Today, however, there are three types of Medals of Honor because the Air Force was created in 1947 as a separate branch of service. Although it was created for the Civil War, Congress made the Medal of Honor a permanent decoration in 1863.Īs previously mentioned, the Navy and Army created their Medals of Honor during the Civil War. The medal would be bestowed to petty officers, seamen, landsmen and Marines who distinguished themselves by their gallantry in war.Ībout seven months later in 1862, the Army got their own version of the valor award, but the Army called it the Medal of Honor and in 1862 it was approved and signed into law to be awarded to noncommissioned officers and privates who distinguish themselves by gallantry in action. Winfield Scott, however, the Navy recognized the value of recognizing valor in battle and a public resolution was passed containing a provision for the Navy Medal of Valor which President Abraham Lincoln signed into law on Dec. But the medal almost did not come to fruition, rejected in the early years of the Civil War by Army Gen. The medal was first authorized in 1861 for sailors and Marines, and then in 1862, soldiers were authorized to receive it. 12, 2022, there have been 3,530 medals awarded in the medal’s 160-year existence. It is presented by the president of the United States in the name of Congress. The Medal of Honor is the highest decoration awarded by the United States to members of the armed forces for combat valor.