Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Medal of Honor

2011-02-25T17:16:49Z

Mjachimstahl: /* Iraq and Afghanistan */

[[Image:MOH.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Medals of Honor from each branch of the [[United States Military]]]]
The '''Medal of Honor''' is the highest military decoration given in the [[United States]] for valor in [[combat]], and is presented by the [[President of the United States|President]] in the name of the [[Congress]]. It sometimes is referred to as the "Congressional Medal of Honor."<ref name=mil>[http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/history.html Army.mil Features]</ref> The medal is presented only to the bravest of the brave; to date, 3,465 Medals of Honor have been awarded, and only five have been presented for service in Iraq and Afghanistan, covering all branches of the [[United States military]].<ref>Harry Hayward. [http://depts.washington.edu/memorial/what-is-the-medal-of-honor/ What is the Medal of Honor?], ''University of Washington'', August 21, 2009.</ref> Individuals who wear it call themselves "recipients," not winners.

==Criteria==

{| border="1" align="right" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="350" style="margin-left:5px"
|align="center" colspan="2"|
|-
!colspan="2" align="center" style="color: black; height: 30px; background: lightblue no-repeat scroll top left;"|Historical Medals of Honor
|-
! Medal!!Remarks
|- valign="center"
| [[File:Navy Medal of Honor 1862.jpg|50px]]||Original, 1862 design of the Navy's version.
|-
| [[File:308px-Medal of honor old.jpg|50px]]||Original, 1862 design of the Army's version.
|-
| [[File:MOH 1896.jpg|50px]]||Non-military organizations creating unauthorized copies of the Medal of Honor led to Joint Resolution of Congress, Fifty-Fourth Congress, Sess. I, on May 2, 1896, which caused a slight change in design, principally with the ribbon. A bowknot (rosette) was also adopted, to be worn on occassions in lieu of the medal.
|-
| [[File:MOH WWI.jpg|50px]]||The '''Gillespie version''', reflecting the changes authorized by the Army and Congress in 1904. Designed by Major General George L. Gillespie, the new version included the replacement of the central portrait for the profile of Minerva, the encirclement of the star with a laurel wreath, and a change to the ribbon.
|-
| [[File:TifanyCrossMOH.jpg|50px]]||The '''Tiffany Cross''' was a version of the Medal of Honor awarded in cases of non-combat heroism. Authorized by the United States Navy in 1919 and cast by the renowned jewler and glassmaker [[Louis Comfort Tiffany]] of New York, the "Tiffany Cross" was abandoned in 1942 due to its unpopularity.
|-
|}

The Medal of Honor is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who distinguish themselves conspiciously 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;
*while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or
*while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

To justify the decoration, the individual's service must clearly be rendered conspicious above their comrades by an act so outstanding that it clearly distinguishes their gallantry beyond the call of duty from lesser forms of bravery; and it must be the type of deed which if not done would not subject the indidual to any justified criticism. The deed must be without detriment to the mission of the command or to the command to which attached.

The recommendations as to awarding the medal must be made within a two-year period for service members of the Army and Air Force, or three years for the Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard. Documentation must be made establishing no doubt as to the valor of the individual, which is forwarded up the chain of command to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Once approved, the recommendation is referred to the Secretary concerned for appropriate action. A formal ceremony is then held in Washington, D.C., where the president personally presents the award to the recipient, or postumously to the next of kin.

