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President Abraham Lincoln signs into law a measure calling for the awarding of a U.S. Army Medal of Honor, in the name of Congress, “to such noncommissioned officers and privates as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action, and other soldier-like qualities during the present insurrection.” The previous December, Lincoln had approved a provision creating a U.S. Navy Medal of Valor, which was the basis of the Army Medal of Honor created by Congress in July 1862. The first U.S. Army soldiers to receive what would become the nation’s highest military honor were six members of a Union raiding party who in 1862 penetrated deep into Confederate territory to destroy bridges and railroad tracks between Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Atlanta, Georgia.
In 1863, the Medal of Honor was made a permanent military decoration available to all members, including commissioned officers, of the U.S. military. It is conferred upon those who have distinguished themselves in actual combat at risk of life beyond the call of duty. Since its creation, during the Civil War, more than 3,400 men and one woman have received the Medal of Honor for heroic actions in U.S. military conflict.
In 1863, the Medal of Honor was made a permanent military decoration available to all members, including commissioned officers, of the U.S. military. It is conferred upon those who have distinguished themselves in actual combat at risk of life beyond the call of duty. Since its creation, during the Civil War, more than 3,400 men and one woman have received the Medal of Honor for heroic actions in U.S. military conflict.
Medal of Honor created - Jul 12, 1862 - HISTORY.com
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Thanks for reminding us TSgt Joe C. that on July 12, 1862 President Abraham Lincoln signed into law a measure calling for the awarding of a U.S. Army Medal of Honor for the Federal Army, in the name of Congress, “to such noncommissioned officers and privates as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action, and other soldier-like qualities during the present insurrection.”
FYI the preceding December, the Medal of Honor for the US Navy Senate Bill 82 was signed by President Abraham Lincoln on December 21, 1861.
Senator James Wilson Grimes, Republican from Iowa, introduced Senate Bill 82 on Monday, December 9, 1861. It was mainly a bill to promote naval efficiency, and included a statement authorizing, "the Secretary of the Navy to cause two hundred 'medal of honor' to be prepared, with suitable emblematic devices, to be bestowed upon such petty officers, seamen, landsmen, and marines, as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action and other seamanlike qualities during the present war…."
Image: MOH_Civil_War
Background:
"In 1861 Lieutenant Colonel Edward Davis Townsend was assigned to the Adjutant General's Office in Washington D.C. as assistant to the Adjutant General, Brigadier General Lorenzo Thomas. Townsend recommended the creation of a medal for valor, but General-in-Chief of the Army, Winfield Scott, rejected Townsend's idea. General Scott was strongly opposed to the European custom of awarding medals for heroism, but Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles was not. He liked Townsend's idea, and thought it would inspire sailors, and help to promote the efficiency of the Navy.
The Second Session of the 37th Congress convened on Monday, December 2, 1861. On Tuesday John G. Nicolay, Secretary of the President of the United States, delivered Lincoln's first State of the Union message in writing to the Senate. It was read by the Secretary, John W. Forney, and published in the Appendix. On the same day John Hay, Private Secretary to the President, delivered the message in writing to the House of Representatives. It was read by a clerk, and published in the Appendix. The State of the Union message delivered by Nicolay and Hay was a collection of reports from various department heads patched together by Lincoln. The report from the Secretary of the Navy contained a number of interesting recommendations:
"The report of the Secretary of the Navy presents in detail the operations of that branch of the service, the activity and energy which have characterized its administration, and the results of measures to increase its efficiency and power. Such have been the additions, by construction and purchase, that it may almost be said a navy has been created and brought into service since our difficulties commenced.
"Besides blockading our extensive coast, squadrons larger than ever before assembled under our flag have been put afloat and performed deeds, which have increased our naval renown.
"I would invite special attention to the recommendation of the Secretary for a more perfect organization of the navy by introducing additional grades in the service.
"The present organization is defective and unsatisfactory, and the suggestions submitted by the department will, it is believed, if adopted, obviate the difficulties alluded to, promote harmony, and increase the efficiency of the navy."
Senator James Wilson Grimes, Republican from Iowa, introduced Senate Bill 82 on Monday, December 9, 1861. It was mainly a bill to promote naval efficiency, and included a statement authorizing, "the Secretary of the Navy to cause two hundred 'medal of honor' to be prepared, with suitable emblematic devices, to be bestowed upon such petty officers, seamen, landsmen, and marines, as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action and other seamanlike qualities during the present war…."
