WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced that he has decided that the 20 soldiers who received the Medal of Honor for their actions in 1890 at Wounded Knee will keep their awards in a video posted to social media Thursday evening.
Hegseth’s predecessor, Lloyd Austin, ordered the review of the awards in 2024 after a Congressional recommendation in the 2022 defense bill — itself a reflection of efforts by some lawmakers to rescind the awards for those who participated in the bloody massacre on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation near Wounded Knee Creek.
A depiction of U.S. 7th Cavalry soldiers at Wounded Knee in 1890 by artist Frederick Remington.
Hegseth’s comments were released in a video on X.
“Under my direction, the soldiers who fought at the Battle of Wounded Knee will keep their medals. This decision is final. Their place in history is settled.”
Hegseth notes in his remarks that the review panel report recommended that the medals be retained, but that Austin did not act upon that recommendation. I hope the full report is released.
You can read the Frontier Partisans post marking the 125th anniversary of the Wounded Knee Massacre here:
Greg Austin Walker says
A bit of history here –
“Atotal of 426 Medals of Honor were awarded during the United States’ Indian Wars (post-Civil War era, roughly 1865-1890) for acts of bravery and gallantry in combat against Native American tribes. These recipients included soldiers of various backgrounds, such as 18 African American soldiers, 15 Native American scouts, and 2 Jewish American soldiers.
Total Recipients: 426 individuals received the Medal of Honor.
Conflicts Covered: This period of the Indian Wars primarily refers to the post-Civil War era, from 1865 to 1890.
Diverse Backgrounds:
18 African American soldiers received the award.
15 Native American soldiers who served as cavalry scouts were recognized with the medal.
2 Jewish American soldiers also earned the distinction during this time.”
Greg Austin Walker says
Putting in FOIA for the full report.
JimC says
Excellent.
Erik Dolson says
What honor is Hegseth memorializing?
Douglas Wise says
You would have to get the citation that accompanied the award to see the details.
A FOIA request would be a good place to start.