List of Medal of Honor recipients educated at the United States Military Academy

Medal of Honor
All recipients
American Civil War
By surname A–F G–L M–P Q–S T–Z By battle Gettysburg Campaign Battle of the Wilderness Third Battle of Winchester Battle of Cedar Creek Second Battle of Fort Fisher Others 1st West Virginia Cavalry Regiment
Other wars and conflicts
Indian Wars Spanish–American War Philippine–American War Boxer Rebellion Veracruz World War I World War II Battle of Iwo Jima Pearl Harbor Korean War Vietnam War Post-Vietnam Non-combat
By ethnic group
African American Asian American Hispanic and Latino American Irish American Italian American Jewish American Native American Polish-American Puerto Rican
By other criteria
Foreign-born Military Academy alumni Naval Academy alumni Tiffany Cross
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The earliest Medal of Honor recipient educated at the United States Military Academy was

There are ten wars involving the United States for which the Medal of Honor has been bestowed upon a USMA alumnus. More than half of the alumni who received the distinction were thereby recognized for actions in either the American Civil War or the American Indian Wars; twenty-five alumni were awarded the medal in connection with the Civil War and twenty-one in connection with the Indian Wars. Four alumni were recognized for their contributions to the Spanish–American War, nine for the Philippine–American War, two for the Boxer Rebellion, and one for the Banana Wars. While only one alumnus received the Medal of Honor for actions in World War I, ten alumni were so recognized for actions in World War II. The final two conflicts for which the Medal of Honor was given to USMA alumni are the Korean War, for which two alumni were recognized, and the Vietnam War, for which eight alumni were recognized.

Of the eighty-three USMA alumni who have received the Medal of Honor, eight were

All of the USMA alumni who received the Medal of Honor for action in the American Civil War were part of the Union Army fighting against the Confederate States Army to undo the secession of the Confederate States of America. The Civil War was the first war for which the Medal of Honor was granted,^[2] and more USMA alumni received this honor for participation in the Civil War than for any other conflict. Of the 3464 American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients, 25 attended USMA.

Name Class year Notability References John Cleveland Robinson 1839 ex Left the academy after three years but joined the army one year later; major general in the American Civil War; awarded the MOH for valor in action in 1864 near Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia; Lieutenant Governor of New York (1873–1874); served two terms as the president of the Grand Army of the Republic [3][4] John Porter Hatch 1845 Maryland Campaign where he was wounded and had two mounts shot from underneath him; later served on the western frontier; retired to New York City and was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1893 [5][6] Orlando B. Wilcox 1847 Major general; awarded the MOH in 1895 for gallantry at the First Battle of Bull Run where he was captured; later released as part of a prisoner exchange and served in the Virginia and North Carolina theaters at the end of the war [3][7] Absalom Baird 1849 Légion d'honneur [5][8] Rufus Saxton 1849 Major general; recipient of the MOH for his defense at the Battle of Harpers Ferry; participated in the Pacific Railroad surveys in 1853; early abolitionist [3][9] Eugene Asa Carr 1850 Major general; recipient of the MOH for his defensive though wounded several times at the Battle of Pea Ridge [5][10] Charles Henry Tompkins 1851 ex Dropped out of the academy after two years for unspecified reasons; brigadier general; recipient of the MOH for twice charging through the enemy's lines on 1 July 1861 near Fairfax, Virginia , making him the first Union officer of the Civil War to receive the Medal of Honor [3][11] David S. Stanley 1852 Second Battle of Franklin, commander of the IV Corps [3][9] John Schofield 1853 Battle of Franklin, Battle of Nashville, Battle of Wyse Fork; commander of the Army of the Frontier, division commander in the XIV Corps; United States Secretary of War (1868–1869); superintendent of the academy (1876–1881); Commanding General of the United States Army (1888–1895); Military Governor of Virginia [3][12] Zenas Bliss 1854 Indian Scouts [5][13] Oliver Duff Greene 1854 Colonel; recipient of the MOH for his actions at the Battle of Antietam [5][14] Oliver Otis Howard 1854 Nez Perce tribe; founder of Howard University ; superintendent of the academy (1881–1882) [5][15] Alexander S. Webb 1855 Major general; recipient of the MOH for his actions at the Battle of Gettysburg for personal bravery and leadership repulsing Pickett's Charge; president of the City College of New York (1869–1902) [3][16] Abraham Arnold 1859 Brigadier general ; recipient of the MOH for leading a cavalry charge against superior forces [5][17] Horace Porter 1860 United States Ambassador to France (1897–1905) [3][18] John Moulder Wilson 1860 Chief of Engineers (1897–1901) [3][19] Adelbert Ames 1861 (May) Major general; recipient of the MOH for his continuing a fierce fight though severely wounded in his right thigh at First Battle of Bull Run; Governor of Mississippi (1868–1870) and (1874–1876); United States Senator from Mississippi (1870–1874) [5][20] Eugene B. Beaumont 1861 (May) Lieutenant colonel; recipient of the MOH for two separate actions at the Harpeth River in Tennessee and the Battle of Selma in Alabama [5][21] Samuel Nicholl Benjamin 1861 (May) Major; recipient of the MOH for actions as an artillery officer [5][22] Henry Algernon du Pont 1861 (May) Lieutenant colonel; recipient of the MOH for actions repulsing an enemy attack at the Battle of Cedar Creek; United States Senator from Delaware (1906–1917) [5][23] Guy Vernor Henry 1861 (May) Major general; recipient of the MOH for actions repulsing an enemy attack at the Battle of Cold Harbor; son Major General Guy Vernor Henry Jr. is an Academy alumnus, class of 1894; Governor of Puerto Rico (1898–1899) [5][24] Alonzo Cushing 1861 (June) First lieutenant; posthumous recipient of the MOH for actions at Cemetery Ridge during the Battle of Gettysburg; his medal was not awarded until over 150 years after his death. George Lewis Gillespie, Jr. 1862 Chief of Engineers (1901–1904) [5][19] William Sully Beebe 1863 Major; recipient of the MOH for actions during an assault on a fortified position [5][25] William Henry Harrison Benyaurd 1863 Lieutenant colonel; recipient of the MOH for actions during reconnaissance and rallying his troops [5][26] John Gregory Bourke 1869 Old West [5][27]