== History ==
While engaged in the fight for American independence, General [[George Washington]] felt a need to recognize the valor of individual soldiers on the battlefield. From his headquarters in Newburgh, New York on August 7, 1782, Washington wrote:
{{cquote|The General ever desirous to cherish virtuous ambition in his soldiers, as well as to foster and encourage every species of Military merit, directs that whenever any singularly meritorious action is performed, the author of it shall be permitted to wear on his facings over the left breast, the figure of a heart in purple cloth, or silk, edged with narrow lace or binding. Not only instances of unusual gallantry, but also of extraordinary fidelity and essential service in any way shall meet with a due reward.[http://www1.va.gov/opa/feature/celebrate/purple-heart.asp]}}
He further wrote that the issuing of the award must be grounded in "incontestible proofs" as to the valor of the man receiving it, ''"accompanied with certificates from the Commanding officers of the regiment and brigade"''. Only three men received what was then known as the "Badge of Military Merit" before it fell into disuse for nearly 150 years; resurrected by General [[Douglas MacArthur]] in 1932, it became - with slight changes - the [[Purple Heart]].

A need for military decorations was presented at least once early in the [[American Civil War]]; Lt. Colonel Edward Davis Townsend, an assistant to Army Adjutant General Lorenzo Thomas, recommended the creation of a "medal for valor", but the idea was quashed by then-Army head Lt. General [[Winfield Scott]], who felt that decorations were too close to European royalty. However, indivdual acts of soldiers on the battlefields of the Civil War demonstrated that such valor and heroism could not go unrecognized; moreover, Navy Secretary [[Gideon Welles]] liked Townsend's idea, which he placed in a series of recommendations to President [[Abraham Lincoln]]. On December 9, 1861 Iowa Senator James W. Grimes introduced ''S. No. 82'', a bill intended to "promote the efficiency of the Navy" by the authorization, production, and distribution of what was termed "medals of honor". On December 21, the bill was passed, authorizing 200 such medals be produced "which shall be bestowed upon such petty officers, seamen, landsmen and marines as shall distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action and other seamanlike qualities during the present war." President Lincoln signed the bill and the Medal of Honor was born, authorized for [[United States Navy|Sailors]] and [[United States Marine Corps|Marines]].<ref name=cmohs>[http://www.cmohs.org/medal-history.php History of the Medal of Honor], CMOHS.org.</ref>

Less than two months later on February 17, 1862 [[Massachusetts]] Senator Henry Wilson introduced a similar bill to authorize ''"the President to distribute medals to privates in the [[United States Army|Army]] of the United States who shall distinguish themselves in battle."'' Over the following months wording changed slightly as the bill made its way through Congress. When [[President Abraham Lincoln]] signed S.J.R. No 82 into law as 12 Stat. 623-624 on July 14, 1862, the Army had its own Medal of Honor:
{{cquote|Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized to cause two thousand "medals of honor" to be prepared with suitable emblematic devices, and to direct that the same be presented, in the name of the Congress, to such non--commissioned officers and privates as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action, and other soldier-like qualities, during the present insurrection (Civil War).<ref>Carl Sandburg. [http://www.pbs.org/weta/americanvalor/history/ American Valor . History of the Medal], ''PBS''.</ref>}}

==Description==
{| border="1" align="right" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" width="600" style="margin-left:5px"
|align="center" colspan="3"|
|-
!colspan="3" align="center" style="color: black; height: 30px; background: lightblue no-repeat scroll top left;"|The Medal of Honor
|-
! width="200" | United States Army
! width="200" | United States Navy<br/>United States Marine Corps<br/>United States Coast Guard
! width="200" | United States Air Force
|-
| [[File:Moh army.jpg|center|150px]]
| [[File:Moh navmarinecg.jpg|center|150px]]
| [[File:Moh airforce.jpg|center|150px]]
|-
|}Secretary Welles delegated the crafting and design of the medal to James Pollock, Director of the [[United States Mint]], who in turn delegated responsibility for the actual design to artist Christian Schuller. The medal was cast from bronze in the shape of an inverted star; within the center is the Roman goddess [[Minerva]], bearing the shield of the Union of the states in her right hand, and the ''[[fasces]]'' - ancient Roman symbol of authority - in her left. She is repulsing the figure of Discord, who was shown crouching with snakes in his hand. Pollock referred to Discord as "the foul spirit of secession and rebellion" in a letter he sent to Welles. Circling the figures were thirty-four stars, representing the Union of states prior to the secession.

