Medal of Honour customs (1 Viewer)

[trooper]

On a couple of TV shows recently I have observed Medal of Honour winners being saluted by both officers and enlisted men. Is this a custom associated with the medal or just something dreamed up by Hollywood?

 

[theBaron]

I'm pretty sure it's a custom, to show respect to the recipient. I don't think it's encoded in regulation.

I think it's also a custom to salute the Medal of Honor recipient, before non-recipients are saluted.

Our veterans can clarify, I'm sure.

Prost!
Brad

 

[sceic2]

On a couple of TV shows recently I have observed Medal of Honour winners being saluted by both officers and enlisted men. Is this a custom associated with the medal or just something dreamed up by Hollywood?

It is in US military regulation in all services that the recipient of the Medal of Honor is saluted first and the person saluting must hold their salute until the Medal of Honor recipient completes returning a salute. Regardless of rank or if the person wearing the medal is in uniform or not, everyone must salute the medal. It just so happens that a human has the medal either on their chest as a ribbon or around their neck with the actual medal. So 4 Star Generals and Admirals and even the President of the United States must salute a private wearing the Medal of Honor. It started as a tradition and later became a military regulation. A good one too.

 

[trooper]

Gentlemen, thank you for the information. It's nice to know that Hollywood have got something right for once.

 

[L Flowers]

There is a good scene from "Gardens of Stone" when a misfit who was with the 3rd ID comes back from Vietnam with MOH and is saluted by higher rank.

Here is a link to the DOD site regarding MOH

http://www.history.army.mil/moh.html

 

[lancer]

There is also a scene in "Heartbreak Ridge" where Clint Eastwood is wearing the MOH and is saluted by superior ranks. -- Lancer

 

[The Military Workshop]

The same tradition also applies to the Victoria Cross medal. There are two living recipients in Australia and they are likewise saluted by all ranks. In fact at functions they would be more highly placed that most Generals.
I have come across many soldiers who have told me about being specifically brief to salute a VC winner who was still in service in the 70's.
And so it should be.
Regards
Brett