Award presentations

President Harry S. Truman (left) shakes hands with General Carl A. Spaatz (right). President Truman is congratulating General Spaatz for winning the Robert J. Collier Trophy for an outstanding contribution to aviation by an American. From the scrapbooks of Matt Connelly, Vol. 1.

Members of the Military Order of the World Wars presented President Harry S. Truman with an insignia making him an Honorary Past Commander-in-Chief in the Order, as well as Life Membership certificate. President Truman was already a member of the Kansas City Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars. From left to right: Major E. Kemper Carter, Captain Arthur Brookfield, Admiral William H. Stamon, President Truman, Commander David Sholtz, General George C. Marshall, and Colonel Edwin S. Bettelheim, Jr.

President Harry S. Truman (left) awards Lieutenant Colonel Gregory Boyington (right) of the United States Marine Corps the Congressional Medal of Honor at the White House. From the scrapbooks of Matt Connelly, Vol. 1.

President Harry S. Truman (right) awards the Congressional Medal of Honor to Corporal Desmond Doss (left), the first Conscientious Objector to receive a Medal of Honor, on the White House lawn. Others in the background are unidentified. From the scrapbooks of Matt Connelly, Vol. 1.

President Harry S. Truman (left) awards Sergeant William G. Harrell (right), of the United States Marine Corps Reserves, the Congressional Medal of Honor during a ceremony at the White House. From the scrapbooks of Matt Connelly, Vol. 1.

Fifteen members of the Army Ground Forces stand on the White House lawn after being presented the Congressional Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman (not pictured). From left to right: Sergeant Christos H. Karaberis, Sergeant Freeman Horner, Corporal Desmond T. Doss, Corporal Clarence B. Craft, Captain James M. Burt, Corporal Melvin E. Biddle, Corporal Edward A. Bennett, Corporal Thomas E. Atkins, Private First Class William A. Soderman, Second Lieutenant Edward A. Silk, Sergeant Cleto Rodriguez, Sergeant Nicholas Oresko, Sergeant Dexter J. Kerstetter, and Sergeant Thomas J. Kelly.

New Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson (left) is congratulated by the outgoing Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson (right) who has just received the Distinguished Service Medal from President Harry S. Truman (not pictured) In center back is General Jacob L. Devers. All others are unidentified. From the scrapbooks of Matt Connelly, Vol. 1.

President Harry S. Truman (left) presents Sergeant Ralph G. Neppel (right) of Glidden, Iowa with the Congressional Medal of Honor. Neppel was awarded the medal after losing both legs in action on December 14 in Germany while ignoring a charging tank and killing 20 Germans who were assaulting his position. From the scrapbooks of Matt Connelly, Vol. 1.

President Harry S. Truman awards the Congressional Medal of Honor to Lieutenant Carlton R. Rouh. Lt. Rouh was given the medal for risking his life to save two comrades by throwing himself in front of a Japanese grenade. Others in the background are unidentified.

President Harry S. Truman is standing outside the White House with Congressional Medal of Honor recipients (front row) and their family members. From left to right, front row: Major Everett P. Pope, Private Gino J. Merli, Laurett Graham (niece of Lieutenant Rouh), Private First Class Luther Skaggs, Jr., and Lieutenant Carlton Rouh. Left to right, second row: unknown, General George Marshall, President Truman, General Alexander A. Vandegrift, Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal. All others are unidentified. From the scrapbooks of Matt Connelly, Vol. 1.