The Navy version of the medal was suspended from an anchor; the Army's version was suspended from an eagle over the word "VALOR"; both were hung from a red, white, and blue ribbon representing the flag.

The present Medal of Honor reflects changes made to the design during the period of the [[First World War]]. The striped ribbon was replaced by a blue field bearing 13 stars, but it remained a "pin-on" medal until [[World War II]], when the pin-clasp was replaced with a rounded pad suspended from a blue silk neck ribbon. A change was made to the star as well: the Army replaced the central figures with a profile of the head of Minerva; and when the newly-created United States Air Force had theirs, they chose the profile of the head of Liberty. Both added a green wreath of laurel around the star. The Navy retained the original design.

==Famous recipients==
<center>
<gallery perrow="5">
File:3a40275r.jpg|Lt. Colonel [[Theodore Roosevelt]], 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry and President of the United States
File:Sgt Alvin York.JPG|Sgt [[Alvin C. York]], United States Army
File:PappyBoyington HarrySTruman.jpg|Major [[Gregory "Pappy" Boyington]], United States Marine Corps, founder of VMF-214, the "Black Sheep"
File:Audiemurphy.jpg|Capt. Audie Murphy, United States Army, and America's most-decorated soldier
</gallery></center>
===First recipient===
During the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], the job of color bearer was one of the most hazardous as well as [[important]] duties in the [[United States Army|Army]]. Soldiers looked to the flag for direction and inspiration in battle and the bearer was usually out in front, drawing heavy enemy fire while holding the flag high. On November 16, 1863, regimental color bearer Pvt. Joseph E. Brandle, from the 17th Michigan Infantry, took part in a battle near Lenoire, [[Tennessee]] "...[H]aving been twice wounded and the sight of one eye destroyed, [he] still held to the colors until ordered to the rear by his regimental commander."<ref name=mil/>

===Generational valor===
Valor is found across the times as well as across the ranks, as [[World War II]] 2nd Lt. Robert Craig, from the 3rd Infantry Division, demonstrated.

According to his citation, 2nd Lt. Robert Craig volunteered to defeat an enemy machine gun that three other officers before him could not. After locating the gun, he found himself and his men without cover, as they were out in the open and completely vulnerable to approximately 100 enemies. His citation reads:
{{cquote|Electing to [[sacrifice]] himself so that his platoon might carry on the battle, he ordered his men to withdraw [...] while he drew the enemy fire to himself. With no hope of survival, he charged toward the enemy until he was within 25 yards of them. Assuming a kneeling position, he killed five and wounded three enemy soldiers. While the hostile force concentrated fire on him, his platoon reached the cover of the crest. 2nd Lt. Craig was killed by enemy fire, but his intrepid action so inspired his men that they drove the enemy from the area, inflicting heavy casualties on the hostile force.<ref name=mil/>}}

===Iraq and Afghanistan===
For actions in [[Iraq]] during [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] and [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] the Medal of Honor was awarded to Army Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith, Army Private First Class [[Ross McGinnis]], Marine Corps Corporal [[Jason Dunham]] and Navy SEAL, Master-at-Arms Second Class [[Michael Monsoor]]. For actions in Afghanistan, the Medal has been awarded to to Navy SEAL Lieutenant [[Michael P. Murphy]], Army Sergeant First Class Jared C. Monti, Army Staff Sergeant Robert James Miller, and Army Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta. Giunta is the first living recipient of the award since the Vietnam War.<ref name=cmohs/><ref>http://www.navy.mil/moh/mpmurphy/</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==See Also==
*[http://www.homeofheroes.com/hallofheroes/1st_floor/wall/2living.html The Living Medal of Honor Recipients] Statistics and history
*[http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/history/history_timeline.html A Virtual Encyclopedia of Medal of Honor History] Home of Heroes
*[http://depts.washington.edu/memorial/a-gathering-of-honorees/ UW’s Medal of Honor Memorial] Honoring sixteen Medal of Honor recipients, [[University of Washington|UW]] Alumni
*[http://www.medalofhonor.com/ MedalofHonor.com] Profiles of America's Military Heroes
*[http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=7048 ''"Tiffany" Medal of Honor Comes to Navy Museum'', by Michael Birnie, The Navy Museum Public Affairs]

