They’re given for actions above and beyond the call of duty.
I’ve listened and read memoirs of MoH wearers. Seems like most of them were just doing what they thought they needed to do at the moment. No thoughts of heroism, or whatever. Ya get into a sticky place, and then think “well, somebody’s gotta do something.”
So we give the Medal as a way of saying “thanks.” Men and women earn the medal for being truly human, for doing the right thing and not worrying about the circumstances. Courage is mostly doing the right thing.
Dunno. Seems sad that Paul Smith had to lose his life for us to think of him as a hero. Plenty of others did great stuff and lived. I respect the men and women who are fighting. I hope we can bring them home soon.
“The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here. BUT, it can never forget what they did here.” – Abraham Lincoln