Return to Naval Historical Center
home page. 
Return to Frequently Asked Questions
page.
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
901 M STREET SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
The Navy's Medal of Honor
The Navy and Marine Corps' Medal of Honor is our country's oldest
continuously awarded decoration, even though its appearance and award criteria
has changed since it was created for enlisted men by Secretary of the Navy
Gideon Welles on 16 December 1861. Legislation in 1915 made naval officers
eligible for the award.
Although originally awarded for both combat and non-combat heroism,
the Medal of Honor today is presented for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty.
The design of our highest military decoration is rooted in the War Between
the States. Crafted by the artist Christian Schuller, the central motif
is an allegory in which Columbia, in the form of the goddess Minerva uses
the shield of the republic to put down the figure of discord, plainly a
reference to the unfolding split in our nation. The design is encircled
by 38 stars, representing the states of the Union at the time of the outbreak
of the Civil War.
The illustration shows the evolution of the medal's design since 1861.
In the top row, left, is the original 1861 design, which largely mirrors
the Army design but was created six months earlier. In the top center and
right is the ribbon design that debuted in the 1896 and was awarded from
the Spanish-American War until World War I. At lower left is the "Tiffany
Cross" Medal of Honor created for combat heroism award. At lower right
is the medal design that was instituted in 1942 and, with minor modification,
serves to this day. The 1942 changes also streamlined award criteria and
made the Medal of Honor an award for combat heroism only.
The names, ranks, place of action and dates for all Navy and Marine
Corps recipients are listed below, divided by official periods of conflict:
Civil War 1861-65
Interim 1866-71
Korea 1871
Interim 1871-98
Spanish-American
Philippine Insurrection
Boxer Rebellion
Interim 1901-1910
Philippine Outlaws 1911
Haiti 1915
Mexico (Vera Cruz)
Dominican Campaign 1916
World War I
Interim 1915-1916
2nd Haiti Camp. 1919-20
2nd Nicaraguan Camp.
Interim 1920-1940
World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
The full text of all citations of the Medal of Honor are available
for viewing and searching on the home page of the Army's
Center of Military History. You will need to use the "back"
button of your web bowser to return to the Navy Historical Center home page.
14 April 1997