Which States Have the Most Medal of Honor Recipients?

The Association of the United States Army (AUSA) recently released a new book in its graphic novel series, “Medal of Honor“. The book, Volume 7, Issue 1, tells the story of William H. Carney. Carney was a member of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery.

Born into slavery in Virginia, Carney escaped to freedom in Massachusetts and later joined the Union Army. During the Battle of Fort Wagner in 1863, Carney’s commanding officer was killed, and the soldier carrying the American flag for their unit was shot down. Despite heavy gunfire, Carney immediately grabbed the flag and held it high. Even after being wounded multiple times in the leg, chest, and arm, Carney continued to carry the flag.

William Carney’s story highlights the extraordinary bravery of those who receive the Medal of Honor, the highest recognition in the U.S. military. This prestigious award is given for “extraordinary acts of courage,” a distinction held by less than 1% of all who have served in the U.S. military.

To see which states have produced the most Medal of Honor recipients, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society (CMOHS). Our ranking of states is based on the total number of Medal of Honor recipients. We also included details regarding the conflict with the most recipients from each state, the service branch with the most recipients, and the most recent Medal of Honor recipient from each state.

(This is a revised version of a previously published story to reflect the most recent Medal of Honor recipients from each state as of 2025.)

Why This Matters Today

Understanding the stories of Medal of Honor recipients like William Carney remains important today because their actions offer enduring lessons in courage, selflessness, unwavering commitment to duty, and what it means to serve with honor and valor in the face of adversity. In an era often marked by division and self-interest, their sacrifices serve as powerful reminders of the foundational values of a strong and unified society.

Here is a look at the states with the most Medal of Honor recipients:

50. Alaska

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 0
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: N/A
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: N/A
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: N/A

49. Nevada

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 2
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Indian Campaigns (1 recipient) and World War II (1 recipient)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (1 recipient) and U.S. Navy (1 recipient)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Bruce Avery Van Voorhis – August 1, 1946

48. South Dakota

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 3
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: World War II (2 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (2 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Michael John Fitzmaurice – October 15, 1973

47. Wyoming

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 4
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: World War II (3 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (4 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Joe Hayashi – June 21, 2000

46. Utah

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 6
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: World War II (5 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Navy (3 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: George Taro “Joe” Sakato – June 21, 2000

45. Montana

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 9
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: World War II (5 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (7 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Travis W. Atkins – March 27, 2019

44. New Mexico

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 9
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: World War II (3 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (8 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Leroy Arthur Petry – July 12, 2011

43. Idaho

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 10
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Korean War (4 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (6 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Frank Stanley Reasoner – January 31, 1967

42. Arkansas

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 12
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: World War II (7 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (7 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Johnny Lee Canley – October 17, 2018

41. Delaware

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 13
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Civil War (9 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (11 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: James Phillip Connor – May 7, 1945

40. Oregon

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 13
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Vietnam War (4 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (11 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Larry Gilbert Dahl – August 8, 1974

39. Arizona

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 16
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Vietnam War (6 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (11 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Manuel V Mendoza – March 18, 2014

38. Mississippi

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 18
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: World War II (6 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (12 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Ed W. Freeman – July 16, 2001

37. North Dakota

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 19
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Philippine Insurrection (10 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (16 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: James W. McIntyre – January 16, 2025

36. Hawaii

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 19
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: World War II (11 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (19 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Bruno Raymond Abing Orig – January 3, 2025

35. Nebraska

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 20
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: World War II (4 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (10 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Donald K. Schwab – March 18, 2014

34. Alabama

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 21
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: World War II (8 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (15 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: George Watson – January 13, 1997

33. North Carolina

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 21
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: World War II (5 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (11 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Hugh Reavis Nelson, Jr. – January 3, 2025

32. Georgia

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 22
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Vietnam War (9 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (11 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: William D. Swenson – October 16, 2013

31. Colorado

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 24
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: World War II (10 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (17 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Jon Edward Swanson – May 1, 2002

30. Florida

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 24
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Vietnam War (9 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (14 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Alwyn Crendall Cashe – December 16, 2021

29. Louisiana

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 24
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: World War II (6 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (15 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Paris D. Davis – March 3, 2023

28. Oklahoma

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 25
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: World War II (13 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (21 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Dwight W. Birdwell – July 5, 2022

27. Kansas

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 31
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Indian Campaigns (11 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (28 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Riley Leroy Pitts – December 10, 1968

26. Rhode Island

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 31
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Civil War (25 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (22 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: David Bernard Champagne – July 23, 1953

25. South Carolina

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 33
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: World War I (8 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (19 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Christopher Andrew Celiz – December 16, 2021

24. Tennessee

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 33
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: World War II (7 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (27 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Larry L. Taylor – September 5, 2023

23. Washington

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 34
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: World War II (13 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (21 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: William Simon Harris – January 16, 2025

22. New Hampshire

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 35
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Civil War (29recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (25 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Richard Hetherington O’Kane – March 27, 1946

21. Kentucky

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 44
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Indian Campaigns (15 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (36 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Garlin Murl Conner – June 26, 2018

20. West Virginia

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 45
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Civil War (26 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (39 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Robert Willard Hartsock – August 6, 1970

19. Minnesota

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 45
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Civil War (16 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (34 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Leo Keith Thorsness – October 15, 1973

18. Vermont

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 47
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Civil War (43 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (43 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Lawson Paterson “Red” Ramage – January 10, 1945

17. Virginia

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 47
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Civil War (9 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (25 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Humbert Roque “Rocky” Versace – July 8, 2002

16. Wisconsin

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 50
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Civil War (18 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (41 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Benjamin Louis Salomon – May 1, 2002

15. Iowa

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 55
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Civil War (30 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (47 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Salvatore Augustine Giunta – November 16, 2010

14. Connecticut

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 57
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Civil War (36 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (38 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: John A. Chapman – August 22, 2018

13. Maine

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 66
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Civil War (48 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (41 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Gary Ivan Gordon – May 23, 1994

12. Indiana

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 74
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Civil War (45 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (61 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Frank Harry Ono – September 21, 2000

11. Texas

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to state: 77
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: World War II (32 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (56 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Richard Edward Cavazos – January 3, 2025

10. Missouri

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 78
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Indian Campaigns (26 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (64 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Willy F. James Jr. – January 13, 1997

9. Maryland

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 84
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Civil War (41 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (50 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Florent A. Groberg – November 12, 2015

8. New Jersey

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 93
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Civil War (35 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (60 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Henry Svehla – May 2, 2011

7. Michigan

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 111
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Civil War (63 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (99 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: James C. McCloughan – July 31, 2017

6. California

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 141
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Indian Campaigns (29 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (92 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Salvador J. Lara; Joe Gandara – March 18, 2014

5. Illinois

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 210
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Civil War (113 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (164 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Wataru Nakamura – January 3, 2025

4. Ohio

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 255
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Civil War (154 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (222 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Fred B. McGee – January 3, 2025

3. Massachusetts

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 265
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Civil War (132 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (140 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Britt Kelly Slabinski – May 24, 2018

2. Pennsylvania

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 380
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Civil War (212 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (276 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Ross A. McGinnis – June 2, 2008

1. New York

• Medal of Honor recipients credited to the state: 677
• Conflict with the most recipients from the state: Civil War (383 recipients)
• Service branch with the most recipients from the state: U.S. Army (417 recipients)
• Most recent recipient and award presentation date: Charles Robert Johnson – January 3, 2025

The post Which States Have the Most Medal of Honor Recipients? appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..