Congressional Gold Medal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_Gold_Medal
A Congressional Gold Medal is an award bestowed by the United States Congress; the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom are the highest civilian awards in the United States. It is awarded to persons “who have performed an achievement that has an impact on American history and culture that is likely to be recognized as a major achievement in the recipient’s field long after the achievement.”[1] American citizenship is not a requirement.
Medal of Honor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medal_of_Honor
The Medal of Honor is the United States of America’s highest military honor, awarded for personal acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty. The medal is awarded by the President of the United States in the name of the U.S. Congress to U.S. military personnel only. There are three versions of the medal, one for the Army, one for the Navy, and one for the Air Force.[4] Personnel of the Marine Corps and Coast Guard receive the Navy version.
Why didn’t they get the Medal of Honor instead?
“Why didn’t they get the Medal of Honor instead?”
Because that has (and should have) an incredibly high bar. I would say that simply surviving in any type of condition an act of incredible self-sacrifice and valor is a big negative towards getting one. That’s how tough it is.
The good news is, that once you have one, everyone in the military up to and including the President has to salute you first.
Well... the Medal of Honor is presented by the President of the US, and he's busy hiding from the VA scandal.