Awards

Admiral Ernest Joseph King (right) receives his third Distinguished Service Medal from President Harry S. Truman (left). From the scrapbooks of Matt Connelly, Vol. 1.

President Harry S. Truman presents six Congressional Medals of Honor. From left to right in the front are Private First Class Mike Colalillo, Captain Robert Hugo Dunlap, Lieutenant Richard Miles McCool, President Truman, Sergeant Vernon McGarity, Lieutenant Frank Burke, and Master Sergeant Vito R. Bertoldo. From the scrapbooks of Matt Connelly, Vol. 1.

High British Officers of wartime British Joint Staff Mission receive medals from President Harry S. Truman (center in civilian dress). From left to right in the front are Marshal Douglas Colyer, General Sir Gordon N. Macready, President Truman, Field Marshal Sir Henry Maitland Wilson, and Admiral of the Fleet Sir James Fownes Somerville. From left to right in the second row are Admiral Williams D. Leahy, Admiral Ernest J. King, General George C. Marshall, General Thomas Handy, and General Ira Eaker.

President Harry S. Truman (center) presents the National Geographic Society Medal to General Henry H. Arnold (left). Dr. Gilbert Grosvenor (right), President of the National Geographic Society, looks on. From the scrapbooks of Matt Connelly, Vol. 1.

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.