Pentagon Panel to Reevaluate Medals of Honor Awarded at Wounded Knee

The Defence Department will reassess the Medals of Honour awarded to 20 U.S. soldiers for their actions in the 1890 Wounded Knee battle. This review aims to determine if their conduct truly merits such a prestigious award. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin initiated this review after discussions with the White House and the Department of the Interior.

Historical Context and Controversy

The Wounded Knee massacre, occurring on South Dakota's Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, resulted in the deaths of approximately 250 Native Americans, including women and children. At least another 100 were injured. The soldiers from the 7th Cavalry Regiment received Medals of Honour for various actions, including bravery and efforts to rescue fellow troops.

Congress recommended this review in the 2022 defence bill, reflecting a push by some lawmakers to rescind the awards for those involved in the massacre. Native American groups, advocates, state lawmakers from South Dakota, and several Congress members have called for officials to revoke these medals.

Review Process and Criteria

In a memo signed last week, Austin stated that a special panel would review each award "to ensure no soldier was recognised for conduct that did not merit recognition and if their conduct demonstrated any disqualifying actions." These actions could include rape, murder of a prisoner, or attacking a non-combatant or someone who had surrendered.

Army Secretary Christine Wormuth must provide historical records and documentation for each soldier's award to the panel by Friday. The panel must submit a written report by October 15, recommending whether each award should be revoked or retained.

Medal of Honour Standards

The standards for awarding the Medal of Honour have evolved over time. However, this review will evaluate the soldiers' actions based on the rules in place at that time. Austin mentioned that the panel of five experts could consider the overall context of the incident to assess each soldier's actions.

The dispute continues a long history of contentious relations between South Dakota tribes and the government dating back to the 1800s. The Wounded Knee massacre was particularly deadly as federal troops shot and killed Lakota men, women, and children during a campaign to stop a religious practice known as the Ghost Dance.

Congress apologised in 1990 to the descendants of those killed at Wounded Knee but did not revoke the medals. This review represents another step in addressing historical grievances related to this tragic event.