==External links==
*[http://www.cmohs.org/ Congressional Medal of Honor Society]
*[http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/history.html Army.mil Features]
*[http://www.homeofheroes.com/ HomeofHeroes]

[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Military honors]]
[[Category:Awards]]

Michael P. Murphy

2011-02-25T17:08:39Z

Mjachimstahl: no longer the most recent receipient of the MOH

[[Image:mohmurphy.jpg|right]]
Lieutenant '''Michael P. Murphy''' was posthumously awarded the [[Medal of Honor]] on October 22, 2007.<ref>http://www.navy.mil/moh/mpmurphy/index.html</ref> On June 28, 2005, during [[Operation Enduring Freedom]], Murphy and three other [[Navy]] [[SEALs]] were pinned down by a group of around 50 [[Taliban]] militants near the [[Pakistani]] border. With each of the men wounded, they retreated into cover on a rocky mountainside. Unable to send a distress call from their isolated position, Murphy left the safety of the position to obtain a signal, willingly exposing himself to enemy fire. After making contact, Murphy was hit in the back by enemy fire, but continued to transmit his unit's location.

The first rescue helicopter to arrive was downed by rocket fire, killing all 16 on board. Before the rest of the rescuers could reach the battlefield, Murphy and two of his companions had been killed, but had managed to kill an estimated 35 Taliban. The fourth SEAL, Marcus Luttrell, who was knocked out by a grenade which knocked him over a cliff, was able to escape with serious wounds, traveling seven miles on foot to a friendly village. A resident made contact with a nearby [[Marine]] base, and Luttrell was rescued on July 2.

The heroic actions of Lt. Murphy allowed for the rescue of Luttrell and the recovery of the others' remains, in the worst single-day U.S. Forces death toll in [[Afghanistan]].

==References==

<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Murphy, Michael P.}}

[[Category:United States Naval Officers]]

User:Mjachimstahl

2011-02-23T15:20:34Z

Mjachimstahl: Created page with "Government always finds a need for whatever money it gets. Ronald Reagan"

Government always finds a need for whatever money it gets.
Ronald Reagan

Vasco da Gama

2011-02-23T15:17:56Z

Mjachimstahl:

[[image:VascoDaGama.jpeg|200px|thumb|Portuguese navigator Vasco Da Gama]]
'''Vasco da Gama''' (1460-1524), commanded the [[Portuguese]] expeditions that opened the sea route between [[Europe]] and [[India]] by sailing around the southern tip of Africa. In three expeditions between 1497 and 1502, two of them led by da Gama, [[Portugal ]] established the [[European]] presence in the Indian Ocean that would form the basis of a Portuguese empire, parts of which would last into the late 20th century.

He was the son of a Portuguese knight, had received the education and training appropriate for his station, and it is thought he had studied navigation. It is known that at some stage he was successful when directed by King John II to seize [[French]] ships in [[Portuguese]] ports as compensation for piracy.

[[Bartholomew Diaz]] had entered the [[Indian Ocean]] in 1488, sure that he had discovered the route to India, but was unprepared in both the capacity of his vessels and the enthusiasm of his crew for the hard work required to finish the journey. Diaz rounded Cape Agulhas, the southernmost point of Africa, and reached as far east as Algoa Bay in modern-day South Africa, but his crew mutinied at that point and Diaz was forced to return to Portugal. Diaz was a seaman and navigator – undoubtedly one of the greatest of his age – but larger forces under a more sophisticated commander would be required for a successful – and profitable – outcome. He was, however, asked to advise and assist in both the preparations and part of the voyage itself.

