In 1861, Iowa Senator James Grimes proposed a medal to honor Navy personnel for bravery. President Lincoln signed the Medal of Honor into law Dec. 21, 1861. The following summer, another bill was signed into law providing one for the Army. Recipients were the ones who "most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action and other soldier-like qualities."
Since then, some 40 million have served the country and fewer than 3,500 have received the nation's highest honor.
However, the criteria to win one has been drastically changed since the Civil War and they are very difficult to obtain.
Two living recipients received theirs this year.
During the Civil War, the Medal of Honor was the only medal awarded. Occasionally, whole unites received them. In 1897, new standards were enacted requiring eye-witness testimony.
Shortly before the US entered World War I, Gen. Nelson Miles, himself a Civil War recipient, led an inquiry into that into those who had gotten it during the Civil War and rescinded 910 of them.
More to Come.
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