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by EPTING JIM on January 21st, 2005

EPTING JIM

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By the rules or regulations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, are military personnel required to salute a recipient of the Medal of Honor? What about civilians?

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  • by Anonymous on March 21st, 2008

    Anonymous

    Here is the policy. Provided direct to me from the
    Congressional Medal of Honor Society National Headquarters

    MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS
    General Protocol and Information
    SALUTE:
    There is no law or military regulation that sets forth a requirement for military personnel of any rank to salute a Medal of Honor recipient. It is presumed that this assumption arises from an old custom in the Army when the Medal of Honor ceremonies included a regimental or brigade parade. The recipient stood beside the officer receiving the “pass in review” and, with that officer, returned the salutes of the company or unit commanders as they passed. However, it is permissible to salute a recipient as a display of respect or honor – whether he is civilian or retired military – when he is physically wearing the medal.
    NOTE: If the recipient is still on active duty and is a commissioned officer, those of a lower rank will salute him as per military regulations.

    WEAR OF THE MEDAL:
    There are no set guidelines for when wear of the Medal of Honor is allowed. The recipient may wear it at all times, if he so chooses. It is suggested that he wear it when appearing as a guest speaker or a guest of honor at a function – be that function related to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, a military event, civic or community gathering, or an appearance at a school. The medal should not be worn with the neck ribbon in a tattered or soiled state.

    ARRANGEMENT OF RECIPIENTS:
    When more than one Medal of Honor recipient is to be present at an event, it is requested by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and the recipients themselves that they NOT be arranged by rank. If the recipients are to participate in a parade where they will be walking, they may be arranged by height (i.e., shortest to tallest). If they are to be seated on a podium, they may be arranged with the tallest in the center, and the shorter recipients on either side. They may be ordered alphabetically, by war, by action date, by birthplace, by state, by age – almost any arrangement is correct EXCEPT that of rank. The recipients themselves feel that none “outranks” the other and therefore they should be treated equally.

    BENEFITS:
    Medal of Honor recipients receive a $1,067 stipend each month for life (increased from $600 by Public Law in September 2003 to $1,000 with cost of living increases each year).

    Recipients may travel free on military aircraft on a space-available basis.

    A recipient may be buried at Arlington National Cemetery (with full honor guard, if requested).

    Medal of Honor recipients’ sons and daughters may apply to any military academy and be considered for enrollment without a Congressional sponsor. If they are scholastically acceptable, they will be considered for appointment. This appointment is at no cost to the recipient or the dependent.

    If the dependent chooses a civilian college and is scholastically accepted but financially unable to attend, they may apply to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society for scholarship assistance. The Society gives first consideration to those who are not entitled to Veterans Administration educational benefits, or full scholarship or educational assistance from any other program.

    Tricare

    GENERAL INFORMATION:
    Contrary to apparent popular impression, those Medal of Honor recipients who are still on active duty are required to stand inspection if their unit is so directed by a superior officer. (NOTE: As of 1 June 2006 there is one (1) living recipient who is still on active duty.)

    Medal of Honor recipients who accept public or private speaking engagements generally are not financially compensated. If a gratuity is available and offered, arrangements will be made with the individual recipient as to whether or not he wishes to receive the payment. Gratuities not accepted by the recipient may be transferred to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society or the charity of the recipient’s choice. Transportation, meals and lodging are most often paid by the agency that requested the recipient to attend the function.

    Medal of Honor recipients are not required to become members of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, although most choose to do so. The Society serves as a point of contact for all recipients, their families and their widows. The Society passes information on upcoming events and reports on current and past events via the quarterly newsletter. The Society is a non-profit, self-sustaining (IRS 501 (c) (3)) organization chartered (not funded) by Congress in 1958.

    Please refer any questions regarding the above information to:

    Congressional Medal of Honor Society National Headquarters
    40 Patriots Point Road
    Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
    Phone: (843) 884-8862 Fax: (843) 884-1471
    medalhq@earthlink.net

    David A. Larson, Sr.
    Commander, U.S. Navy, Retired

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  • by Pointeman1 on January 28th, 2005

    Pointeman1

    All Medal of Honor recipients are entitled to a salute by members of the uniformed US Armed Forces. By tradition and practice the salute is rendered only at such times that the actual medal is is worn around the neck of the recipient or during specific ceremonial occasions.

    The medal is usually only worn during special occasions and ceremonies. For daily use the MoH ribbon is worn just above the left breast pocket on the Class-A service uniform. It is always worn as the first decoration in line as there is no other medals higher in the US Military than the Medal of Honor.

    If an officer and an elisted man are both MoH recipient. Mutual salutes are exchange; if an officer who is not a holder of the MoH meets an elisted holder of the medal, that officer must then render a salute to that enlisted man.

    Recipients who are no longer active; or have received this seperation papers from the US Military, and those on active duty when they are in civilian dress durning non-ceremonial occasions, wear a lapel pin indicating they are holders of the highest US Military Award.

