List of post-Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipients

Medal of Honor
All recipients
American Civil War
By surname A–F G–L M–P Q–S T–Z By battle Second Battle of Fort Fisher Third Battle of Winchester Battle of Cedar Creek Battle of Gettysburg
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 Peacetime
By ethnic group
African American Asian American Hispanic American Irish American Italian American Jewish American Native American Polish-American Puerto Rican
By other criteria
Eagle Scouts Foreign-born Living Military Academy alumni Naval Academy alumni Tiffany Cross

The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. The recipients must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their own life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an enemy of the United States.

Since the April 1975 end of American presence in Vietnam, the United States military has been involved in a number of conflicts and peacekeeping activities, including actions in the invasion of Grenada, Lebanese Civil War, invasion of Panama, the Yugoslav Wars, the Somali Civil War and elsewhere.^[1][2] Following the September 11 attacks, the United States entered into a War on Terror against militant Islamists, the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War.^[3][4]

The Medal of Honor has been awarded to 20 US servicemen for actions since Vietnam. Just eleven were presented to living recipients.^[5]

The first post-Vietnam Medal of Honor recipients were two Delta Force snipers who volunteered to defend a downed helicopter pilot in the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia; the medals were awarded posthumously.^[6]

Recipients

Somalia

The Battle of Mogadishu (also referred to as the "Battle of the Black Sea") or for Somalis Ma-alinti Rangers ("The Day of the Rangers") was a battle that was part of Operation Gothic Serpent that was fought on October 3 and 4, 1993, in Mogadishu, Somalia, by forces of the United States supported by UNOSOM II against Somali militia fighters loyal to warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. The battle is also referred to as the First Battle of Mogadishu to distinguish it from the Second Battle of Mogadishu in 2006.^[7] The Medals were awarded to two Delta Force operators, both snipers, who volunteered to attempt to save the pilot of one of the downed UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, despite facing hundreds, possibly thousands of rebels around the crash site.

  Lavender background and  † indicates that the Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously

Image	Name	Service	Rank	Place of action	Date of action	Unit	Notes[8]
	Gordon, GaryGary Gordon †	Army	E-8 !Master Sergeant	Mogadishu, Somalia	000000001993-10-03-0000October 3, 1993	1st SFOD-D	For volunteering to secure a helicopter crash site while under heavy enemy fire until relief could arrive
	Shughart, RandyRandy Shughart †	Army	E-7 !Sergeant First Class	Mogadishu, Somalia	000000001993-10-03-0000October 3, 1993	1st SFOD-D	For volunteering to secure a helicopter crash site while under heavy enemy fire until relief could arrive

Afghanistan

The War in Afghanistan, which began on October 7, 2001, was launched by the United States, the United Kingdom, and NATO allies in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks. It was the beginning of the War on Terrorism. The stated purpose of the invasion was to capture Osama bin Laden, destroy al-Qaeda, and remove the Taliban regime which had provided support and safe harbor to al-Qaeda.^[9]

Since 2001, 14 American service members have received the Medal of Honor for actions in Afghanistan, three of them posthumously.

  Lavender background and  † indicates that the Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously

