Medal of Honor
-Established in 1861 by Abraham Lincoln
-Has been awarded to 3516 recipients since its inception
-The highest military honor for valor above and beyond the call of duty in action against an enemy force
-Illegal to sell
-Often awarded posthumously
-Entitles the recipient to a salute from all troops, even those who outrank him/her
-Entitles the recipient to a monthly stipend for life
Battle of Iwo Jima (WWII)
-Lasted 5 weeks
-70,000 American soldiers participated
-6800 Americans killed; 19,217 wounded
-Of the 22,000 original Japanese combatants, nearly all died either from fighting or by ritual suicide.
-Gave birth to one of the most memorable military photographs of all time, the raising of the flag over Mount Suribachi
Major US War Military Fatalities
-Civil War - 625,000
-World War I - 116,516 American military
-World War II - 405,399 American military
-Vietnam - 58,209 American military
-Afghanistan/Iraq - 6890+ (ongoing) American military