Stripped of Her Medal, She Wore It Anyway

Fact check

The facts and where they come from

1. She is the only woman to receive the Medal of Honor. The National Park Service: “She remains the only woman to receive the Medal of Honor.” Wikipedia: “She is the only woman to receive the Medal of Honor.” 12
2. The Army took it away. The National Park Service: “The medal was stripped from her (and several others) by government action from 1916 to 1917.” The US Army: “Walker’s medal was rescinded in 1917, two years before she died — along with 910 others.” 13
3. In 1855 she became a doctor. The National Park Service: “Walker graduated with a doctor of medicine degree from Syracuse Medical College in 1855.” She was “the only woman in her class” (Wikipedia). 132
4. When the Civil War began, the Army refused to make a woman a surgeon. The National Park Service: “She was denied a commission as a medical officer.” Wikipedia: she volunteered as a surgeon for the Army “but was rejected because she was a woman.” 12
5. She worked for free near the front lines. Wikipedia: “She worked as an unpaid field surgeon near the Union front lines, including at the Battle of Fredericksburg and in Chattanooga after the Battle of Chickamauga.” The US Army: “Walker worked for free at the temporary hospital set up at the U.S. Patent Office in Washington, D.C.” The National Park Service: an “unpaid volunteer surgeon.” 231
6. In 1863 the Army finally hired her, its first woman surgeon. The National Park Service: “In September 1863, Dr. Walker became the first female U.S. Army surgeon,” hired by the Army of the Cumberland as a “Contract Acting Assistant Surgeon (civilian).” 12
7. She crossed enemy lines to treat civilians. The National Park Service: “While serving as an assistant surgeon with the 52nd Ohio Infantry, she routinely crossed the lines to treat civilians.” 1
8. In April 1864 Confederate troops captured her as a spy. The National Women’s History Museum: “In April of 1864, Walker was captured by Confederate troops as a spy.” Wikipedia: “On April 10, 1864, she was captured by Confederate troops, and arrested as a spy.” 42
9. She spent four months in Castle Thunder prison. The National Women’s History Museum: “She was held as a prisoner of war for four months at the notorious Castle Thunder prison.” Wikipedia: she was sent to Castle Thunder in Richmond, Virginia, and held until August 12, 1864. 412
10. She was traded for a Confederate surgeon. Wikipedia: “Walker was exchanged for a Confederate surgeon from Tennessee on August 12, 1864.” The National Park Service: “Dr. Walker was freed in a prisoner exchange.” 21
11. In November 1865 President Andrew Johnson signed her Medal of Honor: “President Andrew Johnson signed a bill on November 11, 1865,” to award it (the National Park Service). The US Army: “Walker was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Andrew Johnson.” 13
12. In 1917 an Army board struck her name off, with 910 others. The Army’s Medal of Honor Board, which sat from 1916 to 1917, “struck 911 names from the Army Medal of Honor Roll, including those of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker” (Wikipedia). The US Army: “rescinded in 1917 … along with 910 others.” 23
13. She had been a civilian, so she was ruled ineligible. Wikipedia, on why: “In Walker’s case, she was a civilian contract surgeon, not a commissioned officer.” The US Army: “That civilian status is why Walker’s medal was rescinded.” 23
14. She refused to give it back and wore it until she died. The US Army: “Walker refused to return the medal, though, and continued to wear it until she died two years later.” The National Women’s History Museum: the revocation “did not stop Walker from wearing her award until her death in 1919.” 34
15. She died on February 21, 1919. 42
16. In 1977 the medal was restored. The National Park Service: “It was reinstated to her in 1977.” Wikipedia: the decision came from the Army’s Board for Correction of Military Records and was acted on by the Army’s Assistant Secretary for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. 12
17. She is still the only woman who has ever received it. The National Women’s History Museum: “In all of United States history, there has only been one woman to receive the Medal of Honor.” 14

Sources

1. Mary Walker National Park Service
2. Mary Edwards Walker Wikipedia
3. Meet Dr. Mary Walker: The only female Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Army
4. Mary Edwards Walker National Women’s History Museum

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