The+Final+Draft



Colby Casper Chris Tomlinson Honors English Tag 1 28 April 2009 Informational Paper on Congressional Medal of Honor The nation’s highest honor is the Congressional Medal of Honor. Only 3,467 people, in all of the wars the U.S. has been involved in, have received this award. According to the Medal of Honor Statistics “These figures reflect the total number of Medals of Honor awarded. Nineteen (19) men received a second award: fourteen of these men received two separate Medals for two separate actions; five received both the Navy and the Army Medals of Honor for the same action (“Medal of Honor”)”. People who earn the medal of honor deserve to be respected because they risk life of their own accord and most people die before earning this award. A lot of people do not know the criteria for the Medal of Honor. According to "Congressional Medal of Honor Criteria The Medal of Honor." The Medal of Honor, established by joint resolution of Congress, July 12, 1862, (amended by Act of July 9, 1918, and Act of July 25, 1963) is awarded in the name of Congress to a person, who, while a member of the armed forces, distinguishes himself or herself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against any 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. ("Congressional Medal of Honor") These standards are very hard to meet and exceptionally dangerous. If a person’s unit was ambushed and they were all thought dead but one of them survived and provided medical attention to the rest they would not receive the Medal of Honor because they did not actually engage the enemy. They will receive the Silver Star Medal. Very few people have received the Medal of Honor during the war in Iraq. After five years of war, just two medals have been handed out and a third is awaiting approval of President George W. Bush. Pentagon officials say the lack of awards and length of time to hand them out is due the fact that much of the military duties in Iraq are about rebuilding rather than fighting (Ephron). In the entire war President Bush has given out 2 Congressional Medal of Honors to 2 dead soldiers which proves my thesis because it shows that these people are willing to die of their own accord. Even if a person does receive this award, they will most likely die. Every 3 out of 4 people who do earn the Medal of Honor die in combat. According to Claudia Montanna “There are only 99 living recipients of the Medal of Honor” (Montanna). In Austin Bogues’ article, “ Medal of Honor Is Awarded To Soldier Who Saved Others," he reported that “President Bush awarded the military's highest honor posthumously on Monday to a 19-year-old soldier who was killed in Iraq after falling on a grenade to save his fellow soldiers”. A soldier gave his life for his unit which proves my thesis because it shows that most people who do receive the award do die in combat. These numbers and facts are not very appealing to the ear, but these people give their lives to protect their country, which they loved. People think of these people as heroes. In a blog exert, Adam Resh said “ They are in a way “jumping on the grenade” for us by going to war for us and leaving their lives behind so we can live ours while they take care of business. So I would say, although they don’t consider themselves heroes, people back here do” (Resh). Adam believes that soldiers are giving their lives so that other people don’t have to which proves my thesis because all of these people are doing this of their own accord. The U.S. need to honor these modern day heroes who have given all that they have to give, for most of them it is their lives. The soldiers were not asked by anybody to go out and risk their lives for their family, their country, or us. These people volunteered to join the Army, the Navy, the Marines, the National Guard, or any other organization that fight to keep this country safe and free. They volunteered to risk their lives for the good of this country and their families. All these people have protected this country and kept the freedom of this country. The previous facts have told a person about what it takes to earn the Medal of Honor, your chance of surviving and earning this award, and the U.S. needs to honor these people. The Congressional Medal of Honor is awarded for gallantry and valiant efforts while fighting this nation's enemy. Not many people who earn this honor survive in fact only 1 out of 4 does. Nevertheless, America needs to thank every single one of them who has earned it and protected this country.  Works Cited Bogues, Austin. “Medal of Honor Is Awarded To Soldier Who Saved Others.” __New York Times__ (June 2008): 15. __MAS Ultra - School Edition__. EBSCO. North High Media Center,Sioux City,IA. 17 Apr. 2009 . “Congressional Medal of Honor Criteria The Medal of Honor.” __The Official site of the Medal of Honor__. 2003. 27 Apr. 2009 . Ephron, Dan. “Where’s the Respect?” __Newsweek__ 151.6 (2008): 46. __MAS Ultra - School Edition__. EBSCO. North High Media Center,Sioux City,IA. 17 Apr. 2009 . “Medal of Honor Statistics.” __Medal of Honor Statistics__. 27 Jan. 2009. U.S. Army Center of Military History. 4 May 2009 . Resh, Adam. __Are Soldiers Heroes?__ Weblog. Ed. Matt Langdon. 16 Feb. 2008. 22 Apr. 2009 .