The Medal of Honor—the most prestigious military award in the United States—is traditionally presented to recipients by the sitting president. Harry S. Truman often remarked while presenting the medal that he would rather receive the honor himself than hold the presidency.
Despite the deep respect he expressed for the award, Truman firmly opposed any attempts to have the Medal of Honor bestowed upon him. He believed the decoration should be reserved strictly for those who demonstrated extraordinary heroism in combat, and he consistently declined suggestions that he be considered for it.
A controversial post-war president
Harry S. Truman remains one of the more polarizing leaders in American history. During his presidency, he helped guide the reconstruction of war-torn Europe through initiatives such as the Marshall Plan, supported the creation of the North Atlantic Peace Treaty (NATO), and took early steps toward advancing civil rights in the United States. At the same time, several of his decisions—especially those involving military policy—generated lasting controversy.
The most debated of these was the use of atomic weapons against Japan at the end of World War II. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki—carried out with the bombs Little Boy and Fat Man—sparked a debate that continues today. Critics argue the attacks were inhumane and unnecessary, suggesting they also served as a warning to the Soviet Union. Supporters maintain that the bombings forced Japan’s surrender and ultimately saved lives by preventing a costly invasion of the Japanese mainland.
Truman nevertheless faced some of the most difficult choices any U.S. president has confronted. His earlier service as an artillery officer in World War I gave him firsthand knowledge of warfare. Just five years after the end of World War II, he committed U.S. forces to the Korean War, a move that proved highly controversial and significantly reduced his popularity at home.
In the end, Truman left office after deciding not to seek another term, recognizing the political challenge of running in a country eager for new leadership. He was succeeded by Dwight D. Eisenhower, the widely admired World War II commander whose national reputation made him a formidable political figure.
Harry Truman turns down the Medal of Honor
In more recent years, Harry Truman’s presidency has been viewed in a more positive light, and many now regard him as one of the nation’s greatest presidents.
As he oversaw the closing months of the Second World War and most of what occurred in Korea, he was no stranger to the Medal of Honor. However, when the US House of Representatives attempted to award him the honor in 1971, he wouldn’t accept it. In response, the 87-year-old former president said, “I don’t consider that I have done anything which should be the reason for any award, Congressional or otherwise.”
Although Harry Truman turned down the Medal of Honor, he was greatly appreciative of the gesture, viewing it as an honor of its own. He wrote a letter to Rep. William J. Randall (D-MO), which was read during a session of Congress. In it, he detailed why he wouldn’t accept the decoration. He believed that, as the medal was awarded for bravery in combat, changing the requirements for him would detract from its significance.
“This does not mean I do not appreciate what you and others have done, because I do appreciate the kind things that have been said and the proposal to have the award offered to me,” he wrote.
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Truman passed away in 1972, just a year after his humble rejection of the Medal of Honor. After his death, President Richard Nixon said in a statement, “Harry S. Truman will be remembered as one of the most courageous Presidents in our history, who led the Nation and the world through a critical period with exceptional vision and determination.
“Embroiled in controversy during his Presidency, his stature in the eyes of history has risen steadily ever since. He did what had to be done, when it had to be done.”