Why do most recent Medal of Honor recipients leave the military shortly after being awarded it?

Although my service in the assignment branh of USMC Headquarters is dated, there was no mandatory requirement to retire. Often MofH recipients suffer grievious wounds and eligible for medical rstirement. In 1971 there was no restriction to sending MofH recipients back to RVN for additional service. This caused such a ruckus when one was issued orders that further combat service had to be voluntary and signed off by the head of enlisted assignments. Every conflict has produced heroic acts worthy of the Medal of Honor that don't get recommended due to political correctness and some still do not get approved for minority service members. Those that do get approved are certainly worthy and if retirement is an option they seek should be granted with full military honors.

No clue why an MOH would choose to get out. Although I see a lot of comments that many was not career minded. Which brings up a few of question 1. How many of us went to that recruiting station saying I am joining and going to stay 20 years. I would wager it was very few. If you are a leader the next question is 2. Why do your Soldiers truly leave the service? If you are not truly trying to find the answer to this it leads to the final question. Are you truly leading?

It's common to be awarded MOH posthumously. Being dead is a good reason to get out.

One can also assume it's like if a soldier wins a lottery larger than his commanders annual salary. "Why the hell would I let some douchebag smoke me? I'm a MOH recipient." Plus that really kind of puts them on a different tier than any soldier around them.

As many people have stated in this thread, you take a warrior (male or female) out of the fight and make them a spectacle. I have made the privilege to talk to two MoH awardees and both stated that other people deserved the award more then they did. Additionally, life in the spotlight is harsh. How would you respond to reliving the worst time in your life day after day? How would you react to a populace that is grateful, but ultimately does not understand why you would put yourself in harms way? I understand the military needs people to share "the story", but most service members save those stories for people who understand and have been there. I imagine for a MoH awardee, this is magnified. And really, what service member wants to be a show pony?

For starters great loss accompanies that great honor. In this modern day where a Facebook post can cause PTSD, these gentlemen and women, stare down the face of a wildly horrific animal, that doesn't come at you with dirty photos or harsh words. They are facing people who have sworn an oath to destroy and dismantle any system of life that is not their own. Weather by bombing, expenditure of armament, or the insurance and hostile occupation of territories. They fight to keep this line from crossing onto their homelands. They sacrifice for every other volunteer with them, and then they go 100% above and beyond the call to duty and their obligation if self to enter their variable to the equation. We send them home because it is unethical to not tend the needs of the trauma that results. Most of these recipients of MoH watched the loss of numbers of people before their actions.

God Bless
Thank You

Life is never the same for them afterwards. Some never intended to stay in. Some are badly wounded. Most receive it posthumously. They all faced death down, some lived and most didn't. I just finished "The Operator" written by Robert J. O'Neil. He was the guy that shot UBL from that Seal Team ( ) and it's a good read. He was also on the Captain Phillips rescue mission and referred to the pressures that one of the snipers on that mission experienced later. He later experienced the same. It's not the same as MOH but is the same principle. For the MOH guys it's a lot of unwanted spotlighting and dog and pony shows. GySgt John Basilone, USMC received the MOH for his actions on Guadalcanal. He was snatched up as a trophy for the War Bond campaigns when all he wanted to do was serve as a Marine in combat. Although he appreciated the admiration, he felt out of place and requested to return to the operating forces fighting the war. The Marine Corps denied his request and told him he was needed more on the home front. He was offered a commission, which he turned down, and was later offered an assignment as an instructor, but refused this as well. He requested again to return to the war and this time the request was approved. He was later killed on Iwo Jima after finally getting his wish to return to those in battle, and posthumously received the Navy Cross. For the two SEALs I refer to it was a lot of jealousy, peer pressure, and almost resentment. O''Neil had other reasons such as his family, but he separated with 17 years in. I'd have to guess he could have had any assignment he wanted and been promoted until retirement, but he chose not to. Sometimes a guy just wants to serve and be treated like everyone else. It's easy from the sidelines to think they would have it made for as long as they wanted to stay in, but without experiencing it I can't say. They likely remember all they have served with that didn't survive, and being in the spotlight is just too much. Even though they don't want all the attention, they still get it. That must cause feelings of guilt internally and resentment by others. They are almost accused of grandstanding no matter how humble they may be. Self-actualization is at the top of the pyramid of human needs and that's hard to achieve when you're constantly being second-guessed behind your back. How can one feel they've been successful when others have their doubts? Whether their peers say anything or not it's very real to the one it's happening to.

LTC Ron Ray stayed on AD as did Major Drew Dix and Col Donlon.

When I attended the Surflant Ball in 1984, there was an ensign wearing the MOH. He retired shortly before I did in the mid 1990`s as a LT with 25 years.

Many years ago while in High School I met Airman John Levitow. He was from the next town over he left AD in the USAF as he was tired of being a "Show Pony" for the senior personnel and basically had no friends in the ranks. Years later I served with another MoH recipient who was the most decent Field Grade Officer I had met in the unit. He went on to retire as a LTG. He spoke to we EM with a civil tongue and was polite without pretense! The last MoH winner I met was a PA school classmate of my OIC and he was also without pretense but very rough around the edges quite blunt. The bottom line is like every service member there are reasons to stay and go no matter your rank or awards.