The Medal of Honor is the highest award a member of the armed services can receive for valor in combat, given to those who went above and beyond the call of duty on the battlefield. In 1990, Congress designated March 25th of each year as National Medal of Honor Day. The designation was signed into law by President George HW Bush as a day to honor the heroism and sacrifice of Medal of Honor recipients.
The actions of those who earned the Medal of Honor exemplify many traits that we all should strive to imitate, traits like valor, selflessness, and perseverance in the face of fear. Only 3,507 servicemen have earned the award. We are proud that 34 of those veterans are natives of our great state, North Carolina. Their names and the conflicts they served in are listed below.
AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
Franks, William J.
Anderson, Aaron.
Shea, Joseph J.
Trogden, Howell G.
INDIAN WARS
Brown, Lorenzo D.
Jones, William H.
McBryar, William
SPANISH AMERICAN WAR
Barrow, David D.
Parker, Pomeroy
PHILLIPEAN INSURRECTION
Johnston, Gordon
Ray, Charles W.
MEXICAN CAMPAIGN
Anderson, Edwin A.
Johnston, Rufus Zenas
Staton, Adolphus
FIRST WORLD WAR
Blackwell, Robert L.
Johnson, Henry
Parker, Samuel I.
SECOND WORLD WAR
Eubanks, Ray E.
Halyburton, William D. (Jr.)
Herring, Rufus G.
Lucas, Jacklyn H.
Murray, Charles P. (Jr.)
Thompson, Max
Urban, Matt L.
Warner, Henry F.
KOREAN WAR
Crump, Jerry K.
George, Charles
Womack, Bryant H.
VIETNAM WAR
Ashley, Eugene (Jr.)
Durham, Harold B.
Joel, Lawrence
Miller, Franklin D.
Patterson, Robert M.
Stout, Mitchell