List of foreign-born Medal of Honor recipients
| Medal of Honor |
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| All recipients |
| American Civil War |
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| Other wars and conflicts |
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| By ethnic group |
| By other criteria |
The Medal of Honor was created 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.
Although Medals of Honor can be awarded only to members of the U.S. armed forces, being a U.S. citizen is not a prerequisite for eligibility to receive the medal. Since the American Civil War, hundreds of people born outside the United States have received the medal, the most recent of these recipients being Pedro Cano and Jesus S. Duran who received their medals in March 2014 for actions performed during World War II and the Vietnam War respectively. The large number of foreign-born recipients during the 19th and early 20th centuries was mostly due to immigration waves from Europe.
American Civil War (A-M)
[edit] This with the * indicates that the Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously
American Civil War (N-Z)
[edit] This with the * indicates that the Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously
Indian Wars
[edit] This with the * indicates that the Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously
| Image | Name | Country of birth | Rank | Branch | Place of action | Date of action | Notes/Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Anderson | Canada | Private | Army | Near Wichita River, Texas | October 5, 1870 | Born as James Anderson Smythe | |
| Richard Barrett | Ireland | First Sergeant | Army | Sycamore Canyon, Arizona | May 23, 1872 | ||
| James J. Bell | Ireland | Private | Army | Big Horn, Montana | July 9, 1876 | ||
| Frederick Bergendahl | Sweden | Private | Army | Staked Plains, Texas | December 8, 1874 | ||
| Frank Bratling* | Germany | Corporal | Army | Fort Selden, New Mexico | July 8, 1873 – July 11, 1873 | ||
| James Brogan | Ireland | Sergeant | Army | Simon Valley, Arizona | December 14, 1877 | ||
| Oscar Burkard | Germany | Private | Army | Near Leech Lake, Minnesota | October 5, 1898 | ||
| Edmond Butler | Ireland | Captain | Army | Wolf Mountains, Montana | January 8, 1877 | ||
| Denis Byrne | Ireland | Sergeant | Army | Cedar Creek, Montana | October 1876 – January 1877 | ||
| Thomas J. Callan | Ireland | Private | Army | Little Bighorn, Montana | June 25, 1876 – June 26, 1876 | ||
| John Connor | Ireland | Corporal | Army | Near Wichita River, Texas | July 12, 1870 | ||
| William Evans | Ireland | Private | Army | Big Horn, Montana | July 9, 1876 | ||
| Henry Falcott | France | Sergeant | Army | Arizona Territory | August – October 1868 | ||
| Daniel Farren | Ireland | Private | Army | Arizona Territory | August – October 1868 | ||
| James Fegan | Ireland | Sergeant | Army | Plum Creek, Kansas | March 1868 | ||
| Hermann Fichter | Germany | Private | Army | Whetstone Mountains, Arizona | May 5, 1871 | ||
| John H. Foley | Ireland | Sergeant | Army | Near Platte River, Nebraska | April 26, 1872 | ||
| Nicholas Foran | Ireland | Private | Army | Arizona Territory | August – October 1868 | ||
| William Foster | England, United Kingdom | Sergeant | Army | Near Red River, Texas | September 29, 1872 | ||
| Christopher Freemeyer | Germany | Private | Army | Cedar Creek, Montana | October 21, 1876 – January 8, 1877 | ||
| Charles Gardner | Germany | Private | Army | Arizona Territory | August – October 1868 | Born as Simon Suhler | |
| Thomas H. Gay | Canada | Private | Army | Arizona Territory | August – October 1868 | ||
| Frederick W. Gerber | Germany | Sergeant Major | Army | 1839–1871 | Awarded the Medal of Honor for his entire career, rather than a single action | ||
| Albert Glawinski | Germany | Private | Army | Near Powder River, Montana | March 17, 1876 | ||
| Patrick Golden | Ireland | Sergeant | Army | Arizona Territory | August – October 1868 | ||
| John Green | Germany | Major | Army | Lava Beds, California | January 17, 1873 | ||
| Mathew H. Hamilton | Scotland, United Kingdom | Private | Army | Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota | December 29, 1890 | ||
