Medal of Honor

President Harry S. Truman is shown bestowing the Congressional Medal of Honor on Sergeant Ralph G. Neppel, 21, Glidden, Iowa. Sgt. Neppel is one of 28 soldiers who received this award in the East Room of the White House on this day. Sgt. Neppel lost his legs below the knee in action in Germany, December, 1944.

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 the Congressional Medal of Honor to Commander Joseph T. O'Callahan, Catholic chaplain on board the carrier the USS Franklin. Commander O'Callahan risked his life to administer last rites to the dying on board the USS Franklin after it was attacked by Japanese suicide planes during World War II.

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 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, standing, center, poses with some of the 28 Congressional Medal of Honor recipients during a mass presentation ceremony in the East Room of the White House. The men were honored for their bravery during World War II. All others are unidentified.

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.

Navy Under Secretary Francis P. Whitehair (second from left) visits with Mr. and Mrs. Baldomero J. Lopez and son, Joseph (right), of Tampa, Florida, following the presentation of the Medal of Honor for their son, First Lieutenant Baldomero Lopez, who was killed in Korea.

A group of forty disabled soldiers and their attendants from Walter Reed Hospital are partially shown here as guests attending Congressional Medal of Honor ceremonies held on the White House lawn. President Harry S. Truman is shaking hands with Private First Class Samuel J. Barressi, Corry, Pennsylvania. Others in view are not identified.

A portion of the group of forty disabled soldiers and their attendants from Walter Reed Hospital are shown here as guests attending Congressional Medal of Honor ceremonies held on the White House lawn. President Harry S. Truman is shaking hands with Robert Soly, Cambridge, Massachusetts, while on the far right awaiting his turn is Arthur Hook, Rochester, New York.