SchillMcGuffin t1_isr9tos wrote on October 18, 2022 at 2:51 AM

I think the Medal of Honor was the only medal for gallantry the US had before WWI, so it required a bit less distinction back then -- it could be awarded for a range of actions that might only be worth a Bronze Star today. I wonder how he'd ended up in Hong Kong to enlist in the first place.

SuicidalGuidedog t1_iss4b1q wrote on October 18, 2022 at 8:47 AM

There's definitely been an increase in the requirements to be awarded the Medal of Honor. I believe there was a "clean up" of about a thousand names when they removed awards that were considered 'unworthy'. People like Buffalo Bill had his taken away (although posthumously reinstated in the 1980s).

To put it in context, there have been 3,530 medals awarded and 1,523 were during the Civil War. That's more than the entire 20th Century combined.

If you want some really questionable awards for the Medal of Honor I'd start with the Battle of Veracruz. It triggered a new way of looking at medals in general and is broadly considered a turning point for the Medal of Honor.

EndoExo t1_ist6f3b wrote on October 18, 2022 at 2:59 PM

Yeah, a bunch of soldiers received the Medal of Honor for the "battle" of Wounded Knee. It meant less back then.