Is this really the case or is there something more to it?

The MOH websites below are all excellent websites with extensive information related to the MOH. But there are indeed other webpages, etc. out there also indicating that only one MOH per individual may be issued/awarded, etc.

If this were true and came about only to correct previous cases where some WW I Marines were awarded both the Army and Navy version of the Medals Of Honor for the same act (the so-called double award), then changes in regulations permitting only one award for the same action is both understandable and appropriate, I think.

However, as is sometimes shown, articles seem to indicate a restriction on subsequent awards altogether--period!

For example, "...But the Medal of Honor may now be awarded 'ONLY ONCE'."

This is certtainly NOT THE CASE, and is misleading at best, as may be seen from the U. S. Code as indicated below, i.e.,

"...Not more than one medal of honor, Navy cross, distinguished-service medal, silver star medal, distinguished flying cross, or Navy and Marine Corps Medal may be awarded to a person..."

But that's not all, it goes on to read...

"...However, for each succeeding act
or service that would otherwise justify the award of such a medal or
cross, the President may award a suitable bar, emblem, or insignia to be
worn with the decoration and corresponding rosette or other device."

Therefore, the MOH is no different in subsequent awards and/or devices, no matter the specific terminology/language used, than the Navy Cross, Silver Star, and other medals lesser than the MOH. Whether or not subsequent recognitions are termed an award, as is a first MOH, or the award of a device to be worn with the first decoration, makes little practical difference.

~~~~~~~~~~
Res Ipsa Loqutor
(the thing speaks for itself)
~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~
The following sources are listed for your information.

http://www.medalofhonor.com/DoubleRecipients.htm
http://www.medalofhonor.com/DoubleRecipients.htm

http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/history/history_double.html
http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/history/history_double.html

BUTLER
http://www.medalofhonor.com/SmedleyButler.htm
http://www.medalofhonor.com/SmedleyButler.htm

DALY
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/568469/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/568469/posts

In addition to the above online references, the following references are very useful and most interesting...

1. George B. Clark's new book, United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor Recipients...
George B. Clark is a military historian and former Marine. He has written several books and numerous articles. He is also the author of Hiram Iddings Bearss, U.S. Marine Corps (2005) and lives in Pike, New Hampshire.
http://www.furl.net/item.jsp?id=4963839
E-MAIL:
brasshat@surfglobal.net

2. and also, the book, Marine Corps Book Of Lists..., by Albert A. Nofi, Combined Publishing, 1997

The main thrust of my writing here is to show that the MOH is not at all a "one-per-customer" thing, as many people have come to believe. I believe that the information presented here now makes this point clear, although a clear grasp of both the problem at hand, and the truth of the matter may take several readings and some thinking. But I still receive questions concerning this via e-mail, and on messageboards where this topic is being discussed. The general situation is one of confusion where many have come to believe that a MOH can be awarded only once.

Another thing that tends to reinforce this misleading information, is the fact that there have been no multiple awards of the MOH since the time of Butler and Daly.

Here are a few further interesting facts regarding the MOH and its recipients.

Of the more than 3,000 Medals Of Honor awarded to date, 19 of these have been double awards, i.e., some men were awarded the MOH twice for the same action, and others were awaded MOHs for two separate actions. The only two Marines to have been awarded the MOH twice for two separate actions are Smedley D. Butler and Dan Daly.

Regarding General Butler, it is noted that he was nominated for a MOH on 13 July 1900, at Tientsin, China--this was disapproved as Naval regulations did not permit the award of a MOH to officers until 1916, and he was given a brevet pronotion.

Butler attempted to decline his first MOH on the grounds that he hadn't done anything sufficiently courageous...Vera Cruz, Mexico, 22 April 1914.

Daniel Daly, 5-7 and 10 June 1918 for Belleau Wood. Disapproved. In lieu of a third MOH, Daly was given the Navy Cross and the Distinguished Service Cross, as well as the French Medaille Militaire, and the offer of a commission, which he declined.

The only Marine MOH winner in the 2d Division who did not receive a Navy version of the decoration as well was Fred W.Stockham--the reason for the anomaly has never been explained. Interestingly, GySgt Hoffman received one MOH under his assumed name and one under his real name, Ernest August Jameson.

Since Naval regulations did not permit the award of the MOH to officers until 1916, it was common for officers to be awarded a brevet promotion in lieu of a MOH. Brevet promotions ceased before WW I, and in 1921 a new, special decoration was authorized, and all living brevet holders (25) were awarded the Brevet Medal, which resembled the 1917 Naval version of the MOH. The Brevet Medal was second only to the MOH. Three Marines held both the MOH and the Brevet Medal--General Smedley Butler; 1/Lt Wendell C. Neville; and, 1/lt David Dixon Porter.

As all Marines already know, LtGen Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller held 5 Navy Crosses. Puller was nominated, by Gen Vandegrift, for the MOH on Guadalcanal, for the night battle of 24-25 October 1942. This was reduced to a Navy Cross.

Puller was awarded his fifth Navy Cross for Nov-Dec 1950, and the breakout from the Chosin Reservoir. On this occasion Puller was also awarded the DSC.

Only one Marine was nominated for the Victoria Cross--Smedley Butler for Tientsin, China 13 July 1900.

(The above from Marine Corps Book Of Lists..., by Albert A. Nofi)

**********

By the way, is it the "Medal of Honor," or the "Congressional Medal of Honor"?
Well, according to Leatherneck--"Magazine Of The Marines"--it is the "Medal Of Honor"

*******

"Is it the Medal of Honor or Congressional Medal of Honor?