American Indian Wars

The USMA alumni receiving the Medal of Honor for their efforts in the American Indian Wars fought against the Native Americans in the United States in order to expand the territory controlled by American settlers and the federal government of the United States. Among the American Indian Wars Medal of Honor recipients, 21 were USMA alumni.

Name Class year Notability References Edward Settle Godfrey 1867 Brigadier general; a private during the Civil War before attending West Point; received the MOH for leading his men against Chief Joseph despite being severely wounded; led two platoons of Medal of Honor men at the burial of the Unknown Soldier from World War I [28][29] William Preble Hall 1868 Brigadier general; received the MOH for leading a small group to rescue an officer surrounded by 35 enemy; distinguished marksman with rifle and revolver [28][30] Robert Goldthwaite Carter 1870 First lieutenant; an enlisted soldier during the Civil War before attending West Point; received the MOH for repulsing the charge of a large hostile Indian force near the Brazos River in 1871 [28][31] John Brown Kerr 1870 Brigadier general; received the MOH for actions against Brule Sioux along the White River, South Dakota [28][32] Edward John McClernand 1870 Bear Paw Mountain, Montana in 1877 against Chief Joseph 's tribe [28][33] Charles Varnum 1872 Black Hills War; recipient of the MOH for his actions in a conflict following the Battle of Wounded Knee [28][34] Frank West 1872 Charles Taylor [28][35] William Harding Carter 1873 Comanche Campaign [28][36] Marion Perry Maus 1874 Apache scouts in the capture of Geronimo [28][37] Ernest Albert Garlington 1876 Brigadier general; recipient of the MOH for gallantry at the Battle of Wounded Knee [28][38] John Chowning Gresham 1876 Colonel; recipient of the MOH for gallantry at the Battle of Wounded Knee [28][39] Oscar Fitzalan Long 1876 Bear Paw Mountain, Montana [28][40] Matthias W. Day 1877 Colonel; recipient of the MOH for rescuing a wounded soldier under heavy fire after being ordered to retreat; member of the 9th Cavalry Regiment of the Buffalo Soldiers [28][41] Robert Temple Emmet 1877 Colonel; recipient of the MOH for holding off 200 enemies with only himself and five men despite being surrounded; member of the 9th Cavalry Regiment of the Buffalo Soldiers [28][42] Wilber Elliott Wilder 1877 Brigadier general; recipient of the MOH for rescuing a wounded soldier under heavy fire; key figure in negotiating the surrender of the Apache chief Geronimo [28][43] Lloyd Milton Brett 1879 Brigadier general; recipient of the MOH for fearless exposure in cutting off the enemy's pony herd at O'Fallon's Creek, Montana, which greatly crippled their ability to fight [28][44] Thomas Cruse 1879 Charles Taylor [28][45] George Ritter Burnett 1880 First lieutenant; recipient of the MOH for rescuing stranded men under heavy enemy fire; one of his men, Augustus Walley, also received the Medal of Honor for this action, both members of the 9th Cavalry Regiment of the Buffalo Soldiers [28][46] George Horace Morgan 1880 Charles Taylor [28][47] Powhatan Henry Clarke 1884 First lieutenant ; recipient of the MOH for saving a wounded man under heavy fire; later drowned while rescuing another man [28][48] Robert Lee Howze 1888 Billy Mitchell [28][49]

