The Army Medal of Honor. The original version of this medal was authorized by Congress on July 12, 1862, and was the same as the Navy medal of the time, with a different suspension. In 1904, due to the design being copied by various veteran's organizations, a new version (left) was designed and the patent was transferred to the Secretary of War to prevent this practice. Unlike the Navy medal, the Army version was only awarded for combat action. The award of only four Army Medals of Honor was approved during the actual fighting of World War I. Five days after the Armistice, General John J. Pershing, commander of the American forces, directed that all cases in which a Distinguished Service Cross had been awarded should be investigated to see if a Medal of Honor should be conferred instead. Following this review, an additional ninety-four Medals were awarded. Twenty-five of the Medals of Honor awarded for action in World War I were given posthumously.