It's finally 2017, and we're about to start what will hopefully be a great new year.
Here on DoDLive, we're starting a new weekly series called "Medal of Honor Monday" in which we'll highlight one of the nearly 3,500 Medal of Honor recipients who have earned the honor of wearing the United States military's highest medal for valor.
The Medal of Honor was first authorized by Congress in December 1861 specifically for the Department of the Navy, but within two months it was adapted for Army recipients as well. The medal is now bestowed on individuals serving in any branch of the armed forces who have performed a personal act of valor above and beyond the call of duty in action against an enemy force. There are currently three variations of the medal.
Since January is the first month of the year, we're going to highlight some of the "firsts" this month. So it's fitting to start with the very first recipient to ever receive the medal: Army Pvt. Jacob Parrott.
ARMY PVT. JACOB PARROTT
Parrott was born on July 17, 1843, in Fairfield County, Ohio. He enlisted in the Army as part of Company K, 33rd Ohio Voluntary Infantry, during the Civil War.
In April 1862, Parrot and nearly two-dozen other volunteers were given orders to go deep into enemy territory and destroy bridges and railroad tracks between Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Atlanta. Once they reached the Atlanta area, the Union soldiers hopped on a train heading north.
When the train stopped at Big Shanty, Georgia, the passengers and crew got off for breakfast, but the raiders stayed on and began their covert mission by uncoupling the engine, fuel car and three boxcars and steaming out of the station.
The raiders gained a little bit of distance and were able to damage a few bridges, but it wasn't long before Confederate soldiers got a hold of another train and were hot on their trail. The Union soldiers uncoupled more of the stolen cars to slow their pursuers, but the move was to little effect.
Eventually, the train ran out of fuel near the Georgia-Tennessee border, and all of the Union soldiers tried to get away on foot. They were all captured, including Parrott.
Parrott was eventually returned to the Union in a prisoner exchange in March 1863. For his part in the raid, he was awarded the very first Medal of Honor that same month, with five of his comrades receiving the same distinction shortly thereafter.
So that's the story of the very first Medal of Honor recipient!
In the more than 150 years since then, 3,498 service members of all different backgrounds and branches have earned the medal, including 88 African-Americans, 59 Hispanic-Americans, 33 Asian-Americans and 32 Native Americans. Only one woman has received the distinction, while nine unknown soldiers have earned it. Just 19 people have achieved the rare distinction of earning it twice.
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