Spanish–American War

The Medal of Honor was given to Americans who fought in the

.

Name Class year Notability References Albert Leopold Mills 1879 Major general; recipient of the MOH for continuing to lead his men at the Battle of San Juan Hill despite being shot in the head and temporarily blinded; superintendent of the academy (1898–1906) [50][51] John W. Heard 1883 Brigadier general; recipient of the MOH for repulsing an attack by a larger force while his unit was unloading supplies from a river boat [50][52] Charles DuVal Roberts 1897 Brigadier general ; recipient of the MOH for assisting a wounded man under heavy fire [50][53] Ira Clinton Welborn 1898 Colonel; recipient of the MOH for assisting a wounded man under heavy fire [50][54]

Philippine–American War

USMA alumni who received the Medal of Honor for participating in the Philippine–American War fought against the First Philippine Republic, the Katipunan, the Pulahan, the Sultanate of Sulu, and the Moro people in order to suppress the Philippine Declaration of Independence. Nine USMA alumni were among the 86 men who received the medal for their involvement in this war.

Name Class year Notability References William Edward Birkhimer 1870 Brigadier general; awarded the MOH for taking control of a bridge by charging and routing 300 of the enemy with 12 men [55][56] James Parker 1876 Major general; awarded the MOH for leadership of his men by repulsing a nighttime attack by a much larger enemy force [55] James Franklin Bell 1878 Major general; began his career with the 9th Cavalry Regiment, a black unit; awarded the MOH for attacking seven enemy soldiers alone [55] Hugh J. McGrath 1880 Major; awarded the MOH for actions against the enemy at a cave [55] William Hampden Sage 1882 Brigadier general; awarded the MOH for swimming the San Juan River in the face of the enemy's fire and drove him from his entrenchment [55] John A. Logan, Jr. 1887 ex Major; awarded the MOH for actions while leading his small unit in an attack against a much larger enemy force [55][57] Louis Joseph Van Schaick 1900 ex Colonel; awarded the MOH for cavalry actions against hostile forces in a canyon [55] Arthur Harrison Wilson 1904 Moros [55] John Thomas Kennedy 1908 Brigadier general; awarded the MOH for actions against the enemy at a cave [55]

Boxer Rebellion

The Medal of Honor was given to two USMA alumni who fought in the

Eli Thompson Fryer is the sole USMA alumnus to have received the Medal of Honor for his involvement in the Banana Wars, supporting the United States occupation of Veracruz. All of the 62 other Americans who received the Medal of Honor for fighting in the Banana Wars were involved specifically in the occupation of Veracruz.

Name Class year Notability References Eli Thompson Fryer 1901 ex Brigadier general; recipient of the MOH for actions as a Marine company commander during the occupation of Vera Cruz [60][61]

World War I

The United States' involvement in World War I was as a neutral party for most of the war, but included the deployment of expeditionary forces towards the end of the war. Of the 119 Americans who received the Medal of Honor for action in World War I, only one attended USMA: Emory Jenison Pike.

World War II

At the beginning of World War II, the United States was a neutral party just as it was at the beginning of World War I. Unlike in World War I, however, the United States was involved in World War II in a military capacity for most of the war. Ten of the 464 men who received the Medal of Honor for action in World War II were educated at USMA.

