Getting a Medal of Honor upgrade could be a tall order
With only 2.6 percent of Medals of Honor having been awarded to Black troops since 1863, legislative action may be needed. Author: Mike Gooding Updated: 5:32 PM EDT May 7, 2021
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. Just 2.6 percent of the more than 3,500 Medals of Honor awarded to U.S. troops since 1863 have gone to African Americans.
The vast majority of those decorations were bestowed prior to World War I. Between 1861 and 1918, the Medal was awarded nearly 3,000 times.
Still, the math is pretty hard to accept for modern-day Black veterans. We know it was unfair, so what do we do now? asked Vietnam War Army veteran Jim Cornish of Newport News, Virginia. How do we tell what s going to happen now? I mean, you can t get it back.
Updated: 2:30 PM EDT April 27, 2021
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. The Medal of Honor is the United States government s highest and most prestigious military decoration.
It is awarded for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty.
A select few have received the Medal. Very select. And very few.
In fact, dating back to 1863, of 3,526 Medals of Honor that have been awarded to 3,507 people, just 92 Medals have ever gone to African Americans. I m not stating anything new, this has been stated by the armed forces, that, racism, right up through Vietnam, has played a significant role in preventing due recognition of deeds of valor by African Americans that are worthy of the Medal of Honor, said Ed Lengel, Chief Historian for the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas.