The Men

The Men Who Wear The Medal of Honor

Of the more than 3,449 heroes and one heroine (Civil War surgeon Mary Walker, whose Medal was rescinded and reinstated) who have received the Medal of Honor since the American Civil War (including 19 double-recipients from the Indian Wars through World War I), only 87 recipients remain with us today.

The oldest living recipient, Lt. John W. Finn, U.S. Navy (Ret.), is 100, and received the Medal for his actions during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The youngest living recipient, Col. Gordon Ray Roberts, U.S. Army, is 59 and still serving on active duty. He received the Medal for his actions during the Vietnam War.

Of the 464 men who received the Medal for actions during World War II, only 20 remain of the overall 91 living recipients. Of the 133 recipients from the Korean War, only 13 remain. Of the 246 recipients from the Vietnam War, only 58 remain. Eight have received the award for actions since the Vietnam War, all posthumously.

The Medal of Honor Society

Often billed as the nation’s most exclusive fraternity, “The Congressional Medal of Honor Society” is the official organization of the living recipients of the Medal of Honor. When the Society’s membership drops to 25 living recipients, the Society will be dissolved.

The Men Featured

Five of the 91 living recipients of the Medal of Honor are featured on this website, each of whom is accredited to South Carolina.