Vasco da Gama was chosen to command a flotilla of four ships – two ‘’nao’’s, or carracks, a [[caravel]] and a store ship. For a variety of reasons nearly a decade elapsed between Diaz’s return and the departure of the da Gama expedition. King John had died and a change of administration always meant delays. The negotiations regarding the [[Treaty of Tordesillas]] - which was to divide the world in two between Portugal and [[Spain]] – had been under way; and to complement Diaz’s exertions at sea, John had dispatched Pedro da Corvilha; in effect a spy; into the Muslim world of the Indian Ocean to gain intelligence in preparation for the voyage. Da Gama knew where he was going and what to expect when he arrived.

The little fleet left Lisbon on 8th July 1497, followed the usual course of Portuguese mariners south to [[Sierra Leone]], then, at Diaz’s suggestion, sailed southward away from the [[African]] coast (and its unfavourable winds and currents) out and away into the Atlantic until, nearing the latitude of the [[Cape of Good Hope]], it turned eastward and made landfall about 300 miles north of the Cape. It took them nearly four weeks to round the Cape and pass Diaz’s point of return. They began moving slowly up the coast of present day [[Natal]], fighting the Mozambique current; until on Christmas Day they stood out to sea. It is conjectured that from here da Gama had information as to what lay ahead and could proceed with confidence.

From 24th January they spent a number of weeks by the Quelimane River cleaning and repairing the ships. Then, on 1st March, they reached civilisation - Mocambique - where they dined with the sultan and began negotiating the use of pilots - which were to mislead them at every opportunity. Here, skirmishes happened between da Gama and the locals. The Europeans were forced to fire on them; and da Gama made for [[Mombasa]] with (kidnapped) pilots. Mombasa was unwelcoming, indeed treacherous, so the fleet sailed the 70 or so miles up the coast to Malindi, Mombasa’s rival in the area.

On 24th April 1498, after much diplomatic to-ing and fro-ing, ship maintenance, and with a competent pilot, the flotilla set off across the Indian Ocean heading for the trading port of[[Calicut]] on the [[Malabar Coast]] of southern India. Once there, da Gama found that the cloth and ironware so successfully traded in Africa were not in demand in the more technologically advanced India. He spent a year trying unsuccessfully to establish a permanent trade embassy in the teeth of [[Arab]] resistance, before returning home with a cargo of pepper and cinnamon; arriving in September 1499. Although returning with only two of his original four ships, and with only 55 surviving sailors out of his original 170, da Gama's voyage was quite profitable, returning with cargo worth 60 times the cost of the expedition.

Another expedition, commanded by [[Pedro Alvarez Cabral]] left Lisbon within 6 months of da Gama’s return. After a disastrous voyage in which four of the ten ships were lost in a storm, Cabral faced many of the same problems as da Gama in Calicut, culminating in an Arab/Christian street fight. Cabral did manage to establish a factory down the coast in [[Cochin]].

In 1502 da Gama was back leading a well-armed and resourced fleet of 14 sail in India. He bombarded Calicut in retaliation for past troubles, defeated an Arab fleet in the first pitched battle fought by Europeans in the Indian Ocean, and gained favourable trading conditions at the point of a cannon; thus introducing the Portuguese policy of trade by force that was to see the nation in control of the lucrative eastern spice trade, and an empire stretching over the coastal areas of half the south and east of Asia for over a hundred years.

In 1524 da Gama was sent back to India to replace an incompetent governor-general, but died of [[malaria]] in Cochin a few months later.

References:

J. H. Parry – “The Age of Reconnaissance”

David Divine – “The Opening of the World”

[[category:European History]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gama, Vasco da}}
{{Nb_explorers}}
[[Category:Portugal]]