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The Medal of Honor - United States Air Force

 

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This was established by Congress on July 6, 1960, as the highest of several awards created specifically for the Air Force. It is given in the name of Congress to officers and enlisted members who distinguished themselves by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their lives, above and beyond the call of duty, in action involving actual combat with an armed enemy of the United States.

This medal (pictured below) was designed by Lewis J. King, Jr., of the Army's Institute of Heraldry. It is a gold finished five pointed star, one point down, tipped with trefoils and each point containing a crown of laurel and oak on a green enamel background. Centered on the star is an annular of thirty-four stars which surround the profile of the head from the Statue of Liberty. The star is surrounded by a green enameled laurel wreath, edged in gold. The medal is suspended from a design, taken from the Air Force coat of arms. In the center is a baton with eagle claws at both ends resting on a pair of aviator's wings emitting thunderbolts from the center. This is attached to a horizontal bar bearing the word "Valor." The neck ribbon passes through the bar, and has an octagonal pad of the traditional light blue moire ribbon with thirteen white stars. The reverse of this decoration is blank and suitable for engraving.

The first presentation of this Medal of Honor was made at the White House in Washington on Jan. 19, 1967, when the President placed it around the neck of Maj. Bernard F. Fisher, United States Air Force.

The Air Force Medal of Honor has been awarded 13 times for actions during the war in Vietnam. Four of these decorations, to Capt. Steven L. Bennett, Capt. Lance P. Sijan, Capt. Hillard A. Wilbanks, and A1C William H. Pitsenbarger were posthumously awarded. Two of the medals were awarded for extraordinary heroism while the recipients were prisoners of war, one to Captain Sijan and the other to Col. George E. Day who was the most highly decorated officer in the Air Force.

Others who received the medal for their actions in the war in Vietnam are: Maj. Merlyn Hans Dethlefsen, Capt. James P. Fleming, Lt. Col. Joe M. Jackson, Sgt. John L. Levitow, Lt. Col. Leo K. Thorsness, Capt. Gerald O. Young, and Col. William A. Jones III, who received the medal posthumously.

In addition, four other airmen received the Medal of Honor during the Korean War. Majs. George A. Davis Jr., Charles J. Loring Jr., and Louis J. Sebille, and Capt. John S. Walmsley Jr., were all awarded the medal posthumously. During World War II, 35 members of the Army Air Corps were presented the nation's top honor for their actions during air missions.

 

Authorized Device: Oak Leaf Cluster
 

Ribbon: The medal is suspended by a neck ribbon, 1 3/8 inches wide, Bluebird 67117. A shield of the same color ribbon with thirteen White (67101) stars, arranged in the form of three chevrons is above the medal. The service ribbon is 1/38 inches wide with five White stars in the form of a "M".

Criteria: The Medal of Honor is awarded by the President, in the name of Congress, to a person who, while a member of the Army, distinguishes himself or herself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. The deed performed must have been one of personal bravery or self-sacrifice so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the individual above his or her comrades and must have involved risk of life. Incontestable proof of the performance of the service will be exacted and each recommendation for the award of this decoration will be considered on the standard of extraordinary merit.

Background:

        a. General George Washington had created the Badge of Military Merit on 7 August 1792 but it had fallen into disuse after the Revolutionary War. Decorations, as such, were still too closely related to European royalty to be of concern to the American people. However, the fierce fighting and deeds of valor during the Civil War brought into focus the realization that such valor must be recognized. Legislation was introduced in the Senate on 17 February 1862, which authorized the medal for the Army and followed the pattern of a similar award approved for Naval personnel in December 1861. The Resolution provided that: "The President of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized to cause two thousand "medals of honor" to be prepared with suitable emblematic devices, and to direct that the same be presented, in the name of Congress, to such noncommissioned officers and privates as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action, and other soldier-like qualities during the present insurrection, and the sum of ten thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the purpose of carrying this resolution into effect."