Image	Name	Service	Rank	Place of action	Date of action	Unit	Notes[10]
	Byers, EdwardEdward Byers	Navy	E-8 !Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator	Laghman province	000000002012-12-08-0000December 8, 2012	SEAL Team Six	For courageous actions while serving as part of a team that rescued an American civilian being held hostage.[11]
	Carpenter, KyleKyle Carpenter	Marine Corps	E-4 !Corporal	Marjah, Helmand Province	000000002010-11-21-0000November 21, 2010	2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, 6th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, 1st Marine Division	For risking his life by diving toward a grenade in an attempt to save a fellow Marine while their outpost was under attack.[12]
	Carter, TyTy Carter	Army	E-6 !Staff Sergeant	Kamdesh District, Nuristan Province	000000002009-10-03-0000October 3, 2009	3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division	For repeatedly risking his life under enemy fire during the Battle of Kamdesh: administering life-extending first aid to wounded comrade, obtaining ammunition for firefight, helping carry wounded to aid station.
	Giunta, SalvatoreSalvatore Giunta	Army	E-6 !Staff Sergeant	Korengal Valley, Kunar Province	000000002007-10-25-0000October 25, 2007	2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team	For risking his life to save a wounded soldier from being captured. Was the first living recipient since the Vietnam War.
	Groberg, FlorentFlorent Groberg	Army	O-3 !Captain	Asadabad, Kunar Province	000000002012-08-08-0000August 8, 2012	12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division	For risking his life by running toward a suicide bomber, grabbing him, and pushing him away before the bomb detonated, greatly minimizing casualties.
	Meyer, DakotaDakota Meyer	Marine Corps	E-5 !Sergeant	Ganjgal, Kunar Province	000000002009-09-08-0000September 8, 2009	Embedded Training Team 2-8	Defied order from superiors and rescued 23 Afghan Allies and 13 Americans in the Battle of Ganjgal.
	Miller, Robert JamesRobert James Miller †	Army	E-6 !Staff Sergeant	Nari District, Kunar Province	000000002008-01-25-0000January 25, 2008	3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group	Fatally shot while diverting gunfire from Taliban forces in Afghanistan so that his fellow soldiers could escape.
	Monti, Jared C.Jared C. Monti †	Army	E-7 !Sergeant First Class	Gowardesh, Nuristan Province	000000002006-06-21-0000June 21, 2006	3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division	Killed while trying to rescue a wounded soldier from intense small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire
	Murphy, Michael P.Michael P. Murphy †	Navy	O-03 !Lieutenant	Near Asadabad, Kunar Province	000000002005-06-28-0000June 28, 2005	SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1	Led a four-man reconnaissance team in a fight against superior numbers, exposed himself to hostile fire in order to call for help
	Petry, LeroyLeroy Petry	Army	E-8 !Master Sergeant	Paktia Province	000000002008-05-26-0000May 26, 2008	2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment	While shot through both legs, saved his fellow Rangers by picking up and throwing a live enemy grenade, thus amputating his hand.
	Pitts, Ryan M.Ryan M. Pitts	Army	E-6 !Staff Sergeant	Kunar Province	000000002008-07-13-0000July 13, 2008	2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team	For his courageous actions while serving as a Forward Observer during the Battle of Wanat.[13]
	Romesha, ClintonClinton Romesha	Army	E-6 !Staff Sergeant	Kamdesh, Nuristan Province	000000002009-10-03-0000October 3, 2009	3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division	For risking his life to save fellow soldiers and organize and repel an attack against Taliban forces during the Battle of Kamdesh.
	Swenson, William D.William D. Swenson	Army	O-4 !Major	Ganjgal, Kunar Province	000000002009-09-08-0000September 8, 2009	1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division	For risking his life, under enemy fire, to render medical aid to a fellow wounded soldier, and rescue others and recover fallen comrades, during the Battle of Ganjgal.
	White, KyleKyle White	Army	E-5 !Sergeant	Nuristan Province	000000002007-11-09-0000November 9, 2007	2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team	For repeatedly risking his life under enemy fire to render life saving medical aid to wounded comrades, and radioing situation reports to enable counterattack and rescue.

Iraq War

The Iraq War, also known as the Second Gulf War,^[14] Operation Iraqi Freedom (US),^[15] Operation TELIC (UK)^[16] or the occupation of Iraq,^[17] was a conflict which began on March 20, 2003 with the United States-led invasion of Iraq by a multinational coalition composed of U.S. and U.K. troops supported by smaller contingents from Australia, Poland, and other nations.^[18] Four service members have posthumously received the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq: two from the Army, one from the Marine Corps and one from the Navy.

  Lavender background and  † indicates that the Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously

Image	Name	Service	Rank	Place of action	Date of action	Unit	Notes[19]
	Dunham, JasonJason Dunham †	Marine Corps	E-4 !Corporal	Iraq, near Syrian border	000000002004-04-14-0000April 14, 2004	3rd Battalion 7th Marines	Fought hand-to-hand with the enemy and hurled himself on a grenade to protect fellow Marines
	McGinnis, Ross A.Ross A. McGinnis †	Army	E-4 !Specialist	Adhamiyah, Iraq	000000002006-12-04-0000December 4, 2006	C Company, 1-26th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division	Saved the lives of four soldiers by diving on a grenade while inside HMMWV (Humvee)
	Monsoor, Michael A.Michael A. Monsoor †	Navy	E-5 !Master-at-Arms Second Class	Ramadi, Iraq	000000002006-09-29-0000September 29, 2006	SEAL Team Three, Delta Platoon	Saved the lives of his fellow SEALs at his sniper position by diving on a grenade
	Smith, Paul R.Paul R. Smith †	Army	E-7 !Sergeant First Class	Baghdad, Iraq !then-Saddam International Airport	000000002003-04-04-0000April 4, 2003	B Company, 11th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division	Held the enemy at bay by throwing grenades and returning accurate small arms fire; allowing for the wounded to be carried out, died in the process

References

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