Who Buys Retirement Shadow Boxes Units or Families
Retirement shadow boxes are typically purchased by the unit for military personnel or the family for corporate retirees. Learn who handles the costs.
The Medal of Honor Archive
Every medal tells a story of uncommon valor
Explore all 3,555 Medals of Honor awarded since 1863 — the official citations, the lives behind them, and the places where America’s bravest rest.
3,555Medals of Honor
669awarded posthumously
65living recipients
754born outside the U.S.
18double recipients
Most recent awards
Latest Medals of Honor
2026James Capers Jr. · Vietnam War, presented June 18, 2026
2026Nicholas Dockery · Afghanistan, presented June 18, 2026
2026John W. Ripley · Vietnam War, presented June 18, 2026
2026Roderick W. "Roddie" Edmonds · World War II, presented March 2, 2026
2026Michael Harold Ollis · Afghanistan, presented March 2, 2026
Browse by conflict
From the Civil War to today
Stories of valor
Featured recipients
Explore the archive
More ways to browse
Service branch
U.S. Army
2,426 Medals of Honor · 18% posthumous
Service branchU.S. Navy
750 Medals of Honor · 7% posthumous
Service branchU.S. Marine Corps
307 Medals of Honor · 43% posthumous
Service branchU.S. Air Force & Army Air Forces
62 Medals of Honor · 60% posthumous
Service branchU.S. Coast Guard
1 Medals of Honor · 100% posthumous
HometownsRecipients by state
Where recipients were born and the states their medals are credited to.
Immigrant heroes
Born abroad
754 recipients were born in 40 other countries — Ireland and Germany above all.
Final resting placesCemeteries
412 recipients rest at Arlington National Cemetery. Find graves near you.
CalendarOn this day
A day-by-day calendar of Medal of Honor actions — every date of the year.
Battles & victories
Battles
87 battles — Gettysburg to Iwo Jima — with results, maps and the recipients who fought there.
What they didActs of valor
Recipients who covered grenades, captured flags, rescued comrades or fought on while wounded.
Beyond the Medal of HonorOther American heroes
Notable recipients of the Navy Cross, Silver Star, Purple Heart and more.
Guides
Understand the medal
The basics
What Is the Medal of Honor? History, Design and Criteria
How America’s highest military decoration began in the Civil War, what it takes to earn it, the three designs, and why it is called the “Congressional” Medal of Honor.
The processHow the Medal of Honor Is Awarded: Nomination to White House Ceremony
The step-by-step path of a Medal of Honor recommendation, the legal time limits, how Congress waives them, and why so many medals are awarded decades late.
FAQMedal of Honor FAQ: Answers to the Most Common Questions
How many recipients are there, who was the first, has a woman received it, do generals salute recipients? Straight answers backed by our archive.
BenefitsMedal of Honor Benefits and Privileges
The special pension, burial honors, travel, commissary and academy privileges that come with the Medal of Honor — and where to check current details.
GenealogyHow to Research a Military Ancestor and Find Their Grave
A practical guide to service records, pension files, unit histories, newspapers and gravesite locators — with the free sources genealogists use most.
CalendarMilitary Holidays and Observances Calendar
Exact dates for Medal of Honor Day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, service birthdays and other days to honor American troops — this year and next.
From the blog
Latest articles
Best Personalized Retirement Gifts by Years of Service
Selecting personalized retirement gifts requires balancing tenure with personal interests. Focus on items that honor 20-plus years of dedicated service.
Is an Engraved Watch a Good Military Retirement Gift
An engraved watch is a premier military retirement gift because it provides lasting utility. Choose a durable movement to match a multi-decade career.
Retirement Gifts for Military Spouses Honoring Their Service
Choosing a retirement gift for a military spouse requires balancing personal identity with shared sacrifice. Focus on lasting, quality items over trinkets.
Retirement Gifts for Service Members Choosing the Right Keepsake
Select a retirement gift that honors a military career by focusing on legacy, utility, or shared memories rather than standard military-themed trinkets.
How to Order a Flag Flown Over the US Capitol for Retirement
Request a flag flown over the US Capitol for a retirement ceremony by contacting your congressional representative. Learn the process and timeline here.
Honoring American troops since 2004
Honor them with more than words
This site began in 2004 as a grassroots tribute to service members. Today it is an open archive of America’s highest award for valor — and a starting point for supporting the troops, veterans and military families who serve now.
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Veterans Crisis Line
Free, confidential support 24/7 for veterans, service members and their families. Dial 988 then press 1, Text 838255, or chat online.
Get help
Free, confidential support 24/7 for veterans, service members and their families. Dial 988 then press 1, Text 838255, or chat online.