- Since its creation during the Civil War, the Medal of Honor has been awarded to more than 3,500 men.
- But only one woman has received the prestigious award: Dr. Mary Edwards Walker.
- One of the first women to become a medical doctor in the US, Walker volunteered to treat wounded Union soldiers and even spent four months as a Confederate prisoner of war.
After the war, President Andrew Johnson presented her with the Medal of Honor to recognize her dedication and loyalty to the US.
Walker became known for her "radical" views on women's rights and was regarded as a living legend.
Her medal was rescinded in the early 20th century because of changes in the award's regulations, but she refused to give it up and wore it until she died in 1919.