The following is a list of Irish-American soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who were awarded the American military's highest decoration — the Medal of Honor. The Medal of Honor is bestowed "for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty, in actual combat against an armed enemy force." The medal is awarded by the President of the United States on behalf of the United States Congress, Congress.
Of the 3,464 Medals of Honor awarded as of September 17, 2009, an estimated 2,021 (58%) have been awarded to Irish-American recipients, more than twice the number awarded any other ethnic group; 257 Irish-born Americans have received the Medal of Honor which represents more than half of List of foreign-born Medal of Honor recipients, foreign-born MOH recipients.
[Fox, Thomas. ''Hidden History of the Irish of New Jersey''. Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press, 2011. (pp. 110–116) ] A monument to these Irish-born Medal of Honor recipients is located at Valley Forge's Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge#Medal of Honor Grove, Medal of Honor Grove; erected by the Ancient Order of Hibernians. The first Irish American to receive the Medal was Michael Madden (Medal of Honor), Michael Madden, who received it for his actions in the American Civil War (Note that the ''earliest action'' for which the Medal of Honor was awarded was to Irish American U.S. Army Assistant Surgeon Bernard J.D. Irwin for the engagement at Apache Pass, February 1861. The award was made three decades after the event and after Madden's award).
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 Posthumous recognition, posthumously.
Civil War
Indian Wars
Korean Expedition
Spanish–American War
Philippine-American War
Boxer Rebellion
United States occupation of Haiti
World War I
World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
War in Afghanistan
War in Iraq
Peacetime
See also
* List of Medal of Honor recipients
References
Further reading
* Griffin, William D. ''The Book of Irish Americans''. New York: Times Books, 1990.
* O'Donnell, Edward T. ''1001 Things Everyone Should Know About Irish-American History''. New York: Broadway Books, 2002.
External links
*
Medal of Honor Recipients (Irish Born)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Irish American Medal Of Honor Recipients, List of
American people of Irish descent, * Medal of Honor recipients
Lists of American people of Irish descent, Medal of Honor recipients
Lists of Medal of Honor recipients