1. Home
  2. Awards

Awards

President Harry S. Truman With Medal of Honor Recipients

In a group medal presentation ceremony held in the White House south grounds garden, President Harry S. Truman awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor to four U.S. Army men and one U.S. Marine. Pictured sharing a handshake after the ceremony are left to right: Sergeant Alejandro R. Ruiz, Barstow, Texas; Technical Sergeant Beauford T. Anderson, Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin; Private First Class Dirk J. Vlug, Grand Rapids, Michigan; President Truman; Technical Sergeant John Meagher, Jersey City, New Jersey; and First Lieutenant John H. Leims, United States Marine Corps, Chicago, Illinois.

President Harry S. Truman Awards the Medal of Honor

President Harry S. Truman presents the Congressional Medal of Honor to Marine Private First Class Luther Skaggs, Jr., of Henderson, Kentucky. This award was presented to this soldier and three others this day at a ceremony on the White House grounds. PFC Skaggs kept fighting for eight hours in the Guam landing, July, 1944, despite serious wounds which later cost him his left leg. Standing next to President Truman is Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal. Others in the background are unidentified.

President Harry S. Truman Presents the Medal of Honor to Recipients

President Harry S. Truman (lower, center) presents the Congressional Medal of Honor to Commander George L. Street, US Navy, during a ceremony at the White House. Shown here is a general view of the mass medal presentation ceremony on the White House south lawn in which 14 men of the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy received the award for bravery in World War II. The Washington Monument is in view in the background as well as numerous U.S. Navy and Marine officials, soldiers and family members.

President Harry S. Truman Presents Medal of Honor to Recipient

This is a general view of the mass Congressional Medal of Honor presentation ceremony held in the White House Garden in which fifteen servicemen were awarded the Honor. President Harry S. Truman is shown here, center, presenting the award to Corporal Thomas E. Atkins, Campobello, South Carolina. Includes partial view of the south side of the White House and the West Executive Office Building. General George C. Marshall is seated on the far right, second from the left. Major General Harry Vaughan is standing next to the United States glad near the table holding the medals.

President Harry S. Truman With Four Medal of Honor Recipients

President Harry S. Truman joins hands with two soldiers and two sailors who served during World War II and have just received the Congressional Medal of Honor. From left to right: Sergeant John R. McKinney, Woodcliff, Georgia; First Lieutenant Daniel W. Lee, Alma, Georgia; President Truman; Lieutenant Donald A. Gary, Oakland, California; and Commander Joseph T. O'Callahan, Navy Chaplain. The ceremony took place in the Oval Office at the White House.

President Harry S. Truman With Medal of Honor Recipients and Their Families

President Harry S. Truman stands outside the White House with Congressional Medal of Honor recipients (front row) their family members, and military officials. From left to right, front row: Major Everett P. Pope, United States Marine Corps, North Quincy and Wollaston, Massachusetts; Private First Class Gino J. Merli, United States Army, Peckville, Pennsylvania; Laurett Graham (niece of Lieutenant Rouh); Private First Class Luther Skaggs, Jr., United States Marine Corps, Henderson and Brownsville, Kentucky; and First Lieutenant Carlton Rouh, United States Marine Corps, Lindenwold, New Jersey.