This month we celebrate the nation’s highest and most esteemed military decoration, the Medal of Honor. Formalized in 1990, March 25th, now known as National Medal of Honor Day, commemorates the extraordinary acts of courage by those who have earned this distinction. From the United States Civil War to the present day, over 3,500 medals have been presented to such individuals. However, very few are given each year, as it is an honor reserved for only those who have demonstrated “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity” beyond any expectation.
Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at Medal of Honor recipients, and the states they came from. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society to identify each state’s most recent Medal of Honor recipient. We included the name of the most recent recipient as well as what branch of the military they served in, their highest rank, the date of the medal presentation, and the conflict the recipient was involved in. States are ordered alphabetically, and all information is from the society. Recent recipients from the same state are listed as separate entries.
On January 3, 2025, President Joe Biden presented the Medal of Honor to seven U.S. veterans. Six of these were awarded posthumously after the veterans’ deaths. The only living recipient, Kenneth J. David, served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.
Later on January 16, 2025, two more veterans, James W. McIntyre and William Simon Harris, received the Medal of Honor. These men served in the Philippine Insurrection. Although President Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. had approved their medals in 1906, they were not officially presented until this year.
(This is a revised version of a previously published story, now featuring the most recent Medal of Honor recipients from each state as of 2025. This reflects the latest information as we commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of these individuals this month.)
Why This Matters Today
The heroic stories behind each Medal of Honor never fade, no matter how long ago they occurred. As we approach National Medal of Honor Day this year, we remember and honor these recipients who demonstrated extraordinary courage. Learning and honoring their legacies helps us to reshape our own perspectives and actions. By immersing ourselves in their stories and examples, we can draw inspiration to face our own challenges today with courage and resolve, and remember the core values of our nation.
These are the most recent recipients of the Medal of Honor from each state:
Alabama: George Watson
- Date of presentation: January 13, 1997 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Private
- Served in this conflict: World War II
Alaska: N/A
Arizona: Manuel V Mendoza
- Date of presentation: March 18, 2014 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Staff Sergeant
- Served in this conflict: World War II
Arkansas: Johnny Lee Canley
- Date of presentation: October 17, 2018
- Military branch: U.S. Marine Corps
- Highest rank achieved: Gunnery Sergeant
- Served in this conflict: Vietnam War
California: Salvador J. Lara
- Date of presentation: March 18, 2014 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Private First Class
- Served in this conflict: World War II
California: Joe Gandara
- Date of presentation: March 18, 2014 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Private
- Served in this conflict: World War II
Colorado: Jon Edward Swanson
- Date of presentation: May 1, 2002 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Captain
- Served in this conflict: Vietnam War
Connecticut: John A. Chapman
- Date of presentation: August 22, 2018 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Air Force
- Highest rank achieved: Master Sergeant
- Served in this conflict: War on Terrorism (Afghanistan)
Delaware: James Phillip Connor
- Date of presentation: May 7, 1945
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Sergeant
- Served in this conflict: World War II
Florida: 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)
Georgia: William D. Swenson
- Date of presentation: October 16, 2013
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Lieutenant Colonel
- Served in this conflict: War on Terrorism (Afghanistan)
Hawaii: 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
Idaho: Frank Stanley Reasoner
- Date of presentation: January 31, 1967 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Marine Corps
- Highest rank achieved: First Lieutenant
- Served in this conflict: Vietnam War
Illinois: 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
Indiana: Frank Harry Ono
- Date of presentation: September 21, 2000 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Private First Class
- Served in this conflict: World War II
Iowa: Salvatore Augustine Giunta
- Date of presentation: November 16, 2010
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Staff Sergeant
- Served in this conflict: War on Terrorism (Afghanistan)
Kansas: Riley Leroy Pitts
- Date of presentation: December 10, 1968 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Captain
- Served in this conflict: Vietnam War
Kentucky: Garlin Murl 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
Louisiana: Paris D. Davis
- Date of presentation: March 3, 2023
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Colonel
- Served in this conflict: Vietnam War
Maine: Gary Ivan Gordon
- Date of presentation: May 23, 1994 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Master Sergeant
- Served in this conflict: Somalia (Operation Restore Hope)
Maryland: 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)
Massachusetts: Britt Kelly Slabinski
- Date of presentation: May 24, 2018
- Military branch: U.S. Navy SEALs
- Highest rank achieved: Master Chief
- Served in this conflict: War on Terrorism (Afghanistan)
Michigan: 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
Minnesota: Leo Keith Thorsness
- Date of presentation: October 15, 1973
- Military branch: U.S. Air Force
- Highest rank achieved: Lieutenant Colonel
- Served in this conflict: Vietnam War
Mississippi: Ed W. Freeman
- Date of presentation: July 16, 2001
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Major
- Served in this conflict: Vietnam War
Missouri: Willy F. James Jr.
