Do US service members who are awarded foreign medals equivalent to US MOH get the same benefits as a US MOH recipient?

2019-12-30T17:48:29-05:00

Reason I ask I recently watched a segment from ISAF new channel from back in 2010 where 14 US soldiers were awarded Germany’s Medal of Honor for actions in combat.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Dec 30 at 2019 6:03 PM

2019-12-30T18:03:59-05:00

No, the MoH benefits are by federal statute specific to the MoH.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Dec 30 at 2019 7:00 PM

2019-12-30T19:00:49-05:00

The answer is no! However, I would like to know when this occurred. The gold cross (I believe) was awarded to 14 uS Sokdiers in 2010. If you have an article or other I would be interested to see it. Thank you for your service.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Dec 30 at 2019 7:55 PM

2019-12-30T19:55:45-05:00

Absolutely NOT. Federal law specifies the exact benefits authorized MOH recipients. Have never seen nor heard of any foreign gov't doing the same for national in other countries.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Dec 30 at 2019 9:56 PM

2019-12-30T21:56:30-05:00

The group you mention received the Gold Cross of Honour for Outstanding Deeds, which isn't equivalent to the MOH as was incorrectly reported in the various news articles. The higher ranked Cross of Honour for Bravery presumably is equivalent as its criteria says valor beyond the call of duty. The one awarded to the Medivac folk is the second highest award. The gold medals are the same with the difference being the clasp used. If you look at the varying levels of this award as a whole, the one our guys got appears to fall in somewhere between a Silver Star and Distinguished Service Cross. If you read the accounts of the Cross of Honour for Bravery, they tend to mostly fall into the Silver Star and sometimes a tad more write up range. That would push the equivalents even lower by actual deeds. Nonetheless, outstanding courage and devotion by our guys. The more I read about this stuff, it again showed me how rarified the air is in the MOH arena.

BTW, we used to know (passed away) CAPT Don Ross. He was awarded the first MOH of WWII for getting the Nevada underway at Pearl. He was a long term patient of my wife. His experience and reaction to the attack was definitely "you can't write this stuff for reality TV". I am more than humbled to have known him. And he was one of the gentlest souls I've ever known.

Response by SrA John Monette made Dec 31 at 2019 11:38 AM

2019-12-31T11:38:28-05:00

perhaps they can file for benefits from Germany