<P> On Monday, May 23, 1994, President Clinton presented the Medal of Honor to the widows of Gordon and Shughart . They are the only snipers to have received the Medal of Honor . The film Black Hawk Down, based on the book of the same name, includes a narrative of the events . </P> <P> The War in Afghanistan, which began on October 7, 2001, was launched by the United States, the United Kingdom, and NATO allies in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks . It was the beginning of the War on Terrorism . The stated purpose of the invasion was to capture Osama bin Laden, destroy al - Qaeda, and remove the Taliban regime which had provided support and safe harbor to al - Qaeda . Since 2001, 14 American service - members have received the Medal of Honor for actions in Afghanistan, three of them posthumously . Army Sergeant First Class Jared C. Monti received his medal for attempting to rescue a wounded soldier at the cost of his own life . Navy Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy received his for actions against insurgent forces and for sacrificing his life to call for help when his team had been overwhelmed by a much larger enemy force . Army Staff Sergeant Robert James Miller's surviving family was presented with his medal on October 6, 2010 . The fourth recipient, Salvatore Giunta received his for his actions in 2007 when he risked his life to save a wounded comrade . He is the first living recipient since the Vietnam War . A second living recipient, Sergeant First Class Leroy Petry, received the medal from President Obama during a July 12, 2011, ceremony . Marine Corps Corporal Dakota Meyer became the third living recipient awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Ganjgal . An additional eight living individuals have been awarded the Medal since Meyer . </P> <P> The Iraq War, Operation Iraqi Freedom (US), Operation TELIC (UK) or the occupation of Iraq, was a conflict which began on March 20, 2003 with the United States - led invasion of Iraq by a multinational coalition composed of U.S. and U.K. troops supported by smaller contingents from Australia, Poland, and other nations . Four service members have received the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq; two from the Army, one from the Marine Corps and one from the Navy . Paul R. Smith was the first to receive it for his actions on April 4, 2003 when he held enemy forces back, allowing other wounded soldiers to be evacuated to safety . The other three, Corporal Jason Dunham of the Marine Corps, Specialist Ross A. McGinnis of the Army and Master - at - Arms Second Class Michael A. Monsoor of the Navy received it after being killed while using their own bodies to smother grenades to protect their comrades . </P> <P> Before World War II, the Medal of Honor could be received for actions not involving direct combat with the enemy and 193 men earned the medal in this way . Most of these medals were presented to members of the United States Navy for rescuing or attempting to rescue someone from drowning . One of those awarded the Medal of Honor for rescuing others was Fireman Second Class Telesforo Trinidad, who as of 2010 has been the only Asian American Sailor to be awarded the Medal of Honor . In addition to the medals that were presented for lifesaving acts, one Medal of Honor was presented to William Halford who sailed in a small boat for 31 days to get help for the other members of USS Saginaw who had been stranded on an island . Three explorers were also presented with the medal by special acts of Congress . Charles Lindbergh received the medal for flying the first solo non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean as well as Floyd Bennett and Richard Evelyn Byrd who received it for their participation in what was thought to be the first successful heavier - than - air flight to the North Pole and back . One recipient, Adolphus W. Greely received his for a lifetime of military service . </P>

How many service members received the medal of honor during the war in iraq