presents:
This Month's Featured Medal of Honor Hero
Medals of Honor (from left to right) for U.S. Army, U.S Navy / U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Air Force
for March 2017 - a Women's History Month tribute
Medal of Honor recipient:
WALKER, DR., MARY E.
(Dr. Mary E. Walker)
Contract Acting Assistant Surgeon, (civilian serving) U.S. Army
Born: 26 November 1832, Oswego County, NY
Place / Date of Action:
Battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861;
Patent Office Hospital, Washington, D.C., October 1861;
Chattanooga, Tenn., following Battle of Chickomauga, September 1863;
Prisoner of War, April 10, 1864-August 12, 1864, Richmond, Va.;
Battle of Atlanta, September 1864
WALKER, DR., MARY E.
(Dr. Mary E. Walker)
Contract Acting Assistant Surgeon, (civilian serving) U.S. Army
Born: 26 November 1832, Oswego County, NY
Place / Date of Action:
Battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861;
Patent Office Hospital, Washington, D.C., October 1861;
Chattanooga, Tenn., following Battle of Chickomauga, September 1863;
Prisoner of War, April 10, 1864-August 12, 1864, Richmond, Va.;
Battle of Atlanta, September 1864
Medal of Honor
Citation:
Whereas it appears from official reports that Dr. Mary E. Walker, a graduate of medicine, "has rendered valuable service to the Government, and her efforts have been earnest and untiring in a variety of ways," and that she was assigned to duty and served as an assistant surgeon in charge of female prisoners at Louisville, Ky., upon the recommendation of Major-Generals Sherman and Thomas, and faithfully served as contract surgeon in the service of the United States, and has devoted herself with much patriotic zeal to the sick and wounded soldiers, both in the field and hospitals, to the detriment of her own health, and has also endured hardships as a prisoner of war four months in a Southern prison while acting as contract surgeon;
and Whereas by reason of her not being a commissioned officer in the military service, a brevet or honorary rank cannot, under existing laws, be conferred upon her; and Whereas in the opinion of the President an honorable recognition of her services and sufferings should be made: It is ordered, That a testimonial thereof shall be hereby made and given to the said Dr. Mary E. Walker, and that the usual medal of honor for meritorious services be given her.
Given under my hand in the city of Washington, D.C., this 11th day of November, A.D. 1865. Andrew Johnson, President
[Note: This award was rescinded in 1917 along with 910 others, but then, restored by President Carter on 10 June 1977.]
Citation:
Whereas it appears from official reports that Dr. Mary E. Walker, a graduate of medicine, "has rendered valuable service to the Government, and her efforts have been earnest and untiring in a variety of ways," and that she was assigned to duty and served as an assistant surgeon in charge of female prisoners at Louisville, Ky., upon the recommendation of Major-Generals Sherman and Thomas, and faithfully served as contract surgeon in the service of the United States, and has devoted herself with much patriotic zeal to the sick and wounded soldiers, both in the field and hospitals, to the detriment of her own health, and has also endured hardships as a prisoner of war four months in a Southern prison while acting as contract surgeon;
and Whereas by reason of her not being a commissioned officer in the military service, a brevet or honorary rank cannot, under existing laws, be conferred upon her; and Whereas in the opinion of the President an honorable recognition of her services and sufferings should be made: It is ordered, That a testimonial thereof shall be hereby made and given to the said Dr. Mary E. Walker, and that the usual medal of honor for meritorious services be given her.
Given under my hand in the city of Washington, D.C., this 11th day of November, A.D. 1865. Andrew Johnson, President
[Note: This award was rescinded in 1917 along with 910 others, but then, restored by President Carter on 10 June 1977.]
Dr. Mary E. Walker is the first and only woman, as of March 2017, to receive the Medal of Honor. She's wearing on her left lapel. (public domain image)
To find out more about the Medal of Honor - it's origin, history, and recipients,
visit the Congressional Medal of Honor Society website
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Credits: Unless otherwise noted here, photos displayed on this site are public domain images, pictures by Sean Sweeney, or used by permission.
