In the long history of the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award, only one woman has ever earned the distinction. Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, a physician, abolitionist, and women’s rights advocate, broke through societal barriers not only with her pioneering work in medicine but also through her tireless service during the Civil War. Awarded the Medal of Honor in 1865, her life story reads as a study in determination, service, and relentless advocacy for equality.
From Medicine to Military Service
Born in 1832 in Oswego, New York, Mary Edwards Walker grew up in a household that championed education and equality. She studied at Syracuse Medical College, graduating in 1855 as only the second woman in the United States to earn a medical degree.
When the Civil War erupted, Walker was determined to serve. Initially, the Union Army refused her a commission because of her gender. Undeterred, she volunteered anyway, working as a civilian surgeon at field hospitals in Washington, D.C., and later in field hospitals at the front lines, including the bloody aftermaths of the Battles of Fredericksburg and Chickamauga.
Captivity and Courage
In April 1864, Dr. Walker was captured by Confederate forces while serving near the front lines of the Civil War. Known for her habit of crossing battle lines to provide medical care to soldiers and civilians on both sides, Walker was fearless in her commitment to saving lives. On the day she was captured, she had just finished assisting a Confederate surgeon with an amputation. Confederate troops detained her shortly afterward, accusing her of acting as a Union spy.
The accusation wasn’t necessarily based on anything she said or did — it was partly because of the way she dressed. Walker wore men’s clothing, something that was practically unheard of for women at the time. To Confederate authorities, her appearance alone was enough to raise suspicion. She was arrested and sent to Castle Thunder, a notoriously grim prison in Richmond, Virginia.
Walker spent the next four months as a prisoner of war. Despite the harsh conditions, she refused to abandon her principles. When Confederate officials offered her women’s clothing to wear, she flatly refused, sticking to the practical men’s attire she believed was cleaner, safer, and more appropriate for her work as a surgeon.
In August 1864, Walker was finally released as part of a prisoner exchange for a Confederate surgeon. Although her time at Castle Thunder took a toll on her health, she didn’t let it stop her. After her release, she went right back to serving the Union war effort, continuing her medical work with the same resilience and sense of duty that had defined her from the beginning.
Recognition and Controversy
Following her release, Walker continued her work with the Union Army. In 1865, President Andrew Johnson, upon recommendation from Major Generals William Tecumseh Sherman and George H. Thomas, awarded her the Medal of Honor. The citation specifically commended her “valuable service to the Government,” noting her “patriotic zeal to the sick and wounded soldiers” .
However, her recognition would not remain without controversy. In 1917, decades after the war and long after Walker’s death, the U.S. Army undertook a review of past Medal of Honor awards. As part of an effort to standardize eligibility, over 900 medals were rescinded, including Walker’s. Authorities reasoned that she had not engaged in “actual combat.”
Unwilling to accept the slight, Walker defiantly continued to wear the medal every day until her death in 1919. It wasn’t until 1977, under President Jimmy Carter’s administration, that her medal was officially reinstated.
A Legacy Larger Than Life
Mary Edwards Walker’s legacy is not confined to her Medal of Honor. She was a lifelong advocate for women’s suffrage, dress reform, and prison reform.
She once quipped about her attire, “I don’t wear men’s clothes; I wear my own clothes.”
Today, Dr. Walker is remembered as a trailblazer who refused to be limited by the narrow expectations placed on women of her era. Statues, historical markers, and schools bearing her name ensure that her story continues to inspire future generations.
Wrapping Up
Dr. Mary Edwards Walker’s life is a reminder that courage comes in many forms. Whether facing enemy troops, skeptical bureaucrats, or the ingrained prejudices of her time, she met every challenge with unwavering conviction. She stands, medal proudly pinned, as a singular figure in American military history. Her service, advocacy, and defiance remain a powerful example of what one determined individual can achieve in the face of entrenched resistance.