Hall of Heroes: Medal of Honor

Since 9/11, over 2.3 million Americans have served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but only nine have received the Medal of Honor - our nation’s highest military award. On September 15th, Sergeant Dakota Meyer will become the tenth recipient, and the first living Marine since the Vietnam War to receive the award. See IAVA's statement here.

Watch the Ceremony (2:45pm EST) | Meet the Recipients | Know the History

Since Congress began awarding the Medal of Honor in 1861, over 3,400 service members have received the honor. The award has become increasingly rare since the Vietnam era. During Vietnam, 248 service members were awarded the Medal of Honor; since the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq began in 2001 and 2003, respectively, only nine service members have received the honor, seven of them posthumously. To learn more about the Medal of Honor and recipients from prior conflicts, visit the Medal of Honor Society.

Join IAVA's live online chat at 2:30pm EST today about Sergeant Dakota Meyer and fellow Medal of Honor recipients inside Community of Veterans, IAVA's exclusive online network for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. Log-in to the Community >>