Evening star., 1948-10-25


Once today. Is book that grew from . very
small beginning under the active sponsorship
OF President Truman 1t started with a simple
inquiry as to just how many men had won
this highest decoration" Thomas w. Hunt
ington, a professional photographer in War De-
partment service as civilian, was asked to
answer the question. He found considerable
research was involved and, in order, to reach
persons who might have data regarding SOL
diers to whom the Medal of Honor had been
given he published a notice requesting the
cooperation Of all individuals interested. That
communication came under the eye of the
President, and he had his military aide, Maj.
Gen. Harry H. Vaughan write to the Public
information Division Of the Army, expressing
the hope that the work would be fully and
Systematically done-and promptly
Gen. Vaughan's communication was re-
ferred to Col James H. Phillips, Deputy Chief
Of the Division, and Maj Donald e. Bovee
Executive ofncer Of the Press Section. They
backed up" Mr.. Huntington during his two
years of labor, digging into musty old records,
newspaper files and Army correspondence
When the necessary facts finally were as
sembled, they were turned over to John F.
Kane, who actually wrote the manuscript
MIR. Truman contributed a foreword, dated
July 10, and reading in part: Frequently, when
decorating war heroes with the Medal of
Honor, tell the recipient that of all nv duties
as President Of the United States the one from
which derive the greatest satisfaction Is the
bestowal Of this highest decoration In our land
in the name Of the Congress. AS a soldier, I
know what the Medal means. As a Senator, I
learned what the intent Of the Congress was in
providing for this recognition of valor But as
President I realize that little or nothing is
generally known Of the history of this great
decoration or Of the men who, during the last
172 years, have displayed the highest type of
heroism in helping to build this Land of Lib
erty and bring our Nation to its present status
OF world leadership. For this reason I ex-
pressed my wish to have this history prepared,
1t is designed to perpetuate In memory the
deeds OF courage and selnessness for which
the Medal has been awarded and to give the
American people a fuller understanding of the
ideal for which the Medal of Honor stands in
the history of our Army and Of our country"
The President stipulated: 1T is to the men-
living and dead-who have won this high honor
during the history OF our Nation that this
book Is dedicated" About half the recipients,
Maj. Bovee has explained, gave their lives in
winning the award. He personally solicited
the Medal Of Honor for valor in World War II
and thus came into contact with many of the
winners and with many relatives of winners
who were posthumously honored.
What the Medal Means
Chapter One of the book defines the Medal
as the highest military award for bravery
that can be given TO any individual in the
United States Of America. This symbol of
bronze, weathed in green enamel and held
by white-starred ribbon of blue silk, be-
slows upon the man who has won 1t q great
privilege-that OF sharing in the company Of
the few heroes who have been honored by
the award Of the same Medal he wears" It
was won in only one way during World Wars
I and II. That was by q deed Of personal
bravery or self-sacrtfice above and beyond the
call OF duty, while member Of the American
armed forces In actual combat with an enemy
Of the Nation"
Recommendations for the Medal Of Honor
are judged with scrupulous care. Army reg
ulations permit Of no margin Of doubt or
error. The deed of the winner must be proved
by incontestable evidence Of at least two eye
witnesses: 1t must be so outstanding that It
clearly distinguishes his gallantry beyond the
call Of duty from lesser forms Of bravery; 1t
must involve the risk of his life; and 1t must
be the type Of deed which, If he had not done
it, would not subject him to any justified
criticism"
The only cash value" represented by the
Medal is 81 month extra pay for enlisted men
and . pension Of $120 year for retired vet
Grams who have reached the age of IS years.
Under the heading How the Medal Came
Into Being" the book sets forth: The Medal
Of Honor was not the idea Of any one Aneri-
sH~A - SlA ~wkfA
nowered into institutions and practices in
our Nation, 1t was the result Of group thought
and action. While several earnest and ener-
getic men had more to do with executing the
idea than others, the fact remains that the
original concept of the Medal was part and
parcel Of the times which produced it. It was
an answer to an historical need, and it sprans
forth when that need arose"
During the War between the States. people
realized that when all other defenses Of
Government fail, its survival depends upon
the lengths of personal bravery to which men
in uniform are willing to 60 to save 1t from
destruction" This was the thought which
prompted Senator James w. Grimes Of Iowa,
chairman Of the Senate Naval Committee, to
sintroduce bill creating Naval Medal. Passed
by both Houses, 1t was approved by President
Abraham Lincoln on December 81, 1861. Linn
tied to enlisted men OF the Navy, it established
"the first decoration formally authorized by the
American Government to be worn as . badge
Of honor" Action on the Army Medal was
started two months later, when, on February
II, 1862, Senator Henry Wilson Of Massa-
chusetts introduced a Senate resolution pro-
viding for presentation OF medals Of honor" to
enlisted men Of the Army and Voluntary Forces
who Shall most distinguish themselves by
their gallantry in action and other soldier-like
qualities" Lincoln's approval was dated July
IL. 1862 The Act was amended on March 3,
1858, extending its provisions to include ofacers
as well Is enlisted men and making the pro-
visions retroactive to the beginning OF the
Civil War,
James Pollock, Director Of the Mint at Phila-
delphia, furnished the design for the Navy
Medal and later the design for the Army
Medal. The only difference between the two