SecDef Austin to consider revoking awarded Medals of Honor due to controversy

A review is underway that could result in the revocation of several Medals of Honor awarded to Soldiers involved in a controversial event in American military history. 

The Wounded Knee Massacre, which occurred in 1890, involved the killing of hundreds of Native Americans by the US Army.

At the time, Medals of Honor were awarded to several Soldiers for their actions during this event. However, a recent attempt to revisit the event could change that recognition.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has initiated a review of the Medals of Honor given to 20 Soldiers who participated in the massacre at Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota.

The incident, which took place on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, resulted in the deaths of approximately 250 Native Americans, including women and children, and injured at least 100 more.

The Soldiers from the 7th Cavalry Regiment were awarded medals for actions described as “brave,” including rescuing fellow Soldiers and confronting Sioux Indians.

However, Native American groups, advocates, South Dakota state lawmakers, and some members of Congress have called for these awards to be rescinded.

In 1990, Congress issued an apology to the descendants of those killed at Wounded Knee but stopped short of revoking the medals. 

However, with the review ordered by Austin, each medal will be re-evaluated to ensure that no Soldier was recognized for conduct that falls below the honor’s standards, such as harming non-combatants or committing acts of violence against those who had surrendered.

An academic paper by Dwight Mears, an Army veteran and former professor at West Point, argues that many of the Soldiers awarded the Medal of Honor did not meet the necessary criteria. Mears’ research suggests that at least two Soldiers could have their medals revoked due to their actions during the massacre. 

One such instance surrounds Private Matthew Hamilton, who received the medal for capturing a runaway mule rather than demonstrating extraordinary bravery in combat.

At the time, Medals of Honor being given out for less-than-extraordinary circumstances was not an uncommon practice, and other awards were later created to fill the void for lesser acts of valor.

Secretary Austin has tasked a panel with providing recommendations by mid-October on whether each medal should be maintained or revoked.

The Medal of Honor holds a significant place in American military tradition, symbolizing acts of valor and gallantry beyond the call of duty.

According to the Daily Mail, an official stated that the honor should be reserved for those who truly embody these values, suggesting that the events at Wounded Knee did not reflect such principles.

In December 1890, President Benjamin Harrison ordered the military to suppress potential uprisings among the Lakota tribe in South Dakota.

The conflict escalated when an allegedly deaf deaf Lakota tribesman by the name of Black Coyote resisted being disarmed, leading to a gunshot and a chaotic exchange of fire.

In the aftermath of the incident, heavily armed 7th Cavalry quickly overpowered the Lakota warriors, resulting in indiscriminate killings, including many non-combatants.

At the time, Maj. Gen. Nelson Miles conducted an investigation into the massacre, expressing his “strongest disapproval” to his superiors. In a private letter, he condemned the massacre as a “brutal, cold-blooded” act.

Today, the site of Wounded Knee is a place of remembrance for Native Americans, symbolizing both the tragedy of the past and the resilience of their communities.

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