Who is the only president to receive the Medal of Honor?

For Roosevelt, the Spanish-American War fulfilled a lifelong dream. While friends in the newspaper business ensured that his exploits in Cuba were not overlooked by the public, the future President yearned for even greater acclaim. He coveted the country’s highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor.

Is it illegal to possess a Medal of Honor?

Selling medals awarded by Congress is illegal in the United States and is punishable by fines of up to $100,000 and a year in jail.

How many black Medal of Honor recipients are there?

92
Because of the nature of this medal, it is commonly presented posthumously. Of the 3,470 Medals of Honor awarded as of June 2015, 92 have been awarded to 90 different African-American recipients. Robert Augustus Sweeney is one of 19 men, and the only African American, to have been awarded two Medals of Honor.

What is the rarest Medal?

The Victoria Cross is the ‘holy grail’ for medal collectors because there are only 1,357 in existence. Bearing the inscription ‘For valour’ and known as a VC, this medal was first awarded for ‘conspicuous bravery’ in 1856 and later backdated to the Crimean war of 1854.

What is the Medal of Honor?

The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. The recipient must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their own life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an enemy of the United States.

When did the Air Force get the Medal of Honor?

The Department of the Air Force used the Department of the Army’s version until they received their own distinctive version in 1965. The Medal of Honor is the oldest continuously issued combat decoration of the United States Armed Forces.

Is there a movie about the Medal of Honor?

Honoring service members whose courage merited the awarding of a Medal of Honor, this docudrama series re-creates their inspiring true stories. Watch all you want. This emotional docudrama tells the stories of Medal of Honor recipients from U.S. military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam and more.

How often is the Medal of Honor awarded posthumously?

Due to the nature of this medal, it is commonly presented posthumously. The President of the United States, in the name of the United States Congress, has awarded more than 3,520 Medals of Honor including 19 second awards to the nation’s soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coast guardsmen since the decoration’s creation in 1861.