In Rare Move, Medal of Honor May Go to Living Soldier

A living soldier is being considered for the Medal of Honor for the first time since the Vietnam War, the Washington Post reports. The Pentagon's recommendation goes to an unidentified soldier who, in the words of the Post, "ran through a wall of enemy fire" to repel Taliban forces that were about to overrun his squad. In doing so, he saved the lives of about six fellow soldiers. The White House is reviewing the recommendation, though it may decide to award a lesser award to the soldier.

For years, congressmen, US military officials, and defense chief Robert Gates have bemoaned the fact that death seems to be a prerequisite for the nation's highest military honor. Six posthumous Medals of Honor have been awarded to servicemen in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, all for sacrificing themselves to save members of their team. Three of the honorees jumped on grenades to shield others.
(More Medal of Honor stories.)