Medal of Honor

President Harry S. Truman (left) presents Commander Joseph T. O'Callahan (right) with the Congressional Medal of Honor. O'Callahan, a Catholic chaplain, risked his life to administer last rites to the dying on board the USS Franklin. From the scrapbooks of Matt Connelly, Vol 2.

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.

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.

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.

Dignitaries are applauding during Medal of Honor presentation ceremony in the East Room of the White House: (front row, from left to right) Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal; Secretary of War Henry Stimson; unidentified man; General George C. Marshall; Fleet Admiral William Leahy; General Henry "Hap" Arnold. Behind General Arnold is General Omar Bradley. All others are unidentified. From the scrapbooks of Matt Connelly, Vol. 1.