List of living Medal of Honor recipients

There are currently 69 living recipients of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.[1] The Medal of Honor is bestowed upon any member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself "conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States."[2]

Medal of Honor
All recipients
American Civil War
By surname
By battle
Others
Other wars and conflicts
  • Korean War
  • Vietnam War
  • Post-Vietnam
  • Non-combat
    		•
    By ethnic group
    By other criteria
    President Barack Obama meets with recipients at the National Medal of Honor Day ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns on March 25, 2009

    Of the 69 living recipients, two earned their Medals of Honor in World War II, four in the Korean War, 48 in the Vietnam War, 13 in the War in Afghanistan, one in the War in Iraq and one in Operation Inherent Resolve. One earned his medal while serving in the U.S. Air Force, 48 in the U.S. Army, 12 in the U.S. Marine Corps, and eight in the U.S. Navy. The oldest recipient is Charles H. Coolidge, aged 99, whereas the youngest is Kyle Carpenter, aged 31. Three medal holders are still on active duty in the U.S. military, soldiers William D. Swenson, Thomas Payne and Matthew O. Williams of the U.S. Army. Among the recipients are former U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey and three retired generals: Patrick Henry Brady and Robert F. Foley of the Army and James E. Livingston of the Marine Corps.

    Medal of Honor

    The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. The recipient must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their own life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an enemy of the United States. Due to the nature of this medal, it is commonly presented posthumously.[3]

    World War II
    Main article: List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II
    See also: List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Attack on Pearl Harbor
    See also: List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Battle of Iwo Jima

    During World War II, 464 United States military personnel received the Medal of Honor, 266 (57.3%) of them posthumously. A total of 42 (9.1%) were presented for action in just two battles – 15 for actions during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and 27 for actions during the Battle of Iwo Jima. A total of 21 (4.5%) were received by members of the all-Japanese American 100th Infantry Battalion of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, for actions in numerous battles across six different campaigns.[4] Additionally, the only Medal of Honor ever presented to a member of the United States Coast Guard was received for actions during this war.[5]

    Image Name Branch Birth date and age Reference
    Charles H. Coolidge Army (1921-08-04) August 4, 1921 [6]
    Hershel W. Williams Marine Corps (1923-10-02) October 2, 1923 [7]

    Korean War
    Main article: List of Korean War Medal of Honor recipients

    During the Korean War, 136 Medals of Honor were presented for bravery in action, 98 (72.1%) of them posthumously. As of 2020, four recipients were still living.[5]

    Image Name Branch Birth date and age Reference
    Duane E. Dewey Marine Corps (1931-11-16) November 16, 1931 [8]
    Hiroshi H. Miyamura Army (1925-10-06) October 6, 1925 [9]
    Robert E. Simanek Marine Corps (1930-04-26) April 26, 1930 [10]
    Ernest E. West Army (1931-09-02) September 2, 1931 [7]

    Vietnam War
    Main article: List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War

    During the Vietnam War and in the following twelve months, 235 Medals of Honor were awarded and since 1978 a further 26 awards have been presented. Of the total of 261 awards, 174 were to the US Army, 15 to the US Navy, 58 to the USMC and 14 to the USAF.[11]