| Mosher A. Harding | Canada | Blacksmith | Army | Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona | October 20, 1869 | ||
| George Hobday | England, United Kingdom | Private | Army | Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota | December 29, 1890 | Born as Stephen John Hobday | |
| Henry Hogan | Ireland | First Sergeant | Army | Cedar Creek, Montana Bear Paw Mountains, Montana |
October 1876 – January 8, 1877 September 30, 1877 |
Double MOH recipient | |
| Bernard J. D. Irwin | Ireland | Assistant Surgeon | Army | Apache Pass, Arizona | February 13, 1861 – February 14, 1861 | ||
| John James | England, United Kingdom | Corporal | Army | Near Washita River, Texas | September 9, 1874 – September 11, 1874 | ||
| Bernhard Jetter | Germany | Sergeant | Army | South Dakota | December 1890 | ||
| John Keenan | Ireland | Private | Army | Arizona Territory | August – October 1868 | ||
| John Kilmartin | Canada | Private | Army | Whetstone Mountains, Arizona | May 5, 1871 | ||
| Albert Knaak | Switzerland | Private | Army | Arizona Territory | August – October 1868 | ||
| Wendelin Kreher* | Germany | First Sergeant | Army | Cedar Creek, Montana | October 21, 1876 – January 8, 1877 | ||
| Patrick J. Leonard | Ireland | Sergeant | Army | Little Blue, Nebraska | May 15, 1870 | ||
| Patrick T. Leonard | Ireland | Corporal | Army | Near Fort Hartsuff, Nebraska | April 26, 1876 | ||
| Thomas Little | Barbados | Bugler | Army | Arizona Territory | August – October 1868 | ||
| Herbert Mahers | Canada | Private | Army | Seneca Mountain, Arizona | August 25, 1869 | ||
| Gregory Mahoney | Wales, United Kingdom | Private | Army | Near Red River, Texas | September 26, 1874 – September 28, 1874 | ||
| John May | Germany | Sergeant | Army | Near Washita River, Texas | July 12, 1870 | ||
| Bernard McCann* | Ireland | Private | Army | Cedar Creek, Montana | October 21, 1876 – January 8, 1877 | ||
| Michael M. McCarthy | Canada | First Sergeant | Army | White Bird Canyon, Idaho | June 1876 – January 1877 | ||
| George H. Morgan | Canada | Second Lieutenant | Army | Big Dry Fork, Arizona | July 17, 1882 | Born to an American mother | |
| Jeremiah J. Murphy | Ireland | Private | Army | Near Powder River, Montana | March 17, 1876 | ||
| Adam Neder | Germany | Private | Army | South Dakota | December 1890 | ||
| Henry Newman | Germany | First Sergeant | Army | Whetstone Mountains, Arizona | July 13, 1872 | ||
| John Nihill | Ireland | Private | Army | Whetstone Mountains, Arizona | July 13, 1872 | ||
| Richard J. Nolan | Ireland | Farrier | Army | Near White Clay Creek, South Dakota | December 30, 1890 | ||
| Moses Orr | Ireland | Private | Army | Arizona Territory | Winter of 1872/1873 | ||
| John F. O'Sullivan | Ireland | Private | Army | Staked Plains, Texas | December 8, 1874 | ||
| William R. Parnell | Ireland | First Lieutenant | Army | White Bird Canyon, Idaho | June 17, 1877 | ||
| Isaac Payne | Mexico | Trumpeter | Army | Near Pecos River, Texas | April 25, 1875 | Born to Black Seminoles | |
| James Pym | England, United Kingdom | Private | Army | Little Bighorn, Montana | June 25, 1876 | ||
| Theodore Ragnar | Sweden | First Sergeant | Army | Near White Clay Creek, South Dakota | December 30, 1890 | ||
| Henry Rodenburg | Germany | Private | Army | Cedar Creek, Montana | October 21, 1876 – January 8, 1877 | ||
| Patrick Rogan | Ireland | Sergeant | Army | Big Hole, Montana | August 9, 1877 | ||
| Stanislaus Roy | France | Sergeant | Army | Little Bighorn, Montana | June 25, 1876 | ||
| John Schnitzer | Germany | Wagoner | Army | Horseshoe Canyon, New Mexico | April 22, 1882 | ||
| Julius Schou | Denmark | Corporal | Army | 1876 | |||
| Rudolph Stauffer | Switzerland | First Sergeant | Army | Near Camp Hualpai, Arizona | May – November 1872 | ||
| Christian Steiner | Germany | Private | Army | Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona | October 20, 1869 | ||
| Julius H. Stickoffer | Switzerland | Saddler | Army | Cienega Springs, Utah | November 11, 1868 | ||
| James Sumner | England, United Kingdom | Private | Army | Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona | October 20, 1869 | ||
| John Thompson | Scotland, United Kingdom | Sergeant | Army | Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona | October 20, 1869 | ||
