Has anyone been stripped of the Medal of Honor?

Yes, hundreds of Medal of Honor awards were stripped by a 1917 review board, including famous cases like Dr. Mary Edwards Walker and "Buffalo Bill" Cody, because criteria changed, but many were later restored, notably Dr. Walker's in 1977, while most remain rescinded.

Has a Medal of Honor ever been rescinded?

Out of the nearly 3,500 Medal of Honor recipients, only one was a woman -- just one -- and her medal was actually rescinded just before she died. In honor of Women's History Month, we're looking back on the life of that exceptional woman: Dr. Mary Walker, who helped change the face of medicine during the Civil War.

Has anyone had their Medal of Honor taken away?

In 1917, an Army review board rescinded the Medal of Honor that had been awarded to Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, an Army surgeon and former prisoner of war, more than half a century earlier.

Why did Harry Truman refuse the Medal of Honor?

The gist of the letter to Congress was that the Medal of Honor was an award for bravery in combat. Giving it to Truman just because he's a former President would water down the award's importance.

Why was Dr. Mary Walker's Medal of Honor rescinded?

Dr. Mary Walker's Medal of Honor was revoked in 1917 because a Congressional review board determined she was a civilian and not an active combatant, making her ineligible under stricter new criteria, but she refused to return it, and it was posthumously restored in 1977. Her medal, along with over 900 others, was rescinded as the government tightened rules for the award, though her unique circumstances as the only female surgeon awarded the medal likely played a role, with sexism also suspected.
 

The Horrors of BAR Gunners

Did Britt Slabinski deserve the Medal of Honor?

Whether Britt Slabinski deserved the Medal of Honor is a subject of significant controversy, with supporters citing his extraordinary leadership and bravery during the intense Battle of Takur Ghar in 2002, while critics point to disputed elements of his citation, particularly concerning Airman John Chapman and the decision to leave him behind, leading to Chapman's death and subsequent posthumous Medal of Honor. While the Navy officially recognizes Slabinski's actions as deserving of the nation's highest award, a vocal segment of special operations personnel and observers believe his actions, or at least the official account, were misrepresented, with some even suggesting he shouldn't have received it due to the circumstances surrounding Chapman's fate. 

Who turned down Trump's presidential medal of freedom?

Bill Belichick (New England Patriots coach) and Dolly Parton (country singer) are prominent figures who turned down Donald Trump's offer of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, with Belichick declining following the January 6th Capitol attack and Parton turning it down twice for personal health/COVID-19 reasons before the end of Trump's term, as reported by BBC, NFL.com, and The New York Times. 

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

The sole U.S. President to receive the Medal of Honor is Theodore Roosevelt, awarded posthumously in 2001 for his leadership of the "Rough Riders" during the Spanish-American War, specifically for his actions at the Battle of San Juan Hill in Cuba. Despite being nominated earlier, the award wasn't finalized until President Bill Clinton presented it over a century later. 

Has anybody received the Medal of Honor twice?

Yes, 19 U.S. service members have received the Medal of Honor twice, with some receiving two medals for the same action (five Marines for Army/Navy versions during WWI) and others for separate acts of valor in different conflicts or periods, including Smedley Butler and Daniel Daly, two Marines honored for two separate combat actions.
 

What did Truman actually say to Oppenheimer?

During a tense 1945 meeting, after J. Robert Oppenheimer told President Harry S. Truman he felt he had "blood on his hands," Truman famously responded by calling him a "crybaby," saying, "Don't you ever bring that crybaby back here ever again," and handing him a handkerchief, showing his annoyance with Oppenheimer's perceived guilt over the atomic bomb. Truman saw the bomb as a military necessity, not a moral failing, famously telling his staff he had more blood on his hands than Oppenheimer. 

How much money does a Medal of Honor get?

Medal of Honor (MOH) pay is a special monthly pension for recipients, recently increased by the MEDAL Act (signed December 2025) from about $1,400/month to $5,625 monthly (around $67,500 annually) to cover expenses, supplement other benefits, and show national gratitude, with recipients also getting other perks like space-A travel and base access.
 

