Who is the only US president to have been awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry in action?

Established by Abraham Lincoln, the Medal of Honor is the highest military award that can be bestowed upon service members that distinguish themselves through gallantry in action. While serving as Sec. of Navy, the future President quit his day job and formed a volunteer unit known as the Rough Riders during the Spanish American War and took part in a lot of confrontations in Cuba. He was nominated in 1916, 3 yrs before his death, for his action at San Juan Hill. It was awarded posthumously by Pres. Bill Clinton in 2001.

Besides, Roosevelt is the only Medal of Honor awardee to also be a Nobel Laureate (Peace, 1906). Interestingly enough, his son, Lt. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt Jr, was also awarded a Medal of Honor for his actions during the first wave of landings on Normandy Beach in 1944.

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More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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40 Comments

Ben Woltz

My Great grandfather rode with the Rough Riders.

Jim Farmer

Roosevelt is the correct spelling........no letter d

Dave Levett

Connie Arnold, Who cares and for what pray tell!?

Linda Spreng

Jeanne Allen, Clinton WAS president in 2001 ... for 20 days.

Cheryl McMeekin

Got it, great question and info.

Marie Giles

Forgot about that

James C Poulton

The son was mentioned in the movie, “The Longest Day”. Henry Fonda played the role. He led the troops off Omaha Beach.

Shane Oney

Bradley Thomas Sage, the Germans had developed and were flying the Messerschmitt 262 twin jet engine fighter planes by the end of the war in 1944, but it was too late to help change the outcome of the war.

Connie Arnold

Obama got Nobel Peace Prize

Jim Adams

Barbara Greer, easy for me, Ike wasn't a combat officer so the MOH wasn't going to happen, at least for action.

Jim Adams

Trcdy Roosevelt Jr came ashore with the first landing force, unfortunately had a heart attack and died only a few days after the landings

Johnny Rock

Theodore Roosevelt was an important 20th century president. He deserves great respect and honor. But a medal of honor almost 100 years after it happened doesn't seem somehow a necessary endeavor.