The Pentagon is conducting a review to potentially revoke 20 Medals of Honor awarded to soldiers involved in the Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890. This comes as part of the military’s efforts to acknowledge and rectify instances where medal recipients and memorials do not reflect high standards of valor and honor. The move follows increased efforts by the military to address issues related to racism, including removing names of Confederate officers from bases.
The Defense Secretary ordered the review, tasking a panel of experts to examine the actions of the soldiers involved in the massacre and present recommendations by October 15. The Wounded Knee Massacre, where as many as 375 Native Americans were killed, was declared a massacre by the U.S. Senate more than 30 years ago. The soldiers involved indiscriminately fired on men, women, and children seeking shelter, resulting in a brutal and cold-blooded event.
The review aims to evaluate each soldier’s actions during the engagement, considering whether they met the standards of valor required for the Medal of Honor. The guidelines for awarding the medal have evolved over time, with Congress authorizing a board to revoke medals from recipients who didn’t measure up. The review will focus on actions that were disqualifying, such as intentionally attacking civilians, murder, and rape.
Ultimately, the goal of the Pentagon’s review is to ensure that the Medal of Honor, a revered symbol of valor, is awarded only to those who truly displayed honor, gallantry, and distinguished conduct. The senior Defense official emphasized that actions at Wounded Knee were not something to be proud of and that any dishonorable actions should result in revocation of the medal.
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