Hegseth Defends Medals of Honor for Wounded Knee Soldiers, Sparks Outrage
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the 19 soldiers awarded Medals of Honor for their actions at Wounded Knee in 1890 will retain their awards. This decision follows a review ordered by Hegseth’s predecessor, Lloyd Austin, in response to congressional recommendations. The review panel concluded that the soldiers deserved the medals despite the historical context of the event, where the U.S. Army killed approximately 250 Native Americans. This decision aligns with Hegseth’s broader actions, including restoring Confederate-linked names and memorials in the military, and echoes a White House executive order that discouraged reinterpretations of American history.
John Q. Hosedrinker