The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1907-04-18
GIVEN FOR BRAVERY
HOW THE MEDAL or HONOR rs
AWARDED.
Decoration In American Army Core.
spends 10 Victoria Gross Of Eng.
land and Famous Iron Cross
Of Germany.

While the American people love
their flag and boast OF their army be-
ing second TO none. q ls "a strange fact
that few OF them know Of the medal
Of honor, the greatest decoration that
can be bestowed upon a soldier in the
United States army. Every British
subject knows the meaning OF wearing
the Victoria cross: every German
knows what e Is for a soldier In the
k~aiser's army to possess the iron cross,
and while both Of these decorations
represent bravery. they do not neces-
sarily mean as much as does the pos
session Of the medal Of honor.
Regarding the granting Of the medal
Of honor the Army Register says:
In order that the medal Of honor
may be awarded, officers and enlisted
mea must perform In action deeds Of
most distinguished personal bravery
or ~self-sCcrihco above and beyond the
call OF duty. so conspicuous as clearly
10 distinguish them for gallantry and in
trepidity above their comrades, involv-
ing risk OF life or the performance Of
more than ordinarily hazardous serv-
ice. and the omission OF which would
not justly subject the person 10 cen
sure as for shortening or failure la
the performances OF his duty. The rec
ommendation for the medal will be
judged by this standard OF extraordi-
nary merit. and incuntestable proof
of the performance Of the service viii
be exacted.'
A. the present time there are only
60 officers and enlisted men ia our
army who possess the congressional
medal When IL is taken into consid-
Grafton that the maximum strength
% the army Is 66.3S5. Sc shows how
hard 30 Is to win jhe medal 81 honor.
less than one In every 1000 possess
IL. OF those who have been awarded
the decoration. sc are o officers on
The active list. ont Of 3.S69 in the sery-
Ice. There are now on both the active
and retired lists iG0 whose deeds Of
~taliantry have been recognized by the
granting OF the medal The awarding
II these covers a period Of s5 years.
including days Of the civil war. Indian
campaigns. the Spanish-Amcricsu war.
ne Philippine insurrectiun and the
Buxcr trouble iu China. During the
numerous engagements hundreds o.
Gallant deeds. which would have
brought the medal OF bravery in for
sirn armies, went entirely u%nnotced.
.ullke the foreigner. the American sol
Iier Goes not do an act OF bravery sim
Dis 90 try and win the medal Hun
{rrts Of British soldiers have lost their
Ives Ia a vain effort to obtain the Vic
ora cross. Such no doubt was the
Ease when lord Roberts son was
llied IN South Africa IL an EFFORT TO
a ~ q battery.
n % nearly always The young ohcer
Eho performs the gallant deed Out
u ilg officers who have won the med
a for bravery a 81 them were under
re rauk u captain az the time 90 per
ormiug the set of Eaiiantry which wun
hem the decoration. Nearly an Of the
Hhers werc young captains. although
luw and then Is name appears on the
ist showing the pusscEsor was a held
,r stan officer. but In nearly every
Sc he belonged 20 the volunteers and
s,ld a high rank a. a young agc
The youngest officer who va ever
awarded the decoration is now the
senior of1ccr az the army, Lieut. Gen.
Arthur Macarthur. For bravery when
a. was ~ years 0f age be won the GOV
sted medal u was az the time he was
hoy adjutunt OF the Tw,nty-fourth
wisconsin infantry when his regiment
"a charging up Missionary Ridge.
The color sergeant became exhausted
md went &c when Macarthur picked
No HE Gag. ran TO the head 81 the reei.
mcnt and amid "A storm of bullets
witch swept down the hin led his rogi.
ntut up.