| Peter Thompson | Scotland, United Kingdom | Private | Army | Little Bighorn, Montana | June 25, 1876 | ||
| John Tracy | Ireland | Private | Army | Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona | October 20, 1869 | Born as Henry G. Nabers | |
| Jacob Trautman | Germany | First Sergeant | Army | Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota | December 29, 1890 | ||
| Ernest Veuve | Switzerland | Sergeant | Army | Staked Plains, Texas | November 3, 1874 | ||
| Otto Voit | Germany | Saddler | Army | Little Bighorn, Montana | June 25, 1876 | ||
| Rudolph von Medem | Germany | Sergeant | Army | Arizona Territory | 1872–1873 | ||
| Paul H. Weinert | Germany | Corporal | Army | Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota | December 29, 1890 | ||
| Jacob Widmer | Germany | First Sergeant | Army | Near Milk River, Colorado | September 29, 1879 | ||
| Henry Wilkens | Germany | First Sergeant | Army | Little Muddy Creek, Montana and Camas Meadows, Idaho | May 7, 1877 and August 20, 1877 | ||
| Charles Windolph | Germany | Private | Army | Little Bighorn, Montana | June 25, 1876 – June 26, 1876 | ||
| George G. Wortman | Canada | Sergeant | Army | Arizona Territory | August – October 1868 | ||
| Hermann Ziegner | Germany | Private | Army | South Dakota | December 29, 1890 – December 30, 1890 |
Korean Expedition
[edit]| Image | Name | Country of birth | Rank | Branch | Place of action | Date of action | Notes/Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Coleman | Ireland | Private | Marine Corps | On board USS Colorado | June 11, 1871 | ||
| James Dougherty | Ireland | Private | Marine Corps | On board USS Benicia | June 11, 1871 | ||
| Patrick H. Grace | Ireland | Chief Quartermaster | Navy | On board USS Benicia | June 10, 1871 – June 11, 1871 | ||
| William F. Lukes | Bohemia | Landman | Navy | Ganghwa Island, Korea | June 9, 1871 – June 10, 1871 | ||
| Alexander McKenzie | Scotland, United Kingdom | Boatswain's Mate | Navy | On board USS Colorado | June 11, 1871 | ||
| Michael McNamara | Ireland | Private | Marine Corps | On board USS Benicia | June 11, 1871 | ||
| James F. Merton | England, United Kingdom | Landman | Navy | Ganghwa Island, Korea | June 9, 1871 – June 10, 1871 | ||
| Samuel F. Rogers | Canada | Quartermaster | Navy | On board USS Colorado | June 11, 1871 |
Spanish–American War
[edit]Samoan Civil War
[edit]| Image | Name | Country of birth | Rank | Branch | Place of action | Date of action | Notes/Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frederick T. Fisher | England, United Kingdom | Gunner's Mate First Class | Navy | Samoa | April 1, 1899 | ||
| Bruno A. Forsterer | Germany | Sergeant | Marine Corps | Samoa | April 1, 1899 | ||
| Henry L. Hulbert | England, United Kingdom | Private | Marine Corps | Samoa | April 1, 1899 |
Philippine–American War
[edit] This with the * indicates that the Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously
Boxer Rebellion
[edit] This with the * indicates that the Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously
| Image | Name | Country of birth | Rank | Branch | Place of action | Date of action | Notes/Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward G. Allen | Netherlands | Boatswain's Mate First Class | Navy | China | June 13, 1900 – June 22, 1900 | ||
| James Cooney | Ireland | Private | Marine Corps | Tientsin, China | July 13, 1900 | ||
| John O. Dahlgren | Sweden | Corporal | Marine Corps | Beijing, China | June 20, 1900 – July 16, 1900 | ||
| Hans A. Hansen | Germany | Seaman | Navy | China | June 13, 1900 – June 22, 1900 | ||
| Henry W. Heisch | Germany | Private | Marine Corps | Tientsin, China | June 20, 1900 | ||
| Martin Hunt | Ireland | Private | Marine Corps | Beijing, China | June 20, 1900 – July 16, 1900 | ||
| Joseph Killackey | Ireland | Landman | Navy | China | June 13, 1900 – June 22, 1900 | ||
| Carl E. Petersen | Germany | Chief Machinist | Navy | Beijing, China | June 28, 1900 – August 17, 1900 | ||
| William Seach | England, United Kingdom | Ordinary Seaman | Navy | China | June 13, 1900 – June 22, 1900 | ||
| Peter Stewart | Scotland, United Kingdom | Gunnery Sergeant | Marine Corps | China | June 13, 1900 – June 22, 1900 | ||
