List of Portuguese-American Medal of Honor recipients
The Medal of Honor was introduced during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. The recipient must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their own life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an enemy of the United States. Due to the nature of this medal, it is commonly presented posthumously.[1]
World War II
[edit] This with the * indicates that the Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously
| Image | Name | Rank | Branch | Unit | Place of action | Date of action | Notes/Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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|
Harold Gonsalves* | Private first class | Marine Corps | 4th Battalion, 15th Marines 6th Marine Division |
Ryūkyū Chain, Okinawa | April 15, 1945 | Sacrificed his life to smother a grenade with his body[2] |
|
George J. Peters* | Private | Army | 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division | Wesel, Germany | March 24, 1945 | Single-handedly attacked a German machine gun emplacement[3] |
Korean War
[edit] This with the * indicates that the Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously
| Image | Name | Rank | Branch | Unit | Place of action | Date of action | Notes/Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Leroy A. Mendonca* | Sergeant | United States Army | 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division | near Chich-on, Korea | July 4, 1951 | Voluntarily remained in an exposed position and covered the platoon's withdrawal[4] |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "A Brief History — The Medal of Honor". Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). Department of Defense. August 8, 2006. Archived from the original on May 19, 2009. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
- ^ "Medal of Honor Monday: Marine Corps Pfc. Harold Gonsalves". U.S. Department of Defense. Archived from the original on 2025-01-19. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
- ^ "Soul of a New Machine: Remembering George Peters: a hometown hero". Warwick Beacon. 2009-11-12. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
- ^ "Leroy Anthony Mendonca | Korean War | U.S. Army | Medal of Honor Recipient". Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Retrieved 2025-03-15.