Historic Medals of Honor Returned to Veterans

Washington, D.C. - FBI Director Robert S. Mueller today presided in a ceremony at FBI Headquarters to return three Medals of Honor recovered in an FBI investigation to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.

Members of the Congressional Medal of Honor (MOH) Society have gathered in Washington, DC, to participate in the Memorial Day Weekend dedication of the World War II Memorial. The MOH is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the armed forces of the United States. The MOH is generally presented by the President of the United States on behalf of Congress and, therefore, it is often called the Congressional MOH.

Director Mueller said, “The FBI was deeply honored to host 27 Medal of Honor winners who served in World War II and heroically served their country above and beyond the call of duty.” The 27 medal winners and their families took part in the FBI’s annual American Legion Post 56 Memorial Day wreathlaying ceremony in the FBI Headquarters courtyard. After this ceremony a tour of the FBI’s Strategic Information Operations Center (SIOC) took place. At the conclusion of the FBI tour the recovered medals were returned in a ceremony in SIOC to Congressional MOH Society President Gary Littrell, who was awarded a MOH for his actions in Vietnam.

Recently, the three MOHs were recovered as a result of investigations conducted by the FBI’s Buffalo Cyber Task Force and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). These recoveries are as follows:

- A Spanish-American War era MOH awarded to Navy Seaman Robert Blume who was awarded his MOH in 1898 while serving aboard the USS Nashville near Cuba during the Spanish American War.

- A MOH awarded to U.S. Army First Sergeant George W. Roosevelt during the Civil War, who received an extremely rare dual citation MOH in 1862 for heroic acts performed during the Second Battle of Bull Run and the Battle of Gettysburg.

- In Newark, New Jersey, a WWII Navy/Marine Corps MOH in the original presentation box (recipient unknown).

These medals were being sold illegally over e-Bay and were recovered as a result of a joint investigation. Fifteen Canadian and U.S. law enforcement agencies assisted the FBI’s Buffalo Cyber Task Force investigation. To date, one person has pled guilty to Federal charges involving the unlawful sale of any MOH.