Why do most recent Medal of Honor recipients leave the military shortly after being awarded it?

I was under the command of Col. Wesley Fox at OCS in quantico, he was an MoH recip and stayed in until he reached manditory retirement age.

I provided a statement for a MOH winner. He received it in 1967. This man hated being Mister MOH winner and disliked being only recognized for his medal. He later in the 90's sold it at a garage sale and moved to a very isolated area. Gentleman passed away a few years ago.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_J._Kellogg
I worked in the VA in Honolulu with this awesome man...he is the most unassuming person that wants nothing in return. He worked in our homeless office to give out food, clothing and showers to homeless veterans. We put together a team to do a farewell ceremony/party for his retirement of 50 years of service. After planning a big festival with the whole Marine Corps base Hawaii and PACOM commanders and PENTAGON officials to come...he found out and CANCELLED whole thing. He left one day and never came back!!! Saw him last month in the VA Clinic and he is still the same. Story from a veteran that I spoke to that served with him said he took the brunt of a grenade thrown to his position to save the lives of his squad and survived!!!

CPL S S - Wow

Probably everytime they see medal it reminds them of the worse day of their life.

From what I have heard, a MoH receiptant can’t go to combat. If a military can’t go to combat, then why stay in.

Also, met a MoH receiptant who did 20. He wondered did he get promoted and respect based off of his merits or the MoH.

Two great points

SGT (Join to see) the medal is a product of his merits.

SSgt Bill Mills - Medal

The Bronze Star Medal, unofficially the Bronze Star, is a United States decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone. My brother-in-law received the bronze star for meritorious service in a combat zone. I admit I had forgotten it was strictly a combat zone award; however, I was right it can be awarded for meritorious achievement/service not related to actual combat.

John Basilone was paraded around until he volunteered to go back to a combat unit and was killed on Iwo Jima.

I never said that getting major,.life changing injuries such as losing a hand or eye was a requirement, it's just that due to the sheer risk that recipients have put themselves in, it's generally the norm that they end up seriously wounded.

Msgt (retired), I believe they were not the type of person who were seeking the limelight, they were soldiers who did unbelievable things in an unbelievable moment in history, I don't think you will ever find a MOH winner who thought this will get me my MOH, no they are men who fought hardest when their chances were least, they were men doing their duty trying to survive and then thrust into the light where everyday they get to relive the worst day of their lives, most often their sacrifice came when others died. There is a reason why most MOH medal recipients receive the medal posthumously.