# Has anyone ever been awarded a medal posthumously then its found out they're still alive?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-been-awarded-a-medal-posthumously-then-its-found-out-theyre-still-alive/819856>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 19, 2018, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-been-awarded-a-medal-posthumously-then-its-found-out-theyre-still-alive/819856 "2018-08-19T00:23:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-been-awarded-a-medal-posthumously-then-its-found-out-theyre-still-alive/819856/21 "2018-08-21T00:47:06Z")

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> [@Loach](#):
>
> Henry Erwin should have died. He should have died before he was awarded the Medal of Honor. He should have died right after. Curtis LeMay probably broke every protocol to get him the MoH before he died. They broke into a display case containing a MoH in Hawaii and flew it out to Guam before he died. He didn’t die until 2002. Not exactly what you are looking for but an amazing story.
> 
> [Henry E. Erwin - Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_E._Erwin)

Glad you mentioned him. His story is one of the most amazing I’ve ever heard. I can’t imagine the pain and determination he had to do what he did. Extraordinary!

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**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-been-awarded-a-medal-posthumously-then-its-found-out-theyre-still-alive/819856/22 "2018-08-21T20:25:25Z")

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> [@Loach](#):
>
> Here’s one that is outside of the US. I don’t know the website so I can’t swear to the accuracy.
> 
> [Yadav and the Param Vir Chakra](http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2017/08/story-soldier-accomplished-something-unbelievable-awarded-posthumous-medal-still-alive/)

That would be a pretty neat medal to win for the name alone.

Thanks for the answers everyone!

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**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-been-awarded-a-medal-posthumously-then-its-found-out-theyre-still-alive/819856/23 "2018-08-22T01:20:30Z")

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> [@Atomic\_Alex](#):
>
> That would be a pretty neat medal to win for the name alone.
> 
> Thanks for the answers everyone!

Wikipedia seems to mostly confirm the story, citing multiple sources:

> **[Yogendra Singh Yadav](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yogendra_Singh_Yadav)**
>
> Subedar Major and Honorary Captain Yogendra Singh Yadav PVC (born 10 May 1980) is a retired Indian military officer, who was awarded India's highest military award, the Param Vir Chakra, for his actions during the Kargil War. He is the youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra to date, having received it at the age of 19.
> Subedar Major Yadav was born in a Yadav family on 10 May 1980 in Aurangabad Ahir, Bulandshahr District, Uttar Pradesh. His father Karan Singh Yadav served in the Kumaon Reg...

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