Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced recently that the Medals of Honor awarded to U.S. soldiers for their actions at Wounded Knee Creek on Dec. 29, 1890, will not be rescinded.

His decision was based on the October 2024 recommendation of a five-member special review panel that voted 3-2 for the medals to be retained. At that time, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin did not announce the panel’s vote or his decision.

Hegseth, in announcing his decision, said, “This decision is now final,” and said of the soldiers, “their place in our nation’s history is no longer up for debate.”

Hegseth’s decision may indeed be his final one, but his proclamation that the medals will never be rescinded betrays a lack of awareness of how fast attitudes can change. As Defense secretary, he can essential

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