Why is the medal of honor awarded after death so often?

Isent that what the purple heart is for?Why is the medal of honor awarded after death so often?
The medal of honor isn't awarded to everyone who dies, only those who "distinguish themselves conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States." It has only been awarded 6 times in the war on terror and it is only a coincidence that all of them are posthumous.



The purple heart is awarded to any member of the u.s. military who is killed or wounded on duty.
While all the above answers are true,I just want to mention that many years ago there was an actor named Audie Murphy. While he was in the army,he received every medal the Army offered with only one exception, The Good Conduct Medal. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.Why is the medal of honor awarded after death so often?
Because to do something to warrant a medal of honor usually requires doing something so ill advised that the average individual would never do it, or they have just defied orders on such a level that success in what they did would have defied all expectations.
The Medal of Honor is only awarded for extreme acts of bravery and gallantry. These are very dangerous, so often the person doing them is seriously injured or dies.Why is the medal of honor awarded after death so often?
Purple heart is for injury.



Medal of honor can be awarded after death if the person died doing something honorable.