The Medal of Honor is often erroneously referred to as the Congressional Medal of Honor. That was never the official title or name of the award. According to several sources, the reason for the reference to the award as the Congressional Medal of Honor is because it is presented by a senior official, usually the President of the United States, in the name of the Congress of the United States.

An act of Congress on Dec. 21, 1861, authorized the award of a Navy Medal of Honor as "an award to such petty officers, seamen, landsmen and Marines who most distinguished themselves by their gallantry in action and other seaman-like qualities during the Civil War." Note that the award was for Navy and Marine Corps enlisted. Congress acted to begin the process for a Medal of Honor for Army enlisted on Feb. 17, 1862, but President Abraham Lincoln did not sign the legislation until July 12, 1862.

On March 3, 1915, Congress and the President acted to allow officers of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard to receive the Medal of Honor.

In that initial Act of Congress and through today the medal is referred to as the "Medal of Honor."

The Medal of Honor Society was founded in 1946. At first, it was not known as the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Then, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation sent to him by Congress chartering the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. That charter, according to the Medal of Honor Society Web site, was signed on Aug. 5, 1958. The name reflects the name of the chartered society and not the name of the medal."
Ref...
Leatherneck: FAQ
http://www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck/faq.htm

**********

~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~
References from the U.S. Code

From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 10USC6241]


TITLE 10--ARMED FORCES

Subtitle C--Navy and Marine Corps

PART II--PERSONNEL

CHAPTER 567--DECORATIONS AND AWARDS

Sec. 6241. Medal of honor

The President may award, and present in the name of Congress, a
medal of honor of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to
a person who, while a member of the naval service, distinguishes himself
conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above
and beyond the call of duty--
(1) while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United
States;
(2) while engaged in military operations involving conflict with
an opposing foreign force; or
(3) while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an
armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United
States is not a belligerent party.

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 389; Pub. L. 88-77, Sec. 2(1), July
25, 1963, 77 Stat. 93; Pub. L. 104-106, div. A, title XV,
Sec. 1503(b)(2), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 512.)

Historical and Revision Notes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revised section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6241.................................. 34 U.S.C. 354. Feb. 4, 1919, ch. 14, Sec. 1, 40
Stat. 1056; Aug. 7, 1942, ch. 551,
Sec. 1, 56 Stat. 743.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In subsection (a) the word ``award'' is added for clarity since the
President determines the recipient, in addition to presenting the medal
in the name of Congress. The words ``a member of the naval service'' are
substituted for the words ``in the naval service of the United States''
for uniformity. The word ``distinguishes'' is substituted for the words
``shall * * * distinguish'' for uniformity.
In subsection (b) the words ``of the medal of honor authorized on
August 8, 1942'' are substituted for the words ``adopted pursuant to the
Act approved December 21, 1861 (12 Stat. 330)'' for the reason that the
1861 Act does not establish the design, and the date of formal adoption
of the design of the medal is obscure. The effect of the subsection is
to continue the design recognized by 34 U.S.C. 354.


Amendments

1996--Par. (2). Pub. L. 104-106 inserted ``or'' after ``an opposing
foreign force;''.
1963--Pub. L. 88-77 enlarged the authority to award the medal of
honor, which was limited to those cases in which persons distinguished
themselves in action involving actual conflict with an enemy, or in the
line of his profession, and without detriment to the mission of his
command or to the command to which attached, to permit its award for
distinguished service while engaged in an action against an enemy of the
United States, while engaged in military operations involving conflict
with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly foreign
forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in
which the United States is not a belligerent party, and substituted the
requirement that it be of appropriate design, with ribbons and
appurtenances, for the requirement that it be the same as that
authorized on August 8, 1942.


Meritorious Service Medal

Establishment of, see Ex. Ord. No. 11448, set out as a note
preceding section 1121 of this title.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 1074h, 6257 of this title;
title 18 section 704.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 10USC6247]


TITLE 10--ARMED FORCES

Subtitle C--Navy and Marine Corps

PART II--PERSONNEL

CHAPTER 567--DECORATIONS AND AWARDS

Sec. 6247. Additional awards

Not more than one medal of honor, Navy cross, distinguished-service
medal, silver star medal, distinguished flying cross, or Navy and Marine
Corps Medal may be awarded to a person. However, for each succeeding act
or service that would otherwise justify the award of such a medal or
cross, the President may award a suitable bar, emblem, or insignia to be
worn with the decoration and corresponding rosette or other device.

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 390.)

Historical and Revision Notes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revised section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6247.................................. 34 U.S.C. 358. Feb. 4, 1919, ch. 14, Sec. 5, 40
Stat. 1056; renumbered Sec. 7 and
amended Aug. 7, 1942, ch. 551,
Sec. 1, 56 Stat. 744.
34 U.S.C. 364a (2d sentence). July 2, 1926, ch. 721, Sec. 12 (2d
sentence), 44 Stat. 789; July 30,
1937, ch. 545, Sec. 4, 50 Stat.
549.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The word ``awarded'' is substituted for the word ``issued'' for
uniformity. The words ``that would otherwise justify'' are substituted
for the words ``sufficient to justify'' for clarity. The word
``service'' is substituted for the word ``achievement'' for uniformity.
The words ``as he shall direct'' are omitted as surplusage.
_________________
_________________
R.W. "Dick" GAINES
GnySgt USMC (Ret.)
1952-72