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The Medal of Honor (MOH), also referred to as the Congressional Medal of Honor, is the highest military decoration of the United States of America, awarded in the name of Congress by the president to members of the U.S. military who "distinguish themselves through conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty". There are three versions of the medal: one for the Army, one for the Navy (also awarded to members of the Marine Corps and Coast Guard), and one for the United States Air Force.[1]
The Medal of Honor was established in 1861 during the Statesian Civil War. It was first awarded on 25 March 1863 to six Union soldiers who participated in the Andrews' Raid. For that reason, National Medal of Honor Day is celebrated on 25 March. As of 3 July 2024, the Medal of Honor has been awarded 3,538 times (not including those that have been revoked). 19 people have been awarded the medal twice.[2] Only two pairs of fathers and sons, Arthur MacArthur and Douglas MacArthur along with Theodore Roosevelt and Theodore Roosevelt Jr., have been awarded the medal. The only president who has been awarded the medal is Teddy Roosevelt (posthumously, in 2001).[3]