Medal of Honor - Page 2

**richardoe** · March 20th, 2014, 07:16 PM

The VC does have higher qualification standards. For instance there must be a minimum of three witnesses (although none of them has to be a commissioned officer), there must be a minimum of 90% chance of death and the action must have an outcome on the battle/engagement. None of this denigrates the Medal of Honour, and as 9 Medals of Honour have been won in Afghanistan, there have been six VCs won in Aghanistan, two British, three Australian and one New Zealand.

garthok newo · March 20th, 2014, 11:13 PM

I really appreciate the contributions to this thread.

Maj. Smedley Butler U.S.M.C. was awarded two MoH and was qualified for another except that at the time Marine officers were not eligible. When he retired as a general in 1931 he said of his career "I spent most of my time being a high-class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and for the Bankers. In short, I was a racketeer for capitalism."

Capt. George McMurtry 1st Battalion, 308th Infantry,77th Division-the "Lost Battalion" of WW1. Was handed a note from his German foe that read "The suffering of your wounded men can be heard over here in the German lines and we are appealing to your human sentiments. A white flag shown by one of your men will tell us that you agree. He said to his Major "we've got them licked or they wouldn't have sent this." He along with Major Whittlesey were awarded the MoH.

**richardoe** · March 22nd, 2014, 12:43 PM

I dont know about the Medal of Honour, but the VC can and has been awarded to civilians. It can be awarded to civilians serving under military command and I believe five were awarded during the Indian mutiny.

**Navvet** · March 22nd, 2014, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richardoe

I dont know about the Medal of Honour, but the VC can and has been awarded to civilians. It can be awarded to civilians serving under military command and I believe five were awarded during the Indian mutiny.

The Congressional Medal of Honor is the highest decoration that can be awarded to an American serviceman. The highest decoration that can be awarded to an American civilian is the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

**tygrkhat40** · March 22nd, 2014, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rustler

I think that there were many who were unhappy when Douglas MacArthur was awarded the Medal of Honor.

http://www.vintage-erotica-forum.com...postcount=5256

From the Second World War thread; my feelings on Dugout Doug getting the MoH.

**rustler** · March 22nd, 2014, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richardoe

I dont know about the Medal of Honour, but the VC can and has been awarded to civilians. It can be awarded to civilians serving under military command and I believe five were awarded during the Indian mutiny.

Civilians are still eligible for the VC under the warrant of 1920. Originally provision for these awards was made in the warrants of 13th December 1857 and 6th August 1881.

As Richardoe mentioned, four civilians were awarded the Victoria Cross.

Mr. R.L. Mangles, Bengal Civil Service, Indian Mutiny, 30th July 1857.
Mr. W.F. McDonell, " " " " " " " "
Mr. T.H. Kavannagh, " " " " " 9th November 1857.

and:

The Reverend J.W. Adams, Bengal Ecclesiastical Department, Afghan war 11th December 1879.

During the period from 1858 - 1881 the Victoria Cross could be awarded for actions not in the 'presence of an enemy', and six awards were made under such circumstances including five to members of the 24th Regiment of Foot (later South Wales Borderers), for saving the lives of their companions in a storm at sea off the Andaman islands in 1867.
Later the British Empire Medal, the Albert Medal and the George Cross were used for awards such as these.

Regarding the award of the Medal of Honor being only awarded to servicemen and women, Theodore Roosevelt was awarded it posthumously in 2001, and Charles Lindburgh also received it following his transatlantic crossing.

garthok newo · March 22nd, 2014, 03:59 PM

After the American Revolution the idea of awarding medals was thought to be a decadent European practice. The Badge of Military Merit established by George Washington was never officially discontinued, but was allowed to fade.
Abraham Lincoln authorized the Navy to produce a naval Medal of Honor. Shortly thereafter the Army got its' own Medal of Honor.
At the beginning of the 20th century the vague standard of "gallantry in action" evolved into the current criteria.
The awarding of the MoH has been inconsistent at times, but overall, and most certainly since WW11 it has remained true to its' ideals.

