MovieChat Forums > Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) Discussion > Congressional Medal of Honor? No Way !!

Congressional Medal of Honor? No Way !!

posted 10 years ago by smokehill retrievers
2 replies | jump to latest

In the Goofs section, fortunately, IMDB clarifies this terrible faux pas in an otherwise wonderful film.

Having spent a couple of decades in the Army, I knew instantly what had caused this screwup. It happens a lot, actually, since the military Medal of Honor (erroneously but commonly called the "Congressional Medal of Honor" is easy for some civilian to mistake for the similar sounding "Congressional Gold Medal," which has nothing to do with the military, or combat, or heroism. It's just an expensive trinket given out more for political or partisan reasons -- often to very deserving persons, but the award decision has more to do with how much good publicity will accrue to the politicians involved, or some cause they want to be associated with.

To beat the dead horse even further, I repeat: the military medal for bravery is NOT called the "Congressional Medal of Honor." Its proper name is the "Medal of Honor." Congress has nothing to do with it, really, since it is awarded by the military, under the aegis of the Commander in Chief. Its award is purely an Executive Branch responsibility, though the paperwork does mention, I believe, that it is awarded in the name of the Congress -- though they have nothing at all to say in the selection or award process.

[–] hobnob53 10 years ago

Your explanation should help disabuse those who inadvertently get confused by the honors conferred by the different medals, who awards them and their proper designations. Thanks for clarifying that on the board, smokehill.

But I can't remember just now -- in the movie, what do they call the medal Cohan is awarded? My memory tells me Cohan (Cagney) says "This is the Congressional Medal", which is a bit vague. I don't think they say "Medal of Honor" but I would imagine most people in the audience (in 1942 and today) conflated Cohan's medal with the military award.

In real life Cohan got the medal in I believe 1936 or 1937, but at any rate long before WWII.

I do have to say I think most of the recipients of either the Congressional Gold Medal or the Presidential Medal of Freedom have been deserving individuals who did make major contributions to their country. These are not all simply political choices or done for public relations, though obviously those factors do creep in in some instances.

[–] scott-269-715736 10 years ago

Thank you both for clarifying that it was the Congressional Gold Medal and had nothing to do with WWII. In the movie it would be fairly easy for people to confuse the medal and the reason Cohan received it.

The medal is awarded by an Act of Congress which can authorize the President to make the presentation as Roosevelt did in this instance and it was given for Cohan's contribution during WWI.