| Karl Thomas* | Germany | Coxswain | Navy | China | June 13, 1900 – June 22, 1900 | ||
| Martin T. Torgerson | Norway | Gunner's Mate Third Class | Navy | China | June 13, 1900 – June 22, 1900 | ||
| Robert H. Von Schlick | Germany | Private | Army | Tientsin, China | July 13, 1900 | ||
| Edward A. Walker | Scotland, United Kingdom | Sergeant | Marine Corps | Beijing, China | June 20, 1900 – July 16, 1900 | ||
| Axel Westermark | Finland | Seaman | Navy | Beijing, China | June 28, 1900 – August 17, 1900 |
Occupation of Veracruz
[edit]| Image | Name | Country of birth | Rank | Branch | Place of action | Date of action | Notes/Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niels Drustrup | Denmark | Lieutenant | Navy | Veracruz, Mexico | April 21, 1914 | ||
| John Grady | Canada | Lieutenant | Navy | Veracruz, Mexico | April 22, 1914 |
World War I
[edit] This with the * indicates that the Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously
| Image | Name | Country of birth | Rank | Branch | Place of action | Date of action | Notes/Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Jake Allex | Serbia | Corporal | Army | Chipilly, France | August 9, 1918 | Born as Aleksa Mandušić |
|
Johannes S. Anderson | Finland | First Sergeant | Army | Consenvoye, France | October 8, 1918 | |
|
Louis Cukela | Croatia | Sergeant | Marine Corps | Villers-Cotterêts, France | July 18, 1918 | Born as Vjekoslav Lujo Cukela; double MOH recipient |
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George Dilboy* | Ottoman Empire | Private First Class | Army | Belleau, France | July 18, 1918 | |
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George Price Hays | China | First Lieutenant | Army | Greves Farm, France | July 14, 1918 – July 15, 1918 | Born to American parents |
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Matej Kocak* | Slovakia | Sergeant | Marine Corps | Soissons, France | July 18, 1918 | Double MOH recipient |
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John C. Latham | England, United Kingdom | Sergeant | Army | Le Catelet, France | September 29, 1918 | |
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Berger Loman | Norway | Private | Army | Consenvoye, France | October 9, 1918 | |
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James I. Mestrovitch* | Montenegro | Sergeant | Army | Fismette, France | August 10, 1918 | Born as Joko Meštrović |
| John O. Siegel | Germany | Boatswain's Mate Second Class | Navy | Chesapeake Bay | November 1, 1918 | ||
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Joseph H. Thompson | Ireland | Major | Army | Apremont, France | October 1, 1918 | |
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Michael Valente | Italy | Private | Army | Ronssoy, France | September 29, 1918 | |
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Ludovicus M. M. Van Iersel | Netherlands | Sergeant | Army | Mouzon, France | November 9, 1918 | |
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Reidar Waaler | Norway | Sergeant | Army | Ronssoy, France | September 27, 1918 |
World War II
[edit] This with the * indicates that the Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously
| Image | Name | Country of birth | Rank | Branch | Place of action | Date of action | Notes/Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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|
Jose Calugas | Philippines | Sergeant | Army | Bataan, Philippines | January 16, 1942 | Despite his birth in a US territory, he was classified as an immigrant due to the Tydings–McDuffie Act |
|
Pedro Cano* | Mexico | Private | Army | Schevenhütte, Germany | December 2, 1944 – December 3, 1944 | |
| Robert Craig* | Scotland, United Kingdom | Second Lieutenant | Army | Sicily, Italy | July 11, 1943 | ||
|
Marcario Garcia | Mexico | Staff Sergeant | Army | Grosshau, Germany | November 27, 1944 | |
| Eric G. Gibson* | Sweden | Technician Fifth Grade | Army | Isola Bella, Italy | January 28, 1944 | ||
|
Robert M. Hanson* | India | First Lieutenant | Marine Corps | Bougainville Island and New Britain | November 1, 1943 and January 24, 1944 | Born to American parents |
