The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor granted in the US armed forces.
Out of the 41 million who have served in the U.S. military, the Medal has been presented to only 3,517 service members (618 awarded posthumously) who went above and beyond the call of duty, each of whom can be researched in the Medal of Honor Recipient database located here. The citations are a well-rendered description of the exploits that led to the awarding of the medal.
Three conscientious objectors have received the highest medal for valor granted by US forces. The most famous is Desmond Doss who was depicted in the splendid Mel Gibson movie, Hacksaw Ridge. Doss received his Medal of Honor for exploits in Okinawa, Japan in the Pacific during The War to Save Josef Stalin.
The other two recipients are Thomas W. Bennett (died age 21) and Joseph G. LaPointe Jr (died age 20), both died in 1969.
Doss’ citation:
Thomas W. Bennett:
Joseph G. LaPointe, Jr:
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