Name Class year Notability References Douglas MacArthur 1903 Arthur MacArthur, Jr. [64][65] Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV 1906 General; recipient of the MOH for defense of te Bataan and Corregidor; also noted for leadership while a prisoner of war (POW); present on board USS Missouri (BB-63) for the surrender of Japan; returned to the Philippines to accept surrender of the local Japanese commander; his father, Robert Powell Page Wainwright, was member of the academy class of 1875 [66] William H. Wilbur 1912 Brigadier general; recipient of the MOH for actions during the Allied landings in North Africa while attempting to negotiate a cease fire and leading combat actions against hostile forces [66][67] Demas T. Craw 1924 Colonel, United States Army Air Forces; posthumous recipient of the MOH for ground actions during the Allied landings in North Africa while attempting to negotiate a cease fire [68][69] Leon William Johnson 1926 General, United States Army Air Corps and United States Air Force; recipient of the MOH for actions in aerial combat during the raid on the Ploesti, Romania oilfields [70][71] Frederick Walker Castle 1930 Brigadier general, United States Army Air Forces; posthumous recipient of the MOH for actions in aerial combat while leading a bombing mission over Belgium [68][72] Robert G. Cole 1939 101st Airborne Division; recipient of the MOH for leading his battalion in a bayonet charge at Carentan, France, during the Battle of Normandy; later killed in Best, Netherlands [68][73] Leon Robert Vance, Jr. 1939 Lieutenant colonel, United States Army Air Corps; recipient of the MOH for actions in saving his bomber crew though he was severely wounded; Vance Air Force Base in his hometown of Enid, Oklahoma is named in his honor [66][74] Alexander R. Nininger 1941 Second lieutenant; recipient of the MOH for actions in Bataan, Philippines while a member of the Philippine Scouts, continued an attack even though wounded three times; first Army soldier awarded the Medal of Honor in World War II; First Division of Cadet Barracks at West Point is named in his honor [64] Michael J. Daly 1945 ex Captain; dropped out of the academy after one year to enlist so he could fight in World War II; received a battlefield commission; awarded the MOH for assaulting several enemy positions [68][75]

Korean War

The United States and twenty other member states of the United Nations supported South Korea in repelling an invasion by North Korea and its allies into South Korea. For their involvement, 133 Americans were presented with the Medal of Honor, two of whom attended USMA.

Vietnam War

The United States and other anti-communist countries fought against North Vietnam and its communist allies during the Vietnam War in an attempt to prevent the communist takeover of South Vietnam and, more broadly, to implement the United States' policy of containment to prevent the spread of communism. Eight of the 246 men who received the Medal of Honor for fighting in this war attended USMA.

Name Class year Notability References William Atkinson Jones, III 1945 Colonel, United States Air Force; recipient of the MOH for actions while helping rescue a downed pilot [77][78] Andre Lucas 1954 Lieutenant colonel; recipient of the MOH for repulsing a much larger force over a 23-day period [77][79] Roger Donlon 1959 ex Dropped out of the academy for personal reasons; captain , later colonel; recipient of the MOH for repulsing a much larger force [77][80] Humbert Roque Versace 1959 Captain; recipient of the MOH for his resistance to Viet Cong indoctrination efforts while a prisoner of war (POW); his struggle was chronicled in length by fellow POW Nick Rowe in the book Five Years to Freedom. [81][82] Frank S. Reasoner 1962 First lieutenant, United States Marine Corps; recipient of the MOH for actions leading reconnaissance patrol against a larger force and trying to save a wounded man [81][83] Robert F. Foley 1963 Captain, later lieutenant general; recipient of the MOH for actions on 11 November 1966 for rallying his unit in the face of superior enemy numbers and personally destroying three enemy strongpoints; West Point Commandant of Cadets (1996–1998); later president of Marion Military Institute ; currently the director of the Army Emergency Relief Program [77] James A. Gardner 1965 ex Did not graduate; first lieutenant; recipient of the MOH for actions leading his platoon in the relief of a company that was engaged with a larger enemy force [77] Paul William Bucha 1965 Binh Duong Province, Vietnam; foreign policy adviser to Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign [77][84]

See also

• List of American Civil War generals
• List of Medal of Honor recipients

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.