Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-11
Our Unknown "V. c."


Our Unknown "V. c."
The Congressional Medal of Honor. which
corresponds fairly closely with the Victoria
Cross. is not so we'll known to the American
public as it ought to be. This is not for any
lack of heroes who have received the decora-
ton. Our history has not been one of many
wars, but 1t is not lacking in deeds of valor
from the days of our own Revolution down
to the time of the insurrection of the Filipi-
nos Without reference to the news from
the European battlefelds, it can be truly said
that the Victoria Cross is better known to
Americans than the Congressional Medal of
Honor. The Iron Cross OF Prussia was not
so we'll known until this present war. Some
writer's on military and naval subjects are
attempting to popularize the title that prop
erly goes with the American decoration and
are placing the letters M H." after the
names of its recipients-as. Major General
Henry shippen Huidekoper. NJ. H." Admiral
George Dewey. M. H." Lieutenant General
Nelson A. Miles, NJ. H., Major General Leon
ard Wood, NJ. H." Colonel Henry A. du Pont,
NJ H." British name is sometimes followed
by the letters "V. c.. d. C, NJ, ID. s. o." The
meaning of "V, c." is known all over the
world The Distinguished Service Order is
scarcely less familiar The Distinguished
conduct Medal was won in a single week
by 200 British soldiers in the campaigns in
France Flanders and the Dardanelles
The Congressional Medal of Honor is usual
ly presented in manner OF extreme simplc-
ity' Seldom is the presentation an occasion
OF ceremony. Sometimes the medal comes Ly
mall and the postman hands il in with the
remark, "A parcel for you" In. striking con-
trast is the Importance attached to similar
rewards in European countries You have
seen In the EVENING LEDGER pictures of
President Poincare pinning a medal on the
breast OF some brave soldier who had per
formed an act Of exceptional daring or value,
and OF General Gallieni comforting a similar
decoration on one OF his mer-always a cere-
mony, with the state represented by its high
est personages, except in those cases where
an officer gallops up to a man in the very
thick Of battle and pins the decoration on his
breast then and there.
Submarine Crews
The orders instituted in Europe to serve
as rewards for exceptional service are not
only numerous but of numerous descriptions.
some OF them applying to civil as well as
military service. and many of them consist
ing OF several grades A few years before
the present war the regulations prescrib
ing the acts for which the decoration of
the Russian order of st. George should be
conferred were so amended that under the
new provisions the entire crew of a torpedo
or submarine vessel sinking an enemys shin
became entitled to the ribbon. The order
was instituted by Catherine the Great some
OF the European orders were Instituted as
far back as the time of the CFusades, ana the
use OF the cross In the badges generally
dates from that period.
The first medal of honor issued by the
American Government was awarded to the
illustrious washington. 1t was not. of
course. the Federal. but the Continental
Congress. The resolution WAS passed March
"a. 177s. In session at philadelphia ana Il was
ordered that the medal should be OF gold
General Washington himself understood the
value OF personal decoration for gallantry or
meritorious conduct. and on August 7. l7s2.
isaued An order from his headquarters AT
keshpfg, reading N parf as follows, @.rhe
GenefaI. ever desiHous 10 cherish A eirtuo.s
ambition n - soldiers as vel as 10 fostar
-.