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1st Cavalry Division "Conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty" |
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World War II Korean War Vietnam War * Awarded Posthumously Medal of Honor Links
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"Any nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure." President Abraham Lincoln Thirty-eight Troopers of the 1st Cavalry Division have been awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry in three different wars. Twenty-four of the medals were awarded posthumously. Twelve of the recipients are still living. The citations for all of the First Team recipients may be viewed by visiting the links to the left. The Medal of Honor is the highest medal awarded by the United States. The following is an excerpt from Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) that describes the eligibility criteria for the award of the Medal of Honor. The Medal of Honor [Army], section 3741 title 10, United States Code (10 USC 3741), was established by Joint Resolution of Congress, 12 July 1862 (amended by acts 9 July 1918 and 25 July 1963). The Medal of Honor is awarded by the President, in the name of Congress, to a person who, while a member of the Army, distinguishes himself or herself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in action against an 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. The deed performed must have been one of personal bravery or self-sacrifice so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the individual above his or her comrades and must have involved risk of life. Incontestable proof of the performance of the service will be exacted and each recommendation for the award of this decoration will be considered on the standard of extraordinary merit. MEDAL OF HONOR
DESCRIPTION: A gold five pointed star, each point tipped with trefoils, 1 ˝ inches wide, surrounded by a green laurel wreath and suspended from a gold bar inscribed "VALOR", surmounted by an eagle. In the center of the star, Minerva’s head surrounded by the words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA." On each ray of the star is a green oak leaf. On the reverse is a bar engraved "THE CONGRESS TO" with a space for engraving the name of the recipient. RIBBON
RIBBON: The medal is suspended by a neck ribbon, 1 3/8 inches wide, Bluebird 67117. A shield of the same color ribbon with thirteen White (67101) stars, arranged in the form of three chevrons is above the medal. The service ribbon is 1 3/8 inches wide with five White stars in the form of a "M". MEDAL OF HONOR FLAG
DESCRIPTION: A light blue flag with gold fringe bearing thirteen white stars in a configuration as on the Medal of Honor ribbon. SYMBOLISM: The light blue color and white stars are adapted from the Medal of Honor ribbon. The flag commemorates the sacrifice and blood shed for our freedoms and gives emphasis to the Medal of Honor being the highest award for valor by an individual serving in the Armed Forces of the United States. BACKGROUND: Public Law 107-248, Section 8143, legislated the creation of a Medal of Honor Flag for presentation to each person to whom a Medal of Honor is awarded after the date of the enactment, October 23, 2002. A panel of eight members made of representatives from each Service (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard), one Office of Secretary Defense staff, one historian and one representative from the Medal of Honor Society was formed to review and evaluate all designs submitted and make a final recommendation to the Principal Deputy to the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. On 15 December, 2004, the design submitted by Ms. Sarah LeClerc, Illustrator at The Institute of Heraldry was approved.
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| As of: 26 December 2007 |
