Who was the youngest Medal of Honor recipient?

The youngest Medal of Honor recipient was Willie Johnston, a 13-year-old drummer boy in the Civil War, honored for refusing to abandon his drum during a retreat in 1862, making him the youngest recipient ever. He enlisted at 11 and received the award at 13, an act of valor seen as extraordinary dedication by Secretary of War Edwin Stanton.

Who is the youngest person to get a Medal of Honor?

The youngest person ever to receive the Medal of Honor was probably William "Willie" Johnston, who earned the Medal during the Civil War just prior to his 12th birthday and received his award 6 weeks after his 13th.

Who is the youngest Medal of Honor recipient?

On Sept. 16, 1863, Willie received the medal from War Secretary Edwin Stanton. He was 13 years old and remains the youngest person to ever earn the Medal of Honor.

Who is the youngest living Medal of Honor recipient?

Kyle Carpenter is the youngest living Medal of Honor recipient.

How many confirmed kills did John Basilone have?

Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone had at least 38 confirmed kills during the Battle of Guadalcanal, using machine guns and a pistol to defend his position against a massive Japanese assault, actions for which he earned the Medal of Honor. While he didn't have a specific kill count for Iwo Jima, he again demonstrated extreme bravery, single-handedly destroying a blockhouse and guiding a tank through a minefield before being killed, earning him the Navy Cross. 

The Youngest Living Medal of Honor Recipient: Kyle Carpenter’s Story

What were John Basilone's last words?

Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone's last words are debated, but some accounts suggest he told a corpsman they would "never be repeated," referring to his actions, while other sources, like The New York Times, quote him rallying his men with "All right, you guys, let's go on in there and set up these guns for firing," just before being killed by a mortar round on Iwo Jima, says Raritan Online and the Marine Corps Times. 

Who are the only two Marines to win two Medals of Honor?

Daniel Joseph Daly (November 11, 1873 – April 27, 1937) was a United States Marine and one of nineteen U.S. servicemen to have been awarded the Medal of Honor twice. Daly and Major General Smedley Butler are the only Marines who earned two Medals of Honor for two separate acts of valor.

Has a girl ever got the Medal of Honor?

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. She grew up in Oswego, New York, raised by her progressive parents along with her six brothers and sisters.

Why is 1.9 Marines called the Walking Dead?

The 1st Battalion, 9th Marines (1/9) earned the nickname "The Walking Dead" during the Vietnam War due to their extraordinarily high casualty rate and the immense amount of sustained combat they endured, a name reportedly first used by enemy forces but later embraced by the Marines themselves as a badge of honor for their resilience. The unit suffered the highest killed-in-action (KIA) rate in Marine Corps history, with a significant percentage of the thousands who served becoming casualties in some of the war's toughest fighting.
 

Why did Willie Johnston get the Medal of Honor?

"At Harrison's Landing on July 4, 1862, Willie Johnston—age 11, 3rd Vermont Drummer Boy played for Div. review. For keeping his drum during the arduous 7 days battles, he was awarded the Medal of Honor by Sec. of War Stanton.

Has a father and son won the Medal of Honor?

Arthur MacArthur Jr. and Douglas MacArthur were the first father and son ever to each be awarded a Medal of Honor. To date, the only other father and son to be given this honor are former president Theodore Roosevelt and his son, Theodore Roosevelt Jr.

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.
 

How far did Jack Lucas fall?

During one jump, both his main and reserve parachutes failed, sending him plummeting 3,500 feet. Incredibly, Jack survived the fall with only minor injuries—a feat that earned him the nickname “Indestructible.” After serving four more years, Jack retired from the military.

Who is the only President to receive the 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. 

Has anyone received 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).
 

Can the Medal of Honor be revoked?

Has anyone ever had their Medal of Honor rescinded or revoked? Yes. In 1916, Congress asked that all Medals awarded up to that point be reviewed to ensure that they met the high standards required for the award. As a result, 911 Medals of Honor were rescinded.

Did Tom Selleck actually serve in Vietnam?

No, Tom Selleck did not serve in Vietnam, but he served in the California Army National Guard during the Vietnam War era (1967-1973) after receiving a draft notice, fulfilling his military obligation with six months of active duty and never deploying to Vietnam. He served as a sergeant in the 160th Infantry Regiment and has spoken proudly of his service, later becoming a spokesperson for the Guard and a supporter of Vietnam veterans. 

Who did the Viet Cong fear most?

The Viet Cong (VC) feared specialized U.S. units like SEALs (called "men with green faces"), MACV-SOG operators for deep-strike missions, and highly effective Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols (LRRPs/Rangers) for their stealth and lethal skill, alongside fierce South Korean Marines known for brutality and efficiency, and Australian SASR soldiers known as "Phantoms of the Jungle". The radio operators (RTOs) were also primary targets due to their ability to call in artillery and air support. 

Is Rick an A or B?

In The Walking Dead, Rick was always an "A," meaning a strong leader the CRM wanted for their experiments, but Jadis lied and marked him as a "B" (a compliant follower) to protect him from being taken by the CRM, so he could be saved and eventually join Michonne, as revealed in The Walking Dead: World Beyond and The Ones Who Live.
 

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.

Has a doctor ever received the Medal of Honor?

Dr. Mary Walker remains the only female to receive the award among over 3,500 Medal of Honor recipients. Although her medal was initially rescinded before her death, it was eventually reinstated. Before delving into the details, let's explore her incredible legacy in American history.

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 changed the criteria to require active combat, and she was a civilian, not a commissioned officer, when awarded for her Civil War service; however, President Jimmy Carter posthumously restored her medal in 1977, acknowledging her pioneering service.
 

What is the rarest MOS in the Marine Corps?

The rarest Marine Corps MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) isn't definitively one job, but highly specialized roles like 4133 (MCCS Retail/Services) (fewer than 100 Marines) and roles within specialized units like Ground Sensor Platoon (GSP) (secondary MOS 8621) or CID (Criminal Investigation Division) agents (MOS 5821) are extremely uncommon and less known, often operating behind the scenes or in civilian attire, making them feel like rare finds in the Corps. 

Who was the most decorated marine ever?

The most decorated U.S. Marine of all time is Lieutenant General Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller, legendary for his extraordinary valor and leadership, holding the record as the only Marine to receive five Navy Crosses for heroism in conflicts from the Banana Wars to Korea, alongside numerous other high honors.
 

Why did 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.