Dr. Mary Walker

Updated February 23, 2017 | Factmonster Staff

The Question:

Can you give me information about the only woman ever to be awarded a Congressional Medal of Honor?

The Answer:

The only woman to receive a Medal of Honor citetitle in the award's 138-year history was Dr. Mary Walker, an assistant surgeon and prisoner of war during America's Civil War.

She was given the award on November 11, 1865. Her medal was rescinded in 1916, however, when the Army purged its files to cut down on what they thought were "unwarranted" issues. It wasn't reinstated until 1976.

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