Why did Jordan Chiles have to give her Medal back?

On Aug. 11, Chiles was ordered to forfeit her bronze medal after an appeal by Romanian gymnasts claimed that Chiles' coach appealed four seconds too late in an attempt to correct her score.

Which country has had the most Olympic medals stripped?

The majority of medals have been stripped in athletics (54, including 21 gold medals) and weightlifting (52, including 15 gold medals). The country with the most stripped medals is Russia (and Russian associated teams), with 53, more than four times the number of the next highest, and 33% of the total.

Who was the 17 year old Medal of Honor recipient?

Jacklyn Harold "Jack" Lucas (February 14, 1928 – June 5, 2008) was an American Marine in World War II who was awarded the Medal of Honor at the age of 17 as a private first class in the Marine Corps during the Battle of Iwo Jima.

Why did Denzel get the Presidential Medal of Freedom?

The acclaimed actor is the sixth Fordham grad to receive the nation's highest civilian honor. Denzel Washington received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden during a January 4 ceremony at the White House, where he was described as a generational talent and national role model.

What rank was Audie Murphy when he won the Medal of Honor?

For these actions, Murphy was awarded the Medal of Honor. Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company B 15th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Holtzwihr France, 26 January 1945. Citation: Second Lt.

Do generals salute Medal of Honor winners?

Medal of Honor Recipients are the only individuals saluted by all ranks of the military—including the President. As the only military decoration worn around the neck, the Medal of Honor has evolved since its founding in 1861. Today there are three variants, one for each military branch.

Why did Truman refuse the Medal of Honor?

The gist of the letter was that the Medal of Honor was an award for bravery in combat. Giving it to Truman just because he's a former president would water down the award's importance. “Therefore, I close by saying thanks, but I will not accept a Congressional Medal of Honor,” he wrote in 1971.

Has a private ever won the Medal of Honor?

On March 25, 1863, Army Private Jacob Parrott received the first Medal of Honor for his actions during the Great Locomotive Chase during the Civil War.

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

Mary Edwards Walker. An American feminist, suffragist, suspected spy, prisoner of war and surgeon, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker remains the only women ever to receive the Medal of Honor, which she was awarded for her service during the Civil War.

Can the Medal of Honor be revoked?

Recipients of the Medal of Honor are afforded a number of benefits as a result of this award. Since the award's inception, the laws and regulations that apply to it have changed. In certain cases, the award has been rescinded. Six rescinded awards have been reinstated.

Who is the most famous Medal of Honor recipient?

While "fame" is subjective, Audie Murphy is arguably the most famous Medal of Honor recipient, known as the most decorated U.S. soldier of World War II, who later became a successful Hollywood actor, making his story widely recognized beyond military circles. Other highly recognized figures include Desmond Doss, the conscientious objector whose story was popularized by the movie Hacksaw Ridge, and historical figures like Smedley Butler, who received the award twice.
 

Can a president remove a Medal of Freedom?

In recent years, some Members have also asked the President to revoke a previously awarded medal. President Barack H. Obama said in 2015 there was "no precedent for revoking the medal." The Presidential Medal of Freedom was awarded 674 times between 1963 and 2025.

Who was the only president to receive the Purple Heart?

The only U.S. President awarded the Purple Heart is John F. Kennedy, who received it for injuries sustained while serving as a Navy lieutenant during World War II when his PT boat was sunk by a Japanese destroyer, leading to his heroic rescue of his crew. His bravery in the face of injury and leadership in saving his men earned him both the Purple Heart and the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, according to the JFK Library.
 

Why did Megan Rapinoe get the Presidential Medal of Freedom?

The 25-year-old, who is the youngest ever to receive the honour, is an advocate for athletes' mental health and sexual assault victims. Rapinoe, who also won Olympic gold with Team USA at London 2012, has been very outspoken about gender pay equality, racial matters and LGBTQ rights.