Senate Bill 82 was referred to the Senate Committee on Naval Affairs on December 9, and reported out of committee on December 12 with amendments. It passed the Senate with the amendments on the third reading, and was sent to the House. It was taken up in the House on December 16, and referred to the House Committee on Naval Affairs. It was reported out of committee on December 17 with amendments. It passed the House with the amendments on December 18, and was returned to the Senate. Senate Bill 82 passed the Senate with the amendments on December 18. The Speaker of the House, Galusha Aaron Grow, signed the enrolled bill on December 19. The President of the Senate, Vice President Hannibal Hamlin, signed the enrolled bill on December 20. On December 23 John Nicolay announced in a message to Congress that the President had approved and signed Senate Bill 82 into law on December 21, 1861, to further promote the efficiency of the Navy, and create the Navy Medal of Honor.
The original purpose of the Navy Medal of Honor—"To further promote the efficiency of the Navy"—was broadened to include recognition for "deeds of gallantry and heroism in times of War and of Peace."
Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles delegated the design and crafting of the Medal of Honor to the Director of the Mint, James Pollock. And, it was symbolically designed and crafted by the artist Christian Schuller.
Schuller designed and crafted the badge as an inverted five-point star-shape of bronze. At the center is a figure of Minerva, the Roman goddess of handicrafts, the professions, the arts and later of war. She symbolized the Union, "wise in the industries of peace and the arts of war." An owl perched on her helmet, symbolized wisdom. In her left hand she held the fasces, a badge of authority. She held a shield in her right hand, which symbolized the Union of our states, and wielded the shield to drive off the serpents held by the crouching figure of Discord. In a letter to Gideon Welles dated May 6, 1862, James Pollock referred to Discord as, "the foul spirit of secession and rebellion."
Thirty-four stars encircled the allegory. The stars represented the 34 states before secession of the 11 Confederate states. On each point of the star-shape badge laurel leaves were mixed with a cluster of oak, which symbolized victory, honor and strength.
The symbolic devices emblazoned in bronze epitomized the confusion and dissension rampant in America in 1861.
The star-shape badge was suspended from a ribbon with a field of blue leading from the clasp to 13 vertical stripes, alternating red and white like the 13 horizontal stripes of the flag. The stripes may stand for the original 13 colonies, as does the stripes in the flag of the United States, and the colors of the ribbon may have meaning or symbolism."
http://www.jacklummus.com/Files/Files_H/history_of_the_navy_medal_of_honor.htm
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Wayne Brandon Maj William W. "Bill" Price Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown 1stSgt Eugene Harless SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Robert Ruck SP5 Mark Kuzinski SrA Christopher Wright SGT Robert George CPL Eric Escasio MSG Andrew White LTC Wayne Brandon LTC Bill Koski
FYI the preceding December, the Medal of Honor for the US Navy Senate Bill 82 was signed by President Abraham Lincoln on December 21, 1861.
Senator James Wilson Grimes, Republican from Iowa, introduced Senate Bill 82 on Monday, December 9, 1861. It was mainly a bill to promote naval efficiency, and included a statement authorizing, "the Secretary of the Navy to cause two hundred 'medal of honor' to be prepared, with suitable emblematic devices, to be bestowed upon such petty officers, seamen, landsmen, and marines, as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action and other seamanlike qualities during the present war…."
Image: MOH_Civil_War
Background:
"In 1861 Lieutenant Colonel Edward Davis Townsend was assigned to the Adjutant General's Office in Washington D.C. as assistant to the Adjutant General, Brigadier General Lorenzo Thomas. Townsend recommended the creation of a medal for valor, but General-in-Chief of the Army, Winfield Scott, rejected Townsend's idea. General Scott was strongly opposed to the European custom of awarding medals for heroism, but Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles was not. He liked Townsend's idea, and thought it would inspire sailors, and help to promote the efficiency of the Navy.
The Second Session of the 37th Congress convened on Monday, December 2, 1861. On Tuesday John G. Nicolay, Secretary of the President of the United States, delivered Lincoln's first State of the Union message in writing to the Senate. It was read by the Secretary, John W. Forney, and published in the Appendix. On the same day John Hay, Private Secretary to the President, delivered the message in writing to the House of Representatives. It was read by a clerk, and published in the Appendix. The State of the Union message delivered by Nicolay and Hay was a collection of reports from various department heads patched together by Lincoln. The report from the Secretary of the Navy contained a number of interesting recommendations:
"The report of the Secretary of the Navy presents in detail the operations of that branch of the service, the activity and energy which have characterized its administration, and the results of measures to increase its efficiency and power. Such have been the additions, by construction and purchase, that it may almost be said a navy has been created and brought into service since our difficulties commenced.
