MEDAL OF HONOR, United States Military, an honor bestowed upon army and navy officers and men for specific services; regarded as a higher token of the war hero than the Victoria Cross of England, the medal of the Legion of Honor of France, or the Iron Cross of Germany. It is given not for the sheer performance of duty, no matter how hazardous that duty may be, but for some voluntary act of valor, beyond the bounds of mere obedience to orders. Out of the millions of men who have battled for the United States in the different wars this country has had, the vast majority, as history shows, performed their duty. Of these, however, have been about 2,000 men who have done more, who have braved dangers when they were not expected to brave them, over come difficulties that were regarded by the rest as insurmountable, and faced death when it seemed it meant the sacrifice of their own lives. Many are the ways these medals have been won. By the Act of 12 July 1862 the United States government authorized the striking of 2,000 medals to be given to non-commissioned officers and privates for gallantry in action and soldier like qualities. On 3 March 1863 the sum of
$20,000 was appropriated for making the med als, and officers were made eligible to receive them. Medals were also authorized by Con gress in recognition of acts of bravery per formed (during the war with Spain in 1898) in the naval battles of Manila and Santiago, the Manila medals bearing the portrait of Admiral Dewey, and the Santiago medals a portrait of Rear-Admiral Sampson. The medal is a bronze five-pointed star within a circle of stars, sus pended by a trophy of two crossed cannons sur mounted by an eagle, united by a ribbon of 13 stripes of red, white and blue. Consult Roden bough, 'Uncle Sam's Medal of Honor' (New York 1886), and 'United States Army Regula tions' (latest issue).