60% of medal of honor recipients are Irish or Irish-American

15 days ago

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The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the U.S. government for acts of valor.
Irish-Americans have received a significant portion of Medals of Honor, with 2,021 awarded to them as of 2009, representing 58% of all recipients.
257 Irish-born Americans have received the Medal of Honor, accounting for more than half of foreign-born recipients.
The first Irish-American to receive the Medal of Honor was Michael Madden during the American Civil War.
A monument dedicated to Irish-born Medal of Honor recipients is located at Valley Forge's Medal of Honor Grove.
Recipients are recognized for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty.
The list includes recipients from various conflicts, including the Civil War, Indian Wars, Spanish-American War, World Wars, Korean War, Vietnam War, and recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Notable recipients include Audie Murphy, the most decorated U.S. combat soldier of World War II, and Michael P. Murphy, a Navy SEAL awarded posthumously for actions in Afghanistan.
Some recipients, like Daniel Daly and Henry Hogan, are double Medal of Honor recipients.
The article provides detailed tables of recipients, including their service, rank, unit, place of action, and citations for their awards.

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