"Besides blockading our extensive coast, squadrons larger than ever before assembled under our flag have been put afloat and performed deeds, which have increased our naval renown.
"I would invite special attention to the recommendation of the Secretary for a more perfect organization of the navy by introducing additional grades in the service.
"The present organization is defective and unsatisfactory, and the suggestions submitted by the department will, it is believed, if adopted, obviate the difficulties alluded to, promote harmony, and increase the efficiency of the navy."
Senator James Wilson Grimes, Republican from Iowa, introduced Senate Bill 82 on Monday, December 9, 1861. It was mainly a bill to promote naval efficiency, and included a statement authorizing, "the Secretary of the Navy to cause two hundred 'medal of honor' to be prepared, with suitable emblematic devices, to be bestowed upon such petty officers, seamen, landsmen, and marines, as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action and other seamanlike qualities during the present war…."
Senate Bill 82 was referred to the Senate Committee on Naval Affairs on December 9, and reported out of committee on December 12 with amendments. It passed the Senate with the amendments on the third reading, and was sent to the House. It was taken up in the House on December 16, and referred to the House Committee on Naval Affairs. It was reported out of committee on December 17 with amendments. It passed the House with the amendments on December 18, and was returned to the Senate. Senate Bill 82 passed the Senate with the amendments on December 18. The Speaker of the House, Galusha Aaron Grow, signed the enrolled bill on December 19. The President of the Senate, Vice President Hannibal Hamlin, signed the enrolled bill on December 20. On December 23 John Nicolay announced in a message to Congress that the President had approved and signed Senate Bill 82 into law on December 21, 1861, to further promote the efficiency of the Navy, and create the Navy Medal of Honor.
The original purpose of the Navy Medal of Honor—"To further promote the efficiency of the Navy"—was broadened to include recognition for "deeds of gallantry and heroism in times of War and of Peace."
Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles delegated the design and crafting of the Medal of Honor to the Director of the Mint, James Pollock. And, it was symbolically designed and crafted by the artist Christian Schuller.
Schuller designed and crafted the badge as an inverted five-point star-shape of bronze. At the center is a figure of Minerva, the Roman goddess of handicrafts, the professions, the arts and later of war. She symbolized the Union, "wise in the industries of peace and the arts of war." An owl perched on her helmet, symbolized wisdom. In her left hand she held the fasces, a badge of authority. She held a shield in her right hand, which symbolized the Union of our states, and wielded the shield to drive off the serpents held by the crouching figure of Discord. In a letter to Gideon Welles dated May 6, 1862, James Pollock referred to Discord as, "the foul spirit of secession and rebellion."
Thirty-four stars encircled the allegory. The stars represented the 34 states before secession of the 11 Confederate states. On each point of the star-shape badge laurel leaves were mixed with a cluster of oak, which symbolized victory, honor and strength.
The symbolic devices emblazoned in bronze epitomized the confusion and dissension rampant in America in 1861.
The star-shape badge was suspended from a ribbon with a field of blue leading from the clasp to 13 vertical stripes, alternating red and white like the 13 horizontal stripes of the flag. The stripes may stand for the original 13 colonies, as does the stripes in the flag of the United States, and the colors of the ribbon may have meaning or symbolism."
http://www.jacklummus.com/Files/Files_H/history_of_the_navy_medal_of_honor.htm
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Wayne Brandon Maj William W. "Bill" Price Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown 1stSgt Eugene Harless SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Robert Ruck SP5 Mark Kuzinski SrA Christopher Wright SGT Robert George CPL Eric Escasio MSG Andrew White LTC Wayne Brandon LTC Bill Koski
History of the Navy Medal of Honor
American naval and military medals originated during the Revolutionary War. They were Congressional awards by special Acts of Congress, and presented to naval and military commanders to commemorate a successful campaign or battle. There were no medals awarded to recognize and reward personal valor until near the end of the war. On August 7, 1782 General George Washington issued an order establishing the Order of the Purple Heart, as follows:
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