BACKGROUND
This was established by Congress on July 6, 1960, as the highest of several awards created specifically for the Air Force. The first presentation of this Medal of Honor was made at the White House in Washington on Jan. 19, 1967, when the president placed it around the neck of Maj. Bernard F. Fisher, United States Air Force.
The Air Force Medal of Honor has been awarded 13 times for actions during the war in Vietnam. Four of these decorations, to Capt. Steven L. Bennett, Capt. Lance P. Sijan, Capt. Hillard A. Wilbanks, and Airman 1st Class William H. Pitsenbarger were posthumously awarded. Two of the medals were awarded for extraordinary heroism while the recipients were prisoners of war, one to Capt. Sijan and the other to Col. George E. Day, who was the most highly decorated officer in the Air Force.
Others who received the medal for their actions in the war in Vietnam are: Maj. Merlyn Hans Dethlefsen, Capt. James P. Fleming, Lt. Col. Joe M. Jackson, Sgt. John L. Levitow, Lt. Col. Leo K. Thorsness, Capt. Gerald O. Young, and Col. William A. Jones III, who received the medal posthumously.
In addition, four other Airmen received the Medal of Honor during the Korean War; Majs. George A. Davis Jr., Charles J. Loring Jr., and Louis J. Sebille, and Capt. John S. Walmsley Jr., were all awarded the medal posthumously. During World War II, 35 members of the Army Air Corps were presented the nation's top honor for their actions during air missions.
Recently, Chief Master Sgt. Richard L. Etchberger, who was killed in action in 1968 in Laos, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on Sept. 21, 2010.
CRITERIA
The medal is presented in the name of Congress to officers and enlisted members who distinguished themselves by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their lives, above and beyond the call of duty, in action involving actual combat with an armed enemy of the United States.
MEDAL DESCRIPTION
This medal was designed by Lewis J. King, Jr., of the Army's Institute of Heraldry. It is a gold finished five pointed star, one point down, tipped with trefoils and each point containing a crown of laurel and oak on a green enamel background. Centered on the star is an annular of 34 stars which surround the profile of the head from the Statue of Liberty. The star is surrounded by a green enameled laurel wreath edged in gold.
The medal is suspended from a design, taken from the Air Force coat of arms. In the center is a baton with eagle claws at both ends resting on a pair of aviator's wings emitting thunderbolts from the center. This is attached to a horizontal bar bearing the word "Valor." The neck ribbon passes through the bar and has an octagonal pad of the traditional light blue moiré ribbon with 13 white stars. The reverse of this decoration is blank and suitable for engraving.
AUTHORIZED DEVICES
No devices authorized
WEIGHTED AIRMAN PROMOTED SYSTEM POINT VALUE: 15
Official Medal of Honor website