation helicopter pilot.

Yes quite a few have never used a gun and won the Congressional Medal of Honor.

here are the three different types
The Navy, designed and given first, and given to any Marine



The Army
Given to Airmen till after WWII



The Air Force from 1965



Here is the ribbon and rosette


Every CMOH awardee is invited to inaugurations and Dedications of National monuments honoring any Military branch.

Only 19 individuals have recieved 2

Listing of recipients go here.
http://www.cmohs.org/recipients.htm



Even 5 star generals salute the CMOH recipients

My Great Great... I forget how many "greats" granduncle.

BREEMAN, GEORGE

Rank and organization: Seaman, U.S. Navy. Born: 15 September 1880, Passaic, N.J. Accredited to: New Jersey. G.O. No.: 21, 5 May 1906. Citation: Breeman displayed heroism in the line of his profession while serving on board the U.S.S. Kearsarge at the time of the accidental ignition of powder charges in the forward 13-inch turret.

He jumped inside the burning magazine, sealed off the area, and extinguished the fire. It burned all the clothes off his body along with his hair. When asked why he did it, he used to say that his choices were limited. He could be blown up (an idea he didn't find particularly attractive), abandon ship - but as he couldn't swim that too lacked appeal, or he could try to put the flames out before they spread to the main powder magazine sending the ship to the bottom in a lot of little pieces. Teddy Roosevelt hung the medal on him - which now resides at Sagamore Hill because some doofus in my family decided that it was just some old medal, didn't have a place for it in the house, and donated it to a museum. The family can never get it back.