List of foreign-born Medal of Honor recipients
Name Country of birth Rank Branch Place of action Date of action
Albert Beyer Germany Coxswain Navy Cienfuegos , Cuba May 11 , 1898
George F. Brady Ireland Chief Gunner 's Mate Navy Cardenas , Cuba May 11 , 1898
Daniel J. Campbell Canada Private Marine Corps Cienfuegos , Cuba May 11 , 1898
Joseph E. Carter England , United Kingdom Blacksmith Navy Cienfuegos , Cuba May 11 , 1898
Thomas Cavanaugh Ireland Fireman First Class Navy Bahamas November 14 , 1898
Claus K. R. Clausen Denmark Coxswain Navy Santiago de Cuba June 2 , 1898
Thomas C. Cooney Ireland Chief Machinist Navy Cardenas , Cuba May 11 , 1898
John Davis Germany Gunner 's Mate Third Class Navy Cienfuegos , Cuba May 11 , 1898
Thomas M. Doherty Ireland Corporal Army Santiago de Cuba July 1 , 1898
John Eglit Finland Seaman Navy Cienfuegos , Cuba May 11 , 1898
Nick Erickson Finland Coxswain Navy Cienfuegos , Cuba May 11 , 1898
John Fitzgerald Ireland Private Marine Corps Cuzco , Cuba June 14 , 1898
Philip Gaughan Ireland Sergeant Marine Corps Cienfuegos , Cuba May 11 , 1898
Michael Gibbons Ireland Oiler Navy Cienfuegos , Cuba May 11 , 1898
Henry Hendrickson Germany Seaman Navy Cienfuegos , Cuba May 11 , 1898
Franz A. Itrich Germany Chief Carpenter 's Mate Navy Luzon , Philippines May 1 , 1898
Alexander Jardine Scotland , United Kingdom Fireman First Class Navy Bahamas November 14 , 1898
John P. Johanson Sweden Seaman Navy Cienfuegos , Cuba May 11 , 1898
Johan J. Johansson Sweden Ordinary Seaman Navy Cienfuegos , Cuba May 11 , 1898
Hans Johnsen Norway Chief Machinist Navy Cardenas , Cuba May 11 , 1898
Spanish–American War
The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. The recipient must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their own life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an enemy of the United States. Due to the nature of this medal, it is commonly presented posthumously. Although Medals of Honor can be awarded only to members of the U.S. armed forces, being a U.S. citizen is not a prerequisite for eligibility to receive the medal. Since the American Civil War, hundreds of people born outside the United States have received the medal, the most recent of these recipients being Pedro Cano and Jesus S. Duran who received their medals in March 2014 for actions performed during World War II and the Vietnam War respectively. The large number of foreign-born recipients during the 19th and early 20th centuries was mostly due to immigration waves from Europe.