- Date of presentation: January 13, 1997 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Private First Class
- Served in this conflict: World War II
Montana: 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)
Nebraska: Donald K. Schwab
- Date of presentation: March 18, 2014 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: First Lieutenant
- Served in this conflict: World War II
Nevada: Bruce Avery Van Voorhis
- Date of presentation: August 1, 1946 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Navy
- Highest rank achieved: Commander
- Served in this conflict: World War II
New Hampshire: Richard Hetherington O’Kane
- Date of presentation: March 27, 1946
- Military branch: U.S. Navy
- Highest rank achieved: Rear Admiral
- Served in this conflict: World War II
New Jersey: Henry Svehla
- Date of presentation: May 2, 2011 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Private First Class
- Served in this conflict: Korean War
New Mexico: Leroy Arthur Petry
- Date of presentation: July 12, 2011
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Master Sergeant
- Served in this conflict: War on Terrorism (Afghanistan)
New York: Charles Robert 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
North Carolina: 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
North Dakota: 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
Ohio: 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
Ohio: 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
Oklahoma: 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
Oregon: Larry Gilbert Dahl
- Date of presentation: August 8, 1974 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Specialist Fourth Class
- Served in this conflict: Vietnam War
Pennsylvania: Ross A. McGinnis
- Date of presentation: June 2, 2008 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Private First Class
- Served in this conflict: War on Terrorism (Iraq)
Rhode Island: David Bernard Champagne
- Date of presentation: July 23, 1953 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Marine Corps
- Highest rank achieved: Corporal
- Served in this conflict: Korean War
South Carolina: 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)
South Dakota: Michael John Fitzmaurice
- Date of presentation: October 15, 1973
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Technical Sergeant (Air National Guard)
- Served in this conflict: Vietnam War
Tennessee: Larry L. Taylor
- Date of presentation: September 5, 2023
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Captain
- Served in this conflict: Vietnam War
Texas: Richard Edward Cavazos
- Date of presentation: January 3, 2025 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: General
- Served in this conflict: Korean War
Utah: George Taro “Joe” Sakato
- Date of presentation: June 21, 2000
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Private
- Served in this conflict: World War II
Vermont: Lawson Paterson “Red” Ramage
- Date of presentation: January 10, 1945
- Military branch: U.S. Navy
- Highest rank achieved: Vice Admiral
- Served in this conflict: World War II
Virginia: Humbert Roque “Rocky” Versace
- Date of presentation: July 8, 2002 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Captain
- Served in this conflict: Vietnam War
Washington: 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
West Virginia: Robert Willard Hartsock
- Date of presentation: August 6, 1970 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Staff Sergeant
- Served in this conflict: Vietnam War
Wisconsin: Benjamin Louis Salomon
- Date of presentation: May 1, 2002 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Captain
- Served in this conflict: World War II
Wyoming: Joe Hayashi
- Date of presentation: June 21, 2000 (*Awarded posthumously)
- Military branch: U.S. Army
- Highest rank achieved: Private
- Served in this conflict: World War II
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