The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1917-08-21
FOR REAL HEROES.
Uncle Sans Great Military Prize,
the Medal of Honor.
NOT WON BY MERE BRAVERY.


h Takes Deed of Almost Superhu.
man Fearlessness to Gain This Cow
eted Badge, the Hardest to Win of
All National War Decorations.
Hardest to gain, fewest in numbers.
the least known Of the military decora-
ton Of honors of the world" sums up
the medal of honor Of the United States.
the bit Of ribbon and the piece Of metal
that are SO eagerly coveted and highly
priced by the soldiers and sailors Of
Uncle Sam.
h,When you see man with the incon-
spicuous bronze star pinned to his coat
by blue ribbon on which are thirteen
white stars you may know that he has
done deed that has placed his life In
such jeopardy that escape from it was
nearly miracle.
: The medal Of honor was first author
tied by congress I'm 1862 and was for
noncommissioned officers and privates
only. But in the following year the
law was changed to extend the award
to commissioned officers also. In all
about 1,5O0 of the medals were pre-
scented for services in the war between
the states, and it is remarkable fact
that 90 per cent of them went to pri-
vate soldiers. -
= In its present form the medal OF
honor is a five pointed star with a
medallion in the center bearing the
head Of Minerva and around it unit
ed States of America" in relief. On
each ray of the star is an oak leaf, and
the points themselves are trefoil shap-
ed. A laurel wreath in green enamel
encircles the whole, and this wreath is
surmounted by "Valor," which in turn
Is surmounted by an eagle that at
taches the decoration to it's ribbon.
Accompanying this medal there is a
badge, or lapel button, hexagonal and
made Of blue silk with the thirteen
original stars In white. The army
medal is represented by a small blue
button studded with stars, while the
navy medal is represented by a small
red, white and blue bowknot.
1t was not until 1897 that regula-
lions definitely enunciating the condi-
lions under which the medal should be
awarded were promulgated. They en-
phasfzed the difficulty of winning the
decoration and the great honor attach
ing to Its possession.
Medals of honor authorized by the
act Of congress approved March 8.
1885," say the regulations. ARE award
ed to officers and enlisted men In the
name OF congress for particular deeds
OF most distinguished gallantry I'm &C
uon. In order that the congressional
medal Of honor may be deserved, serv-
ice must have been performed In &C.
tton OF such conspicuous character as
to distinguish clearly the man for gal
Antry and intrepidity above his COM
rades, service that involved extreme
jeopardy Of life or the performance
OF extraordinarily hazardous duty.
Recommendations for the decoration
will be judged by this standard of e1-
traordinary merit, and incontestible
proof Of performance Of the service
viii be exacted.
Soldiers Of the Union have ever
displayed bravery in battle, else vic
tories could not have been gained. But
as courage and self sacrifice are the
characteristics Of every true soldier,
such a badge Of distinction as the con-
gressional medal Is not to be expected
rs the reward Of conduct that does not
clearly distinguish the soldier above
other men whose bravery aud gallan-
try have been proved In battle"
In other words, the medal of honor
= q medal for superheroes, for men
who not only risk their lives IN some
extraordinary way, but who display
such intelligence In the action that 1t
stands opt as something apart from
conduct ~ the line Of duty. Executive
orders prescribe as follows the way
In which the medal may be gained:
The recommendations must be pre-
sented by some one other than the
proposed recipient, one who is person.
ally familiar with all the facts and
circumstances claimed as justifying the
award, but the application may be
made by the one claiming to have
earned 1t, in which case 1t will be In
the form Of a deposition reciting q
narrative description Of the distinguish
ed service performed. Recommends
lions will be made by the commanding
officer at the time Of the action or by
q soldier or an officer having personal
cognizance Of the act for which the
badge Of honor Is claimed.
The regulations also provide for ex-
haustive examination of the circum-
stances In each case and for an inves-
tdgation that removes every possibility
Of fraud. Afidavits from witnesses
are required, and the system safeguard
ing the distinction is hedged. about
with 1nnumerable restrictions.I 1t may
b taken for granted that a man whO
SECURES one Of the coveted medals has
earned It with Interestingly York Sun.