The following is a list of Irish-American soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who were awarded the American military's highest decoration — the Medal of Honor. The Medal of Honor is bestowed "for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty, in actual combat against an armed enemy force." The medal is awarded by the President of the United States on behalf of the Congress.

Of the 3,464 Medals of Honor awarded as of September 17, 2009, an estimated 2,021 (58%) have been awarded to Irish-American recipients, more than twice the number awarded any other ethnic group;Riehecky, Janet. Cultures of America: Irish Americans. New York: Marshall Cavendish, 1995. (p. 68) 257 Irish-born Americans have received the Medal of HonorUnited States Congress. Immigration reform: Hearing before the Subcommittee on Immigration and Refugee Affairs of the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred First Congress, first session, on S. 358 ... and S. 448 ... March 3, 1989. Washington, DC: US Government Print Office, 1990. (p. 131)O'Hanlon, Ray. The New Irish Americans. Niwot, Colorado: Roberts Rinehart Publishers, 1998. (p. 77) which represents more than half of foreign-born MOH recipients.Fox, Thomas. Hidden History of the Irish of New Jersey. Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press, 2011. (pp. 110–116) A monument to these Irish-born Medal of Honor recipients is located at Valley Forge's Medal of Honor Grove;Barnes, John A. Irish-American Landmarks: A Traveler's Guide. 9th ed. New York: Gale Research, 1995. (p. 167) erected by the Ancient Order of Hibernians. The first Irish American to receive the Medal was Michael Madden, who received it for his actions in the American Civil War (Note that the earliest action for which the Medal of Honor was awarded was to Irish American U.S. Army Assistant Surgeon Bernard J.D. Irwin for the engagement at Apache Pass, February 1861. The award was made three decades after the event and after Madden's award).

Medal of Honor

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.

Civil War