Medal of Honor v Presidential Medal of Freedom: How the US's highest honours compare
Achieving the honour of receiving the most prestigious award in your field should always be celebrated.
Former US President Donald Trump, however, has found himself caught up in controversy after comparing the US's top civilian and military honours – describing the civilian award more favourably, and "much better" than the Medal of Honor.
BFBS Forces News has taken a look at what it takes to earn the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest US civilian award, and the Medal of Honor, the US's highest military award for bravery in combat.
Definitions
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the highest award for gallantry displayed during combat and is therefore closely equivalent to the UK's Victoria Cross.
Standards for the Medal of Honor have changed over time.
The Congressional Medal of Honor Society (CMOHS) explains that the MOH "is authorised for any military service member who distinguishes himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty".
"While engaged in an 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 Presidential Medal of Freedom is the US's highest civilian honour and is presented to "individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavours", says the White House.
Recipients of the award are selected by the US president, along with the assistance of the Distinguished Civilian Service Awards Board, an advisory group created in 1957.
While the majority of honorees are US citizens, individuals from other countries are also eligible.
Established
According to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, the Medal of Honor began life specifically as a naval medal, thanks to the efforts of a US congressman.
"It started as a simple idea from Iowa Senator James W Grimes – a bill authorising the production and distribution of 'medals of honor' to be presented to enlisted seamen and marines who 'distinguish themselves by gallantry in action and other seamanlike qualities' during the American Civil War."
By the end of 1861, President Abraham Lincoln had signed a bill that created the first MOH for the US Navy, which at the time could only be awarded to those in the ranks. Naval officers would not be eligible to receive the award until after 1915.
An army version followed in the middle of 1862, although initially it too was only to be awarded to privates and NCOs. Still, US Army officers soon became eligible as well in 1863.
The MOH has also been awarded to US Marines, US Coast Guard and US Air Force (USAF) personnel. When this has happened, the Marines and the Coast Guard have received the naval version of the MOH.
The army version went to those in the air force until this branch got its distinctive medal in 1965. US air forces had, after all, been a part of the US Army until 1947, when the USAF was created.
Established a lot later was the Medal of Freedom. On 6 July 1945, then US president Harry S Truman signed Executive Order 9586, establishing the medal to recognise notable service by civilians during the Second World War.
Then, following Executive Order 11085 (signed 22 February 1963), former US President John F Kennedy, re-established the award as the Presidential Medal of Freedom and in doing so also expanded its scope to include cultural achievements.
The first recipients of the medal were selected by Mr Kennedy, however, but would receive their medals from his successor, Lyndon B Johnson on 6 December 1963.
Kennedy was assassinated the previous month. He was later added to the list and granted the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously.
Recipients rather than winners
The first recipients of the Medal of Honor were those who served in the Civil War.
Jacob Parrott was the first person to be presented with the award, in March 1863, in recognition of acts he had performed in April 1862.
Parrott's action was predated by that of Bernard J D Irwin, who won the MOH for the brave acts he performed in February 1861 – Irwin, however, would not receive his award until 1894.
Robert Williams was the first naval recipient, receiving his medal in May 1863 for his actions the previous year.
John F MacKie was the first US Marine to receive the MOH, for brave conduct in 1862, and Douglas A Munroe became the first Coast Guard member to receive it for actions he performed at Guadalcanal in 1942.
Bernard Fisher became the first US Air Force recipient, getting his award in 1967 for actions performed the previous year during the Vietnam War.
The CMOHS advises that those who have been given the award should be referred to as 'recipients' rather than 'winners' since they do not think of themselves as having 'won' the MOH.
Rather, they see it as something that "was bestowed upon them to carry as a symbol of the sacrifices of all who have served".
Design
The Presidential Medal of Freedom medal is suspended on a blue ribbon, incorporating the colour scheme found on the presidential seal.
Its most visible design element is a white star, upon which is centred a collection of 13 smaller gold stars arranged on a field of blue.
A red pentagon is set behind the white star, and gold eagles bridge the distance between the points of the star.
Engraved on the reverse side of the medal is the recipient's name.
Since its creation during the American Civil War, the Medal of Honor has undergone several design changes.
The US Army and US Navy have always had separate designs for their personnel. Until the US Air Force introduced its design in 1965, all airmen received the Army design. The US Marine Corps and US Coast Guard received the US Navy design.
Since 1944, the MOH has been attached to a light blue-coloured silk neck ribbon. The centre of the ribbon displays 13 white stars in the form of three chevrons.
Each branch has some design differences:
- Army: A gold five-pointed star, each point tipped with trefoils, surrounded by a green laurel wreath and suspended from a gold bar inscribed 'VALOR' surmounted by an eagle. In the centre of the star, Minerva's head is 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.
- Navy: The current Navy Medal of Honor is a five-pointed bronze star, tipped with trefoils containing a crown of laurel and oak. In the centre is Minerva, personifying the US, standing with their left hand resting on fasces and their right hand holding a shield blazoned with the shield from the coat of arms of the US. The medal is suspended from the flukes of an anchor.
- Air Force: Within a wreath of green laurel, a gold five-pointed star, one point down, tipped with trefoils and each point containing a crown of laurel and oak on a green background. Centred on the star, an annulet of 34 stars is a representation of the head of the Statue of Liberty. The star is suspended from a bar inscribed with the word "VALOR" above an adaptation of the thunderbolt from the Air Force coat of arms.
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