Is it illegal to give away a Medal of Honor?

Yes, it's illegal to sell, trade, or fraudulently possess a Medal of Honor in the U.S., but giving it away (gifting) is generally legal, as is inheriting it, provided there's no intent to defraud for money or benefits, as the law targets commerce and false claims, not donations or inheritance by designees or family. Federal law (18 U.S. Code § 704) prohibits unauthorized manufacturing, selling, or trading, and the Stolen Valor Act enhanced penalties for misuse, but gifting or inheriting is an exception, with the medal typically staying with the recipient or designated family/museum.

Can you give someone your Medal of Honor?

The Stolen Valor Acts of 2005 and 2013 (Public Law 109-437 and 113-12) address this issue. The 2005 Law makes it illegal to buy or sell the Medal of Honor, its ribbon or its rosette, including replicas or reproductions.

Is it illegal to sell a Medal of Honor?

Due to the prestige of the Medal of Honor, it is a federal crime to manufacture, sell, or trade these awards without authorization of the federal government. It is also illegal to use unauthorized Medals of Honors to receive benefits, such as money or property.

Do Medal of Honor winners pay taxes?

Medal of Honor Recipient Benefits

A special tax-free Medal of Honor pension of $1,619.34 per month above and beyond any military pensions or other benefits for which they may be eligible.

Who can give a Medal of Honor?

The medal is normally awarded by the president of the United States (the commander in chief of the armed forces) and is presented "in the name of Congress." It is often referred to as the Congressional Medal of Honor, though the official name of the award is simply "Medal of Honor."

Is It Illegal To Sell A Medal Of Honor? - Military History HQ

How much money does a Medal of Honor get?

Medal of Honor recipients receive a special, tax-free monthly pension, significantly increased in December 2025 by the MEDAL Act to approximately $5,625 (about $67,500 annually) on top of other benefits, to help cover expenses for appearances and show national gratitude, with eligibility for spouses too. This pension, established in 1916, was previously around $1,400 monthly, with past increases from $10 (1961) to $100 (2002).
 

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

Theodore Roosevelt is the sole U.S. President to receive the Medal of Honor, awarded posthumously in 2001 for his bravery leading the Rough Riders up San Juan Hill during the Spanish-American War in 1898, an honor he had sought for years but was initially denied. 

Do Medal of Honor recipients fly free?

Next, a Medal of Honor recipient has special entitlements to Space “A” air transportation. Space “A” means 'space available', and is a method in which many servicemembers can fly and travel for free as long as there is space available on the flight they are wanting to get on.

Has anyone won two Medals of Honor?

Yes, 19 service members have received the Medal of Honor twice, with 14 earning it for separate acts of valor and five receiving both Army and Navy versions for the same action while serving with Army units. Notable double recipients include Marine Smedley D. Butler (two separate actions) and Civil War cavalryman Thomas Ward Custer (two separate actions).
 

What state has the most Medal of Honor winners?

These are the states with the most recipients accredited to them as of March 24, 2025:

• New York (677)
• Pennsylvania (380)
• Massachusetts (265)
• Ohio (255)
• Illinois (210)

Is the Olympic gold medal 100% gold?

No, Olympic gold medals are not made of 100% gold; they are primarily sterling silver (at least 92.5%) and are plated with about 6 grams of pure gold, a standard set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since the 1912 Games, with host cities determining the specific design and materials.
 

How much does Simone Biles get paid for a gold medal?

Simone Biles gets paid around $37,500 for a U.S. Olympic gold medal, with the actual payout from the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) being a set amount per medal, not directly tied to the Olympics' value, though endorsements often bring millions more. For example, at the Paris 2024 Games, she'd earn $37,500 per gold, $22,500 per silver, and $15,000 per bronze, a sum dwarfed by her lucrative sponsorship deals.
 

Who was the youngest Medal of Honor recipient?

On Oct. 5, 1945, President Harry S. Truman placed the Medal of Honor around Jacklyn Harrell Lucas' neck.

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.

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.

What medals can you not sell?

It is prohibited to sell or try to sell any military decoration or medal, whether authentic or fake, covering all military honors, including service medals and prestigious awards such as the Medal of Honor. Falsely claiming military medals for personal benefit is illegal.

Do you get paid if you get a Medal of Honor?

A monthly $1,406.73 pension from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). A 10-percent increase in retired pay, not to exceed the 75 percent maximum, for enlisted recipients who retire with 20 or more years of Military Service. A special Medal of Honor travel and identification card signed by the Secretary of the Army.

What is the rarest Medal of Honor?

The rarest design of the U.S. Medal of Honor is the "Tiffany Cross," awarded to U.S. Navy and Marine Corps personnel from 1917-1942, with only 22 recipients due to its unpopularity and resemblance to the German Iron Cross. For overall rarity in U.S. military awards, the Coast Guard Cross, established in 2010 but never awarded, is technically the rarest, though the "Congressional Air Mail Flyer's Medal of Honor," with only 7 recipients in the 1930s, is another extremely rare, non-combat honor.
 

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.

What is the most expensive Medal in the world?

The most expensive military medal ever sold at auction is the Victoria Cross (VC), a prestigious British military decoration awarded for acts of valour and courage in the face of the enemy.

Do Medal of Honor winners receive a pension?

On Monday, the president signed into law the Monetary Enhancement for Distinguished Active Legends, or MEDAL Act. It raised the monthly pension to Medal of Honor recipients from $1,489.73 to $5,625, or about $67,500 annually.

Who was the last living person to receive the Medal of Honor?

Marines participate in memorial services for Chief Warrant Officer 4 Hershel “Woody” Williams in Charleston, W.Va., July 3, 2022. The Battle of Iwo Jima hero and Quiet Dell, W.Va., native was the last surviving World War II Medal of Honor recipient.

Who turned down Trump's Presidential Medal of Freedom?

The most prominent figures who turned down President Trump's offer of the Presidential Medal of Freedom were NFL coach Bill Belichick, citing the Capitol events, and music icon Dolly Parton, who declined twice due to family illness and later COVID-19 travel concerns, with both citing reasons beyond politics but amid a politically charged environment. 

Who is the most famous Medal of Honor recipient?

While "most famous" is subjective, Audie Murphy is arguably the most widely recognized Medal of Honor recipient, famous both for being the most decorated U.S. soldier of World War II and for his successful post-war career as a Hollywood actor, symbolizing heroism and the American soldier. Other highly famous recipients include Desmond Doss, whose story was told in the movie Hacksaw Ridge, and the first female recipient, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, known for her activism, notes the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and Smithsonian American Women's History Museum.
 

Which president's son died in war?

President Theodore Roosevelt's youngest son, Quentin Roosevelt, died in combat during World War I in France in 1918, shot down as a pursuit pilot, making him the only child of a U.S. President to die in combat. While another of his sons, Theodore Roosevelt Jr., died of a heart attack in Normandy after D-Day in WWII, Quentin is the one who perished in battle, with German forces burying him with honors due to his bravery.