Battle of Wounded Knee Soldiers Will Keep Medals of Honor: Hegseth

Medals of Honor were given to 20 soldiers, some of whom were credited with rescuing wounded comrades and for continuing to fight even while wounded.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks during a ceremony at the Pentagon to commemorate the 24rd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in Washington on Sept. 11, 2025. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said on Sept. 25 that 20 U.S. Army soldiers who received the Medal of Honor for their actions in the 1890 Battle of Wounded Knee will retain their awards.

The decision came in response to the findings of a review launched in 2024 by Hegseth’s predecessor, Lloyd Austin, under the Biden administration. The review examined Medal of Honor citations—the nation’s highest award for valor—to decide whether each soldier’s conduct warranted the citation.