Above and Beyond the Call of Duty: The Medal of Honor, Heroism, and Professionalism in the Twenty-First Century

Over the last decade, scholars have debated the nature of military heroism. On one hand, some have argued that a new “post-heroic” culture has emerged; the U.S. military no longer awards gallantry medals for traditional heroism on the battlefield. The Medal of Honor, typically awarded for killing the enemy, now recognizes lifesaving acts. On the other hand, several scholars have argued that gallantry medals are still awarded for traditional acts of heroism; that a heroic culture endures. This article analyses contemporary military heroism. It compares U.S. Army Medal of Honor awards in the twenty-first century with those of the Second World War to interrogate the heroic/post-heroic debates. Instead, it claims that heroism has become professionalized, reflecting the values and self-identity of the all-volunteer force U.S. Army.