The Medal of Honor Archive
Every medal tells a story of uncommon valor
Explore all 3,555 Medals of Honor awarded since 1863 — the official citations, the lives behind them, and the places where America’s bravest rest.
Most recent awards
Latest Medals of Honor
Browse by conflict
From the Civil War to today
Stories of valor
Featured recipients
Explore the archive
More ways to browse
U.S. Army
2,426 Medals of Honor · 18% posthumous
Service branchU.S. Navy
750 Medals of Honor · 7% posthumous
Service branchU.S. Marine Corps
307 Medals of Honor · 43% posthumous
Service branchU.S. Air Force & Army Air Forces
62 Medals of Honor · 60% posthumous
Service branchU.S. Coast Guard
1 Medals of Honor · 100% posthumous
HometownsRecipients by state
Where recipients were born and the states their medals are credited to.
Born abroad
754 recipients were born in 40 other countries — Ireland and Germany above all.
Final resting placesCemeteries
412 recipients rest at Arlington National Cemetery. Find graves near you.
CalendarOn this day
A day-by-day calendar of Medal of Honor actions — every date of the year.
Battles
87 battles — Gettysburg to Iwo Jima — with results, maps and the recipients who fought there.
What they didActs of valor
Recipients who covered grenades, captured flags, rescued comrades or fought on while wounded.
Beyond the Medal of HonorOther American heroes
Notable recipients of the Navy Cross, Silver Star, Purple Heart and more.
Guides
Understand the medal
What Is the Medal of Honor? History, Design and Criteria
How America’s highest military decoration began in the Civil War, what it takes to earn it, the three designs, and why it is called the “Congressional” Medal of Honor.
The processHow the Medal of Honor Is Awarded: Nomination to White House Ceremony
The step-by-step path of a Medal of Honor recommendation, the legal time limits, how Congress waives them, and why so many medals are awarded decades late.
FAQMedal of Honor FAQ: Answers to the Most Common Questions
How many recipients are there, who was the first, has a woman received it, do generals salute recipients? Straight answers backed by our archive.
BenefitsMedal of Honor Benefits and Privileges
The special pension, burial honors, travel, commissary and academy privileges that come with the Medal of Honor — and where to check current details.
GenealogyHow to Research a Military Ancestor and Find Their Grave
A practical guide to service records, pension files, unit histories, newspapers and gravesite locators — with the free sources genealogists use most.
CalendarMilitary Holidays and Observances Calendar
Exact dates for Medal of Honor Day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, service birthdays and other days to honor American troops — this year and next.
Honoring American troops since 2004
Honor them with more than words
This site began in 2004 as a grassroots tribute to service members. Today it is an open archive of America’s highest award for valor — and a starting point for supporting the troops, veterans and military families who serve now.
Free, confidential support 24/7 for veterans, service members and their families. Dial 988 then press 1, Text 838255, or chat online.