A Hero Worth Remembering

Posted by Christopher Eger Feb 1, 2007

According to the Department of the Army (2002-07-01). Section 578.4 Medal of Honor. Code of Federal Regulations Title 32, Volume 2. Government Printing Office, the Medal of Honor is the highest military award given in the United States. It is given for ""...a person who, while a member of the Army, distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States...".

In total, 3,462 medals have been awarded in the past 146 years. Since the withdrawal of US forces from Vietnam in 1973, the Medal of Honor has only been awarded four times, all of them posthumously.

The latest addition to this list of heros is Marine Corporal Jason Dunham of Scio, New York, who's familiy was presented with the award recently.