Although only 8 Marines received the medal for actions during World War I, 82 medals were given to Marines during World War II, 42 were awarded for the Korean War, and another 57 for the Vietnam War.
Butler and Sergeant Major Daniel Daly were awarded Medals of Honor for two separate actions: Vera Cruz (1914) and Haiti (1915) for Butler, and Peking (1900) and Haiti (1915) for Daly. Only two Marines, Major General Smedley D. The "Banana Wars" saw a total of another 13 medals conferred on enlisted Marines and officers. Marine and Navy officers were first declared eligible for the award in 1915, and later that year, nine medals were awarded to officers for the landing at Vera Cruz, Mexico, in 1914. Another 63 Marines would receive the Medal of Honor in the 1871 Korean Campaign, the Spanish-American War, the Philippine Insurrection and the Boxer Rebellion.
Mackie, who during the attack on Fort Darling at Drewry's Bluff, Virginia, "fearlessly maintained his musket fire against the rifle pits on shore, and when ordered to fill vacancies at guns caused by men wounded and killed in action, manned the weapon with skill and courage." Sixteen other enlisted Marines were awarded the medal during the Civil War. Since 1862, 297 Marines have been awarded the Medal of Honor.
An Executive Order, signed by President Theodore Roosevelt on 20 September 1905, directed that ceremonies of award "will always be made with formal and impressive ceremonial" and that the recipient "will, when practicable, be ordered to Washington, D.C., and the presentation will be made by the President, as Commander in Chief, or by such representative as the President may designate." It is only on rare occasions, however, that Congress awards special Medals of Honor. The medal is awarded "in the name of the Congress of the United States" and for this reason, it is often called the Congressional Medal of Honor. The medal for the Army and Voluntary Forces was authorized on 12 July 1862. It was authorized by Congress, and approved by President Abraham Lincoln on 21 December 1861. The first military decoration formally authorized by the American Government as a badge of valor was the Medal of Honor for enlisted men of the Navy and Marine Corps. From that time until the Civil War, Certificates of Merit and a "brevet" system of promotions were used as military awards. George Washington originated the Purple Heart in 1782 to honor brave soldiers, sailors and Marines. The idea for the Medal of Honor was born during the Civil War as men fought gallantly and oftentimes displayed great heroism. The deed must be proved by incontestable evidence of at least two eyewitnesses it must be so outstanding that it clearly distinguishes the recipient's gallantry beyond the call of duty from lesser forms of bravery it must involve the risk of his life and it must be the type of deed which, if he had not done it, would not subject him to any justified criticism. In judging men for receipt of the medal, each service has established its own regulations. The Medal of Honor is the highest award for bravery that can be given to any individual in the United States. MARINE CORPS MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS TO SEARCH FOR RECIPIENTS OF THE MEDAL OF HONOR, SCROLL DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE.