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For award of the Medal of Honor there must be no margin of doubt or any possibility of
error. To justify the award, a person must clearly render himself conspicuously above his
comrades by an act so outstanding that it clearly distinguishes his gallantry as being
beyond the call of duty. It must be the type of action which if not done would not leave
him open to criticism, but must be done without detriment to his mission or to the
command to which he is attached. Further, the recommendation must be submitted
within three years of the act, and the medal must be awarded within five years of the act
(there have, however, been exceptions to the rules governing the timing of
recommendations and awarding the Medal of Honor).
ORDER OF PRECIDENCE
The Medal of Honor is worn before all other decorations and medals. It is the highest
honor that can be conferred on a member of the Armed Forces.
DEVICES
Additional awards of the Air Force Medal of Honor are denoted by oak leaf clusters.
DESIGNER/SCULPTOR
The Air Force Medal of Honor was designed and sculpted by Lewis J. King, Jr. of the
Army's Institute of Heraldry.
FIRST RECIPIENT
The first person to receive the Air Force Medal of Honor was Major Bernard F. Fisher,
whose medal was presented to him on January 19, 1967, for heroism above and beyond
the call of duty during the Vietnam War.
DESCRIPTION AND SYMBOLISM
Obverse
Within a wreath of laurel in green enamel, a gold-finished bronze five-pointed star, one
point down, tipped with trefoils and each point containing a crown of laurel and oak on a
background of green enamel. Centered upon the star is a ring of 34 stars surrounding a
representation the head of the Statue of Liberty. The star is suspended by rings from a
bar inscribed with the word VALOR above the adaptation of the thunderbolt from the Air
Force coat of arms. This medal is adapted from the original Medal of Honor and was
modified to provide a design unique for the Air Force.
Reverse
The reverse of the Air Force Medal of Honor is plain (for engraving the recipient's name).
Ribbon
The ribbon is a light blue moired silk neckband one and three sixteenths inches wide and
twenty four inches long, behind a square pad in the center made of the ribbon with the
corners turned in. Thirteen white stars are woven into the pad.
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