Yet, at the time of the U.S. entry into World War II, the Navy was actually issuing two Medals of Honor. One was the traditional medal, based on the 1860s design, for gallantry in line of one's profession, not necessarily in combat. The other was the " Tiffany Cross ," so called because Tiffany and Company of New York City had designed it
Here are some of their stories. CIVIL WAR. Corporal Joseph H. De Castro, an 18-year-old flag bearer from Company I, 19th Massachusetts Infantry, became the first Hispanic American to be awarded By law, it simply is "Medal of Honor." The Navy Medal of Honor is our nation's oldest continuously awarded decoration. It was established for enlisted men in 1861 and, until 1942, could be awarded for either combat and non-combat ("in the line of profession") heroism. The President of the United States, in the name of Congress, awarded more than 3,400 Medals of Honor to the Nation's bravest Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guard personnel, since the decoration's creation in 1861!