    Image Name Branch Birth date and age Reference
    John Baca Army (1949-01-10) January 10, 1949 [12]
    Donald E. Ballard Navy (1945-12-05) December 5, 1945 [13]
    Harvey C. Barnum, Jr. Marine Corps (1940-07-21) July 21, 1940 [14]
    Gary B. Beikirch Army (1947-08-29) August 29, 1947 [15]
    Patrick Henry Brady Army (1936-10-01) October 1, 1936 [16]
    Paul Bucha Army (1943-08-01) August 1, 1943 [17]
    John Canley Marine Corps (1938-02-01) February 1, 1938
    Bruce P. Crandall Army (1933-02-17) February 17, 1933 [14]
    Sammy L. Davis Army (1946-11-01) November 1, 1946 [18]
    Drew Dennis Dix Army (1944-12-14) December 14, 1944 [9]
    Roger Donlon Army (1934-01-30) January 30, 1934 [19]
    Frederick Edgar Ferguson Army (1939-08-18) August 18, 1939 [20]
    Michael John Fitzmaurice Army (1950-03-09) March 9, 1950 [21]
    James P. Fleming Air Force (1943-03-12) March 12, 1943 [16]
    Robert F. Foley Army (1941-05-30) May 30, 1941
    Harold A. Fritz Army (1944-02-21) February 21, 1944 [18]
    Charles C. Hagemeister Army (1946-08-21) August 21, 1946 [22]
    Frank A. Herda Army (1947-09-13) September 13, 1947
    Robert R. Ingram Navy (1945-01-20) January 20, 1945 [23]
    Jack H. Jacobs Army (1945-08-02) August 2, 1945 [24]
    Don J. Jenkins Army (1948-04-18) April 18, 1948 [7]
    Thomas G. Kelley Navy (1939-05-13) May 13, 1939 [25]
    Allan J. Kellogg Marine Corps (1943-10-01) October 1, 1943 [26]
    Bob Kerrey Navy (1943-08-27) August 27, 1943 [9]
    Peter C. Lemon Army (1950-06-05) June 5, 1950 [27]
    Gary L. Littrell Army (1944-10-26) October 26, 1944 [28]
    James E. Livingston Marine Corps (1940-01-12) January 12, 1940 [29]
    Allen James Lynch Army (1945-10-28) October 28, 1945 [18]
    Walter Joseph Marm, Jr. Army (1941-11-20) November 20, 1941 [30]
    James C. McCloughan Army (1946-04-30) April 30, 1946 [31]
    Robert J. Modrzejewski Marine Corps (1934-07-03) July 3, 1934 [32]
    Melvin Morris Army (1942-01-07) January 7, 1942 [33]
    Thomas R. Norris Navy (1944-01-14) January 14, 1944 [16]
    Robert Emmett O'Malley Marine Corps (1943-06-03) June 3, 1943 [10]
    Robert Martin Patterson Army (1948-04-16) April 16, 1948 [34]
    Alfred V. Rascon Army (1945-09-10) September 10, 1945 [9]
    Ronald E. Ray Army (1941-12-07) December 7, 1941 [35]
    Gordon Ray Roberts Army (1950-06-14) June 14, 1950
    Jose Rodela Army (1937-06-15) June 15, 1937 [36]
    Gary M. Rose Army (1947-10-17) October 17, 1947 [37]
    Clarence Sasser Army (1947-09-12) September 12, 1947 [38]
    James M. Sprayberry Army (1947-04-24) April 24, 1947 [39]
    Kenneth E. Stumpf Army (1944-09-28) September 28, 1944 [40]
    James Allen Taylor Army (1937-12-31) December 31, 1937 [41]
    Brian Thacker Army (1945-04-25) April 25, 1945 [10]
    Michael E. Thornton Navy (1949-03-23) March 23, 1949 [9]
    Jay R. Vargas Marine Corps (1938-07-29) July 29, 1938 [32] [42]
    Gary Wetzel Army (1947-09-29) September 29, 1947 [43]

    War in Afghanistan
    Main article: List of post-Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipients

    The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001 and was the beginning of the Global War on Terrorism. The war was launched by the United States, the United Kingdom, and NATO allies in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks. The stated purpose of the invasion was to capture Osama bin Laden, destroy al-Qaeda, and remove the Taliban regime which had provided support and safe harbor to al-Qaeda.[44] Since 2001, 18 U.S. servicemen have received the Medal of Honor for actions in Afghanistan, four of them posthumously.

    Image Name Branch Birth date and age Reference
    Edward Byers Navy (1979-08-04) August 4, 1979
    Kyle Carpenter Marine Corps (1989-10-17) October 17, 1989
    Ty Carter Army (1980-01-25) January 25, 1980 [45]
    Salvatore Giunta Army (1985-01-21) January 21, 1985 [46]
    Florent Groberg Army (1983-05-08) May 8, 1983 [47]
    Dakota Meyer Marine Corps (1988-06-26) June 26, 1988 [48]
    Leroy Petry Army (1979-07-29) July 29, 1979 [49]
    Ryan M. Pitts Army (1985-10-01) October 1, 1985 [50]
    Clinton Romesha Army (1981-08-17) August 17, 1981 [51]
    Britt K. Slabinski Navy (1969-12-01) December 1, 1969 [52]
    William D. Swenson Army (1978-11-02) November 2, 1978 [53]
    Kyle J. White Army (1987-03-27) March 27, 1987 [54]
    Matthew O. Williams Army (1981-10-03) October 3, 1981 [55]

    Iraq War
    Main article: List of post-Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipients

    Six Iraq War veterans have received the Medal of Honor, five of them posthumously.

    Image Name Branch Birth date and age Reference
    David Bellavia Army (1975-11-10) November 10, 1975 [56][57]

    Operation Inherent Resolve
    Main article: List of post-Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipients

    One soldier received the Medal of Honor during the fight against ISIL.

    Image Name Branch Birth date and age Reference
    Thomas Payne Army (1984-04-02) April 2, 1984 [58][59]

    Recently deceased

    Recipients who died within the last twelve months are listed below.[60]

    Image Name Branch Conflict Birth date Death date Place of death Ref.
    Bennie Adkins Army Vietnam War February 1, 1934 April 17, 2020 Opelika, Alabama [61]
    Ronald J. Shurer Army War in Afghanistan December 7, 1978 May 14, 2020 Washington, D.C. [62]
    Ronald E. Rosser Army Korean War October 24, 1929 August 26, 2020 Bumpus Mills, Tennessee [63]

    References
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