National Medal of Honor Day is coming up on March 25th. This day, established in 1990, honors the highest military award for bravery in the United States. The Medal of Honor dates back to the Civil War, but in the last 150 years, just over 3,500 of the 41 million Americans who have served in the military have received this honor. To look at it another way, only 0.0085% of military members ever receive a Medal of Honor.
Earlier this month, living Medal of Honor recipients were invited to ring the New York Stock Exchange Closing Bell. They are also invited to participate in a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
To recognize these heroes, 24/7 Wall St. has compiled a list of the 40 most recent Medal of Honor recipients using data from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. This list, ordered by the date the medal was presented, includes the recipient’s name, military branch, highest rank, presentation date, and the conflict they served in. The most recent 40 recipients are ordered chronologically from their presentation date.
The most recent Medals of Honor were presented to James W. McIntyre and William Simon Harris on January 16, 2025. These medals were approved by President Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. in 1906 for their service during the Philippine Insurrection.
Earlier in January, President Joe Biden presented Medals of Honor to seven veterans. Six of these were posthumous awards, and one was presented in person to Kenneth J. David, a Vietnam War veteran.
These recent ceremonies highlight the extraordinary courage of Medal of Honor recipients. While only a small number of service members receive this honor, their actions inspire us all and remind us of the sacrifices made by those who serve our country.
(This is a revised version of a previously published story, now featuring the most recent Medal of Honor recipients as of 2025. This reflects the latest information as we commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of these individuals this month.)
Why This Matters Today
With National Medal of Honor Day approaching on March 25th, it’s particularly important to learn about the most recent recipients of this esteemed honor. Their stories exemplify the core values of the U.S. military with “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty.” By understanding their sacrifices, we honor their courage, selflessness, and resilience. These narratives serve as powerful reminders of the values we aspire to as a society, especially in today’s complex world.
These are the most recent recipients of the Medal of Honor:
40. Melvin Morris
- Date of presentation: March 19, 2014
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Sergeant First Class
- Served in this conflict: Vietnam War
39. Kyle J. White
- Date of presentation: May 13, 2014
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Sergeant
- Served in this conflict: War on Terrorism (Afghanistan)
38. Ryan M. Pitts
- Date of presentation: July 21, 2014
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Staff Sergeant
- Served in this conflict: War on Terrorism (Afghanistan)
37. Bennie G. Adkins
.jpg "U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Bennie G. Adkins by Alfredo Barraza")
- Date of presentation: September 15, 2014
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Command Sergeant Major
- Served in this conflict: Vietnam War
36. Donald P. Sloat
- Date of presentation: September 15, 2014 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Specialist Fourth Class
- Served in this conflict: Vietnam War
35. Alonzo H. Cushing
- Date of presentation: November 6, 2014 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: First Lieutenant
- Served in this conflict: Civil War
34. William Shemin
- Date of presentation: June 2, 2015 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Sergeant
- Served in this conflict: World War I
33. Henry Johnson
- Date of presentation: June 2, 2015 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Private
- Served in this conflict: World War I
32. Florent A. Groberg
- Date of presentation: November 12, 2015
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Captain
- Served in this conflict: War on Terrorism (Afghanistan)
31. Edward C. Byers Jr.
- Date of presentation: February 29, 2016
- Military branch: U.S. Navy
- Highest rank achieved: Master Chief
- Served in this conflict: War on Terrorism (Afghanistan)
30. Charles S. Kettles
- Date of presentation: July 18, 2016
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Major
- Served in this conflict: Vietnam War
29. James C. McCloughan
- Date of presentation: July 31, 2017
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Specialist Fifth Class
- Served in this conflict: Vietnam War
28. Gary Michael Rose
- Date of presentation: October 23, 2017
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Captain
- Served in this conflict: Vietnam War
27. Garlin M. Conner
- Date of presentation: June 26, 2018 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: First Lieutenant
- Served in this conflict: World War II
26. Ronald J. Shurer II
- Date of presentation: October 1, 2018
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Staff Sergeant
- Served in this conflict: War on Terrorism (Afghanistan)
25. Travis W. Atkins
- Date of presentation: March 27, 2019 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Staff Sergeant
- Served in this conflict: War on Terrorism (Iraq)
24. David D. Bellavia
- Date of presentation: June 25, 2019
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Staff Sergeant
- Served in this conflict: War on Terrorism (Iraq)
23. Matthew O. Williams
- Date of presentation: October 30, 2019
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Sergeant Major
- Served in this conflict: War on Terrorism (Afghanistan)
22. Thomas P. Payne
- Date of presentation: September 11, 2020
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Sergeant Major
- Served in this conflict: War on Terrorism (Iraq)
21. Ralph Puckett, Jr.
- Date of presentation: May 21, 2021
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Colonel
- Served in this conflict: Korean War
20. Alwyn Crendall Cashe
- Date of presentation: December 16, 2021 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Sergeant First Class
- Served in this conflict: War on Terrorism (Iraq)
19. Christopher Andrew Celiz
- Date of presentation: December 16, 2021 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Sergeant First Class
- Served in this conflict: War on Terrorism (Afghanistan)
18. Earl D. Plumlee
- Date of presentation: December 16, 2021
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Master Sergeant
- Served in this conflict: War on Terrorism (Afghanistan)
17. Dwight W. Birdwell
- Date of presentation: July 5, 2022
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Specialist Five
- Served in this conflict: Vietnam War
16. John J. Duffy
- Date of presentation: July 5, 2022
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Major
- Served in this conflict: Vietnam War
15. Dennis M. Fujii
- Date of presentation: July 5, 2022
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Specialist Five
- Served in this conflict: Vietnam War
14. Edward N. Kaneshiro
- Date of presentation: July 5, 2022 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Staff Sergeant
- Served in this conflict: Vietnam War
13. Paris D. Davis
- Date of presentation: March 3, 2023
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Colonel
- Served in this conflict: Vietnam War
12. Larry L. Taylor
- Date of presentation: September 5, 2023
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Captain
- Served in this conflict: Vietnam War
11. George D. Wilson
- Date of presentation: July 3, 2024 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Private
- Served in this conflict: U.S. Civil War
10. Philip G. Shadrach
- Date of presentation: July 3, 2024 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Private
- Served in this conflict: U.S. Civil War
9. Richard E. Cavazos
- Date of presentation: January 3, 2025 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: General
- Served in this conflict: Korean War
8. Charles R. Johnson
- Date of presentation: January 3, 2025 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Private First Class
- Served in this conflict: Korean War
7. Fred B. McGee
- Date of presentation: January 3, 2025 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Corporal
- Served in this conflict: Korean War
6. Wataru Nakamura
- Date of presentation: January 3, 2025 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Private First Class
- Served in this conflict: Korean War
5. Bruno Raymond Abing Orig
- Date of presentation: January 3, 2025 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Private
- Served in this conflict: Korean War
4. Kenneth J. David
- Date of presentation: January 3, 2025
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Specialist Fourth Class
- Served in this conflict: Vietnam War
3. Hugh Reavis Nelson Jr.
- Date of presentation: January 3, 2025 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Captain
- Served in this conflict: Vietnam War
2. James W. McIntyre
- Date of presentation: January 16, 2025 (Approval initially occurred January 8, 1906; physically awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Private
- Served in this conflict: Philippine Insurrection
1. William Simon Harris
- Date of presentation: Physically awarded posthumously January 16, 2025 (Approval initially occurred January 8, 1906)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: First Sergeant
- Served in this conflict: Philippine Insurrection
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