The Academy awarded Harold Russell—a World War II veteran who had lost both hands in the war and who, despite not being an actor, portrayed Homer Parrish in The Best Years of Our Lives—an Honorary Academy Award for "bringing hope and courage to his fellow veterans," believing he would not win the Best Supporting Actor award for which he was nominated.
Academy menganugerahi Harold Russell--seorang veteran Perang Dunia II yang kehilangan kedua tangannya dalam perang tersebut dan yang, meskipun bukanlah seorang aktor, memerankan Homer Parrish dalam The Best Years of Our Lives--dengan sebuah Penghargaan Akademi Kehormatan karena "mengirim harapan dan hiburan terhadap para veteran sejawatnya," meyakini ia tidak akan memenangkan penghargaan Aktor Pendukung Terbaik (Oscar) di mana ia dinominasikan.