Living Marine May Receive Medal of Honor

Jillian Bandes | March 13, 2009 1:55 PM

Only five service members have received the Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor in the U.S. military, during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. All were awarded the medal posthumously.

For the first time, a living service member may be in line for the top award, but the only other details available about the possible recipient is that he or she comes from the Marines. From Gen. James T. Conway, via the Marine Corps Times:

We have a case that I sent an investigating officer out to take a look at on the West Coast that, if proven, I think will prompt me to recommend the Medal of Honor for a living Marine.