| I would like to know what types of duties you | | | | very few people who have ever gotten a second |
| receive medals for. My students have also | | | | Medal of Honor, and most of them were given |
| come up with some questions. What is the | | | | out during the time period of the Civil War |
| highest ranking Medal you can get? Are there | | | | to World War 1. No second award of the Medal |
| different types of Medals for each branch of | | | | of Honor has been given since then. Usually, |
| the military? For each task or assignment, | | | | once someone wins the MOH, they are pulled |
| would there be a different Medal of Honor? Do | | | | from the combat zone. |
| you know any resources (books, magazines, | | | | |
| websites) we can use to further our research? | | | | The pyramid was instituted around the WWII |
| | | | time period, basically because it was felt |
| The highest medal an American Military person | | | | that some acts of valor were of a higher |
| can get is the Medal of Honor. Some call it | | | | level than others, and vice versa, so they |
| the Congressional Medal of Honor, but the | | | | needed a medal to recognize them. There is |
| proper name is just "Medal of Honor". I | | | | also the topic of Campaign Medals, awarded |
| suggest you read some of the citations for | | | | for participation in a certain action or |
| the Medal of Honor, you will be awed at what | | | | theatre of operations. The WWII period |
| these men have done. | | | | produced 5 of these types of awards. |
| | | | |
| There are different types of medals for each | | | | 1. The American Defense Service Medal: |
| branch of the military, as well as the Coast | | | | basically awarded to draftees and volunteers |
| Guard. This gets a bit complicated at times. | | | | who served prior to the attack on Pearl |
| Think of the awarding of medals like a | | | | Harbor. |
| pyramid: the highest, the Medal of Honor, is | | | | |
| at the top. Although each branch of the | | | | 2-4. American Campaign, Asiatic-Pacific |
| service has a differently designed MOH, they | | | | Campaign, and European-African-Middle Eastern |
| are the same award. Next down is the | | | | Campaign Medals: Awarded for service in |
| Distinguished Service Cross/Navy Cross/Air | | | | these theatres of war. The American Campaign |
| Force Cross. This is also a valor award. | | | | medal was for service in the area of the |
| Following that is a whole slew of other | | | | United States |
| medals awarded for "Meritorious performance | | | | |
| of duty" that don't necessarily involve | | | | 5. World War 2 Victory Medal: awarded to |
| combat. The next highest valor award is the | | | | any serving member of the military during the |
| Silver Star followed by the Bronze Star (with | | | | time period of WWII. |
| 'V' means Valor, without 'V' means | | | | |
| meritorious service). Each branch then has | | | | Finally, as to awards, most veterans of WWII |
| its own Commendation medals, the Army | | | | came home with at least 2 medals, usually |
| Commendation Medal, Navy & Marine Corps | | | | more. Contrast this to today military, who |
| Commendation Medal, Coast Guard Commendation | | | | typically sport 13-15 medals after a tour in |
| Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal. | | | | the combat zone. |
| These can also have a "V" attached, for Valor | | | | |
| in combat. Lastly, there are the Achievement | | | | The medals/ribbons that a WWII Army veteran |
| Medals, Army Achievement, Navy & Marine Corps | | | | of the European Campaign would typically |
| Achievement, Air Force Achievement, Coast | | | | have. Good Conduct Medal (awarded for staying |
| Guard Achievement medals. They can also have | | | | out of trouble for 3 years, not a valor |
| "V" affixed, denoting Valor. | | | | award), European Campaign Medal, WWII Victory |
| | | | Medal. If the vet was an active infantryman |
| Notice how the pyramid works - the braver the | | | | (most guys were not, it takes about 100 men |
| act, the higher the award. You don't have to | | | | to support the guy with the rifle in the |
| get the others to get the Medal of Honor. | | | | foxhole), he may have a Bronze Star (every |
| (Some countries do this, most notably Germany | | | | Infantryman in WWII was issued a Bronze Star |
| during WWII; but suffice to say a soldier had | | | | Medal in late 1944 for combat service). He |
| to earn each level of the pyramid before | | | | would also have a Combat Infantryman Badge, |
| moving on to the next. The highest German | | | | which is a Kentucky flintlock rifle on a blue |
| medal, somewhat equivalents to our Medal of | | | | enamel background, surrounded by a wreath. |
| Honor, was the Knights Cross to the Iron | | | | This signified the man had been in combat. |
| Cross). | | | | Chances are he may have a Purple Heart as |
| | | | well; this medal is awarded for wounds (or |
| For each task or assignment, there would be | | | | death) due to enemy action (you don't have to |
| only 1 Medal of Honor. However, there are | | | | be in the Infantry to get it). |