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Silvestre S. Herrera | Mexico | Private First Class | Army | Mertzwiller, France | March 15, 1945 | |
|
James H. Howard | China | Major | Army Air Forces | Germany | January 11, 1944 | Born to American parents |
| Isadore S. Jachman* | Germany | Staff Sergeant | Army | Flamierge, Belgium | January 4, 1945 | ||
|
Charles A. MacGillivary | Canada | Sergeant | Army | Woelfling, France | January 1, 1945 | |
| Archibald Mathies* | Scotland, United Kingdom | Sergeant | Army Air Forces | Germany | February 20, 1944 | ||
| Nicholas Minue* | Poland | Private | Army | Medjezel Bab, Tunisia | April 28, 1943 | ||
|
Douglas A. Munro* | Canada | Signalman First Class | Coast Guard | Guadalcanal | September 27, 1942 | Born to an American father; only Coast Guard MOH recipient |
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Peter Tomich* | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Chief Petty Officer Watertender | Navy | Pearl Harbor, Hawaii | December 7, 1941 | Born as Petar Herceg |
Korean War
[edit] This with the * indicates that the Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously
| Image | Name | Country of birth | Rank | Branch | Place of action | Date of action | Notes/Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
John K. Koelsch* | England, United Kingdom | Lieutenant Junior Grade | Navy | North Korea | July 3, 1951 | Born to American parents |
|
Tibor Rubin | Hungary | Corporal | Army | South Korea North Korea |
July 23, 1950 – April 20, 1953 |
Vietnam War
[edit] This with the * indicates that the Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously
| Image | Name | Country of birth | Rank | Branch | Place of action | Date of action | Notes/Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis Albanese* | Italy | Private First Class | Army | Republic of Vietnam | December 1, 1966 | ||
|
Jon R. Cavaiani | Ireland | Staff Sergeant | Army | Hill 950, Republic of Vietnam | December 4, 1971 – December 5, 1971 | |
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Jesus S. Duran* | Mexico | Specialist Fourth Class | Army | Republic of Vietnam | April 10, 1969 | |
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Jose F. Jimenez* | Mexico | Lance Corporal | Marine Corps | Quảng Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam | August 28, 1969 | |
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Peter C. Lemon | Canada | Specialist Fourth Class | Army | Tây Ninh Province, Republic of Vietnam | April 1, 1970 | |
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Laszlo Rabel* | Hungary | Staff Sergeant | Army | Bình Định Province, Republic of Vietnam | May 20, 1967 | |
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Alfred V. Rascon | Mexico | Specialist Fourth Class | Army | Long Khánh Province, Republic of Vietnam | March 16, 1966 | |
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Leslie H. Sabo, Jr.* | Austria | Sergeant | Army | Se San, Cambodia | May 10, 1970 | His parents were Hungarian refugees |
Afghanistan War
[edit]| Image | Name | Country of birth | Rank. | Branch | Place of action | Date of action | Notes/Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Florent Groberg | France | Captain | Army | Afghanistan | August 8, 2012 | [1] |
Peacetime
[edit]Unknown Soldiers
[edit]In addition to the named recipients, the United States Congress has on a few occasions passed special legislation to award the Medal of Honor to Unknown Soldiers of allied foreign nations.
| Image | Name | Date of Award | Tomb Location | Notes/Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Unknown Soldier of Belgium | Congress Column | ||
|
Unknown Soldier of France | March 4, 1921 | Arc de Triomphe | Act of Congress approved 4 March 1921 |
|
Unknown Soldier of Great Britain | March 4, 1921 | Westminster Abbey | Act of Congress approved 4 March 1921 |
|
Unknown Soldier of Italy | October 12, 1921 | Victor Emmanuel II Monument | Act of Congress approved 12 October 1921 |
|
Unknown Soldier of Romania | June 6, 1923 | Carol Park |
References
[edit]- ^ "Remarks by the President in Medal of Honor Presentation to Captain Florent Groberg, United States Army". whitehouse.gov (Press release). November 12, 2015. Retrieved November 12, 2015 – via National Archives.