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 recipients 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.
[5] The Battle of Mogadishu or for Somalis Ma-alinti Rangers ("The Day of the Rangers") was a battle that was part of Operation Gothic Serpent that was fought on October 3 and 4, 1993, in Mogadishu, Somalia, by forces of the United States supported by UNOSOM II against Somali militia fighters loyal to warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid.
[6] The Medals were awarded to two Delta Force operators, both snipers, who volunteered to attempt to save the pilot of one of the downed UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, despite facing hundreds, possibly thousands of rebels around the crash site.
[19] Six service members have posthumously received the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq: four from the Army, one from the Marine Corps and one from the Navy.