Medal of Honor Women

Medal of Honor Military Nurses

The Medal of Honor is the highest military award in the United States.  It is awarded to service members who have distinguished themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States".  The medal is bestowed by the President of the United States in the name of Congress. 

The Medal of Honor was first awarded during the American Civil War.  The Medal of Honor is still awarded by the U.S. for gallantry and actions above and beyond the call of duty.  There have been over 3400 individuals awarded the medal of honor.  The majority of the awardees are decorated posthumously.

There are only ten women who have received awards for gallantry, heroism or devotion to duty above and beyond the call of duty.  Of those ten only one was awarded the Medal of Honor.  The other nine received the distinguished service cross or the navy cross for gallantry or unusual and conspicuous dedication to duty.  Eight of the recipients were nurses. 

The sole Medal of Honor recepient is Dr Mary E Walker.  During the American Civil War she performed as a civilian contract surgeon for the Union army.  While performing her duties as a doctor she was captured and spent four months in a confederate prisoner of war camp.  She served as a battlefield surgeon at the Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Chickamauga and the Battle of Atlanta.  She also served in a number of hospitals.  Dr Walker also enjoys the distinction of being one of only eight civilians to be awarded the Medal of Honor. 

The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is the second highest military award for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force.   The award is granted to service members and civilians whose acts of gallantry and devotion to duty are extraordinary in the face of danger or personal risk.  All of the women who have received this decoration are nurses except for one. 

Jane Jeffery

American Red Cross Nurse WWI

For extraordinary heroism in action at Jouy-Sur-Morin on July 15, 1918.  While on duty at American Red Cross Hospital No. 07 Mss Jeffery was wounded by an exploding bomb.  She refused to leave her post until the battle was over.

Beatrice MacDonald

Army Nurse Corps, Reserve Nurse WWI

For extraordinary heroism while working in a casualty clearing station on August 17, 1917.  Nurse MacDonald was seriously wounded during a German night air raid. 

Helen Grace McClelland

Army Nurse Corps, Reserve Nurse WWI

For extraordinary heroism while working in a causality clearing station on August 17, 1918.   Nurse McClelland was awarded the DSC for also being exposed to extreme danger during the German air raid that wounded Nurse MacDonald.  She treated Nurse MacDonald and is credited with saving her life.

Isabell Stambaugh

Army Nurse Corps, Reserve Nurse WWI

On March 21, 1918 at Amiens France Nrse Stambaugh was seriously wounded by shell fire from German airplanes while on duty at a British Casualty Clearing Station. 

Virginia Hall

Office of Strategic Services, Civilian WWII

As a civilian intelligence officer with the OSS Virginia Hall served as an OSS Liaison officer with the French Resistance during World War II.  She is credited with significant contributions towards the success of the liberation of France.  She faced the risk of capture, torture and almost certain death as she worked with the Resistance.  Aside from Dr Walker she is the only other woman recipient of a military award for heroism that is not a nurse.

The Navy Cross is equivalent to the Distinguished Service Cross and is awarded by the Navy for acts of gallantry and heroism in actual combat with an armed enemy force and/or going beyond the call of duty.  The only female recipients of the Navy Cross received it for their heroism and devotion to duty during the Influenza epidemic of 1918.  Three of the four received the award posthumously after working day and night in Naval hospitals to care for patients stricken by Influenza.  Sadly, they all contracted the disease and died.  World War I claimed a mere 16 million lives.  The Influenza epidemic of 1918 claimed 50 million. 

Marie Louise Hidell

US Navy, Reserve Nurse

The Navy Cross was awarded to Nurse Hidell for distinguished service and devotion to duty while serving at the Naval Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  While caring for patients during the influenza epidemic of 1918 she contracted the disease and died September 28, 1918. 

Lillian M Murphy

US Navy, Nurse

The Navy Cross was awarded to Nurse Murphy for distinguished service and devotion to duty while serving at the Naval Hospital, Hampton Roads Virginia.  While caring for patients during the influenza epidemic of 1918 she contracted the disease and died.

Edna E. Place

US Navy, Nurse

The Navy Cross was awarded to Nurse Place for distinguished service and devotion to duty while serving at the Naval Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  While caring for patients during the influenza epidemic of 1918 she contracted the disease and died September 25, 1918. 

Lenah Sutcliff Higbee

Superintendent, US Navy Nurse Corps

Lenah Higbee was awarded the Navy Cross for distinguished service and unusual and conspicuous devotion to duty during World War I.  She served as the Superintendent of the Navy Nurse Corps from January 1911 to November 1922.  She was one of the first twenty women to join the Navy Nurse Corps when it was established in 1908.  She was also the first female member of the Naval service to have a combat ship (the USS Higbee, DD-806) named after her.