The Newest Medal of Honor Recipient in Each State

Special Report

Published: December 31, 2023 2:14 pm

The first military action deserving of the Medal of Honor occurred in February 1861, carried out by Bernard Irwin, but he wasn’t presented with the medal until 30 years later as the Medal of Honor was an idea yet to be proposed. This resulted in the first Medal of Honor in history being awarded to Private Jacob Parrot, and five other individuals on March 25, 1863, for their participation in the Great Locomotive Chase, also known as Andrew’s Raid, that had taken place in April of the previous year.

Legislation creating the Navy’s Medal of Honor was signed by Abraham Lincoln in December 1861, with the Army’s legislation signed less than a year later, in July 1862. However, Army officers wouldn’t be eligible for this honor until 1863, while Naval officers wouldn’t be eligible until 1915. This began a storied tradition of military valor and gallantry that had been held for more than 150 years (later legislations included other branches). In that time, just over 3,500 medals have been awarded among the more than 41 million Americans who have served throughout the nation’s history.

Medals of Honor have been awarded for acts of heroism and bravery that unite recipients despite hailing from cities, towns, and cultures all across the nation. And in each generation, soldiers with uncommon valor show the newest generation is no different. (Here is every state’s most impressive Medal of Honor recipient.)

24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society to identify the most recent Medal of Honor recipient from each state. We included the name of the most recent recipient as well as what branch of the military they served in, the highest rank, the date of medal presentation, and the conflict the recipient was involved in. States are ordered alphabetically and all information is from the society. (Also see, every medal and ribbon the U.S. military awards, ranked.)

The most recent recipient of the Medal of Honor is Paris D. Davis for his service in the Vietnam War with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Despite receiving the medal for service during combat operations on June 17-18, 1965, Davis was presented the medal by President Joe Biden at the White House on March 3, 2023. Davis “distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty.”

Sergeant First Class Christopher Andrew Celiz distinguished himself in Afghanistan when he willfully exposed himself to heavy enemy fire so his team was able to safely evacuate, preventing more casualties. Celiz would not survive the encounter, but his sacrifice and selflessness are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service. Biden presented his Medal of Honor on Dec. 16, 2021, at the White House.

While spanning different battlefields and eras, these heroes all share in their exceptional demonstration of gallantry and bravery. Though the Medal of Honor is only awarded to a select few, it serves as an inspiration to many.

Here is the Current Medal of Honor Recipient in Each State