The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1918-08-01
FOR REAL HEROES
Uncle Sans Great Military Prize
the Medal OF Honor.
NOT WON BY MERE BRAVERY.
Il Takes a Deed OF Almost Superhu-
man Fearlessness TO GAIN This Gov
eted Badge, the Hardest 10 Win OF
All National War Decorations.


man Fearlessness TO GAIN This Gov
eted Badge, the Hardest 10 Win OF
All National War Decorations
Hardest TO gain. fewest in numbers.
the least known Of the military decora.
tiOu OF honor> of the world. sums up
the medal OF honor OF the United States
the bit of ribbon and the piece OF metal
that are 50 eagerly coveted and highly
priced by the soldiers and sailors of
Uncle Sam.
When You see man with the incon
spicuOus bronze star pinned 10 his coat
10y "a blue ribbon on which are thirteen
white stars you may knew thar he has
done deed that has placed his life in
such jeopardy that escape from it was
nearly Il miracle.
The medal OF honor was first author
lied by congress in 1862 and was for
noncommiSSioned officers and priyates
only But III the following wear the
law was changed to extend the award
10 commissioned officer. also. In all
about 1900 of the medals IRE pre-
sented for services i'm the war between
the states. aud it is a remarkable fact
that 81 per cent Of them went TO pri
vate soldiers.
In its present form the medal OF
honor is tive 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 laurel wreath III green enamel
encircles the whole and this wreath is
SurmOunted by "Nalor. which IN turn
is surmounted by an engie that at
taches the decoration TO its ribbon.
Accompanying this medal there is Il
badge or lapel hutton 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 hoWknot
1t was not until 1897 that rngula-
tions definitely enuuciating the condi
tionS under which the medal should he
awarded were promu lgated. They en-
| phaSi2ed the difficulty Of winning the
| decoration and the great honor attach.
| Ing to It's possession
Medals of honor authorized by the
act of congress approved katch 3,
lSii3. say the regulations, 'ure award
| eth to officers aud enlisted men In the
| name of congress for particular deeds
Of most distinguished gaiautry in az
| tton. In order that the congressional
medal OF honor may he deserved. serv-
| ice must have been performed i ac-
| ton of such conspicuous character as
to distinguish clearly the man for ga
| lantry and itrepiditY 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 ex-
| traordmary merit, and iucontestibe
| proof OF performance of the service
| will he 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 ore the
characteristics Of every true soldier
| such a 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 ANA galan
try have been i,roA cd In battle.
In other words tie medal Of honor
is "A medal for ~uperheroes for men
who not only risk their lives IN some
extraordinary way. but Who display
such intelligence in the action that it
conduct in the line of duty Executive
orders prescribe as follows the way
in which the medal may be gained
The recommendation must he pre-.
Sentcd by some one other chan the
proposed recipient. one who IS person
ally familiar with all the facts and
circumstances claimed as iustifying the
award, but the application may be
made by the one claiming to have
earned it. in which ease it will he in
the form Of a deposition reciting a
narrative description of the distinguish
ed service performed Rccommeuda
tionS 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 inves
tigation that removes every possibility
of fraud AtIdayits from witnesses
are required, and the system safeguard
ing the distinction is hcdged about
with imnumerable restrictions 1t may
be taken for granted that man Wht
secures one of the coveted medals ha,
> earned it with iuterest-NeW York Sun
) Akron and Rubber.