I'm afraid all I know about the VC is Richard Burton's voice over at the end of "Zulu", but I am interested if learning more.

**tygrkhat40** · March 22nd, 2014, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garthok newo

The awarding of the MoH has been inconsistent at times, but overall, and most certainly since WW11 it has remained true to its' ideals.

WW eleven? You know something we don't know garthok?

**richardoe** · March 22nd, 2014, 06:52 PM

Thats the problem with roman numerals!

tommel · March 22nd, 2014, 07:03 PM

Teddy Roosevelt earned a belated Medal of Honor for his actions on San Juan Hill. Politics caused his nomination to be "lost" for a number of years.

He has the distinction of having earned the MoH and the Nobel Peace Prize (for his work negotiating a peace treaty in the Russo-Japanese war)

-Tom

March 20th, 2014, 07:16 PM	#11
richardoe Vintage Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 2,812 Thanks: 1,424 Thanked 24,132 Times in 2,726 Posts	The VC does have higher qualification standards. For instance there must be a minimum of three witnesses (although none of them has to be a commissioned officer), there must be a minimum of 90% chance of death and the action must have an outcome on the battle/engagement. None of this denigrates the Medal of Honour, and as 9 Medals of Honour have been won in Afghanistan, there have been six VCs won in Aghanistan, two British, three Australian and one New Zealand. __________________ Richardoe To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

March 20th, 2014, 11:13 PM	#12
garthok newo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 297 Thanks: 92,470 Thanked 3,812 Times in 276 Posts	some MoH reciepents I really appreciate the contributions to this thread. Maj. Smedley Butler U.S.M.C. was awarded two MoH and was qualified for another except that at the time Marine officers were not eligible. When he retired as a general in 1931 he said of his career "I spent most of my time being a high-class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and for the Bankers. In short, I was a racketeer for capitalism." Capt. George McMurtry 1st Battalion, 308th Infantry,77th Division-the "Lost Battalion" of WW1. Was handed a note from his German foe that read "The suffering of your wounded men can be heard over here in the German lines and we are appealing to your human sentiments. A white flag shown by one of your men will tell us that you agree. He said to his Major "we've got them licked or they wouldn't have sent this." He along with Major Whittlesey were awarded the MoH.

March 22nd, 2014, 12:43 PM	#13
richardoe Vintage Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 2,812 Thanks: 1,424 Thanked 24,132 Times in 2,726 Posts	I dont know about the Medal of Honour, but the VC can and has been awarded to civilians. It can be awarded to civilians serving under military command and I believe five were awarded during the Indian mutiny. __________________ Richardoe To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

March 22nd, 2014, 03:59 PM	#17
garthok newo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 297 Thanks: 92,470 Thanked 3,812 Times in 276 Posts	evolution of Medal of Honor After the American Revolution the idea of awarding medals was thought to be a decadent European practice. The Badge of Military Merit established by George Washington was never officially discontinued, but was allowed to fade. Abraham Lincoln authorized the Navy to produce a naval Medal of Honor. Shortly thereafter the Army got its' own Medal of Honor. At the beginning of the 20th century the vague standard of "gallantry in action" evolved into the current criteria. The awarding of the MoH has been inconsistent at times, but overall, and most certainly since WW11 it has remained true to its' ideals. I'm afraid all I know about the VC is Richard Burton's voice over at the end of "Zulu", but I am interested if learning more.

March 22nd, 2014, 06:52 PM	#19
richardoe Vintage Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 2,812 Thanks: 1,424 Thanked 24,132 Times in 2,726 Posts	Thats the problem with roman numerals! __________________ Richardoe To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

March 22nd, 2014, 07:03 PM	#20
tommel Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Commonwealth of PA Posts: 59 Thanks: 116 Thanked 1,742 Times in 56 Posts	Teddy Roosevelt earned a belated Medal of Honor for his actions on San Juan Hill. Politics caused his nomination to be "lost" for a number of years. He has the distinction of having earned the MoH and the Nobel Peace Prize (for his work negotiating a peace treaty in the Russo-Japanese war) -Tom