    Our Military serves us. Civilians are not required to salute Medal of Honor recipients nor any others in the Military.

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  • by Anonymous on March 21st, 2008

    Anonymous

    Congressional Medal of Honor Society National Headquarters

    MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS
    General Protocol and Information

    SALUTE:
    There is no law or military regulation that sets forth a requirement for military personnel of any rank to salute a Medal of Honor recipient. It is presumed that this assumption arises from an old custom in the Army when the Medal of Honor ceremonies included a regimental or brigade parade. The recipient stood beside the officer receiving the “pass in review” and, with that officer, returned the salutes of the company or unit commanders as they passed. However, it is permissible to salute a recipient as a display of respect or honor – whether he is civilian or retired military – when he is physically wearing the medal.
    NOTE: If the recipient is still on active duty and is a commissioned officer, those of a lower rank will salute him as per military regulations.

    WEAR OF THE MEDAL:
    There are no set guidelines for when wear of the Medal of Honor is allowed. The recipient may wear it at all times, if he so chooses. It is suggested that he wear it when appearing as a guest speaker or a guest of honor at a function – be that function related to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, a military event, civic or community gathering, or an appearance at a school. The medal should not be worn with the neck ribbon in a tattered or soiled state.

    ARRANGEMENT OF RECIPIENTS:
    When more than one Medal of Honor recipient is to be present at an event, it is requested by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and the recipients themselves that they NOT be arranged by rank. If the recipients are to participate in a parade where they will be walking, they may be arranged by height (i.e., shortest to tallest). If they are to be seated on a podium, they may be arranged with the tallest in the center, and the shorter recipients on either side. They may be ordered alphabetically, by war, by action date, by birthplace, by state, by age – almost any arrangement is correct EXCEPT that of rank. The recipients themselves feel that none “outranks” the other and therefore they should be treated equally.

    BENEFITS:
    Medal of Honor recipients receive a $1,067 stipend each month for life (increased from $600 by Public Law in September 2003 to $1,000 with cost of living increases each year).
    Recipients may travel free on military aircraft on a space-available basis.
    A recipient may be buried at Arlington National Cemetery (with full honor guard, if requested).
    Medal of Honor recipients’ sons and daughters may apply to any military academy and be considered for enrollment without a Congressional sponsor. If they are scholastically acceptable, they will be considered for appointment. This appointment is at no cost to the recipient or the dependent.
    If the dependent chooses a civilian college and is scholastically accepted but financially unable to attend, they may apply to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society for scholarship assistance. The Society gives first consideration to those who are not entitled to Veterans Administration educational benefits, or full scholarship or educational assistance from any other program.
    Tricare


    GENERAL INFORMATION:
    Contrary to apparent popular impression, those Medal of Honor recipients who are still on active duty are required to stand inspection if their unit is so directed by a superior officer. (NOTE: As of 1 June 2006 there is one (1) living recipient who is still on active duty.)

    Medal of Honor recipients who accept public or private speaking engagements generally are not financially compensated. If a gratuity is available and offered, arrangements will be made with the individual recipient as to whether or not he wishes to receive the payment. Gratuities not accepted by the recipient may be transferred to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society or the charity of the recipient’s choice. Transportation, meals and lodging are most often paid by the agency that requested the recipient to attend the function.

    Medal of Honor recipients are not required to become members of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, although most choose to do so. The Society serves as a point of contact for all recipients, their families and their widows. The Society passes information on upcoming events and reports on current and past events via the quarterly newsletter. The Society is a non-profit, self-sustaining (IRS 501 (c) (3)) organization chartered (not funded) by Congress in 1958.
    Please refer any questions regarding the above information to:

    Congressional Medal of Honor Society National Headquarters
    40 Patriots Point Road
    Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
    Phone: (843) 884-8862 Fax: (843) 884-1471
    medalhq@earthlink.net

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  • by CaptainHarley adores his life penguin on September 22nd, 2009

    CaptainHarley adores his life penguin

    I once saw an entire roomful of general officers come to attention when a MOH winner entered the room. There is no requrement for anyone of the same or higher rank to salute an MOH winner, but most do. Civilians are never required to salute.

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  • by Anonymous on September 22nd, 2009

    Anonymous

    Any uniformed military personnel would salute a Medal of Honor recipient whether or not he is in uniform.
    As far as I know, even the President - as Commander In Chief of all armed forces - salutes any Medal of Honor winner whether in uniform or not if the medal is being worn.

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  • by USsailorNuke on August 11th, 2010

    USsailorNuke

    I'm a Sailor in the US Navy, and one of the times I was invited by my MCPO to a function at a local school honoring servicemen/women. One of the guest speakers was a MOH recipent, Chief snapped a hand salute so quickly that I thought he would bruise himself, so naturally I followed suit. There was also an army LT that snapped to as well. So yes, you salute MOH holders, even officers do.

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  • by richardtravis on July 3rd, 2010

    richardtravis

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