The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1917-11-29
FOR REAL HEROES
Uncle Sans Great Military Prize,
the Medal of Honor.
NOT WON BY MERE BRAVERY.

It Takes a Deed Of Almost Superhu-
man FearIessness 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.
When you see a 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
lied by congress in 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 1,5OO of the medals were pre-
sented for services in the war between
the states, and it is remarkable fact
that 96 per cent Of them went to pri-
vate soldiers
In its present form the medal of
honor Is a five pointed star with
medallion in the center bearing the
head of Minerva and around it unit
n6 Of In, toe a.,
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 ali eagle that at
taches the decoration to it's ribbon.
Accompanying this medal there is
badge, or lapel button, hexagonal and
made of blue silk with the thirteen
original stars in white. The army
medal is represented by small blue
button studded with stars, while the
navy medal is represented by small
red, white and blue bOwknot.
1t was not until 1897 that regula-
tons definitely enunciating the condi-
lions under which the medal should be
awarded were promulgated They en-
phasized 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,
1863" say the regulations, ARE award
ed to officers and enlisted men in the
name of congress for particular deeds
of most distinguished gallantry in &C
ton. In order that the congressional
medal of honor may be deserved, serv-
ice must have been performed in ac-
ton Of such conspicuous character as
to distinguish clearly the man for gal
lantry and intrepidity above his COM
rades, service that involved extreme
jeopardy of life or the performance
Recommendations FOR the decoration
will be judged by this standard of eX-
traOrdinary merit and incOntestible
proof Of performance of the service
will 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 badge of distinction as the con-
greSSiOnal medal is not to be expected
as the reward of conduct that does not
clearly distinguish the soldier above
other men whose bravery and gallan-
try have been proved in battle"
In other words, the medal of honor
is a medal for superherOes, for men
who not only risk their lives in some
extraordinary way, but who display
such intelligence in the action that it
stands out as something apart from
conduct in 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 it, in which case it will be in
the form of deposition reciting
narrative description of the distinguish
ed service performed. Recommends
tons will be>made by the commanding
officer at the time of the action or by
a 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 inyes-
tigatiOn that removes every possibility
of fraud. Affidavits from witnesses
are required, and the system safeguard
ing the distinction is hedged about
with innumerable restrictions. 1t may
be taken for granted that man who
secures one of the coveted medals has,
earned it with terest-New York Sun.
Akron and Rubber.
There are thirty or more rubber fac
tories in and around Akron Three of