“......the Pentagon has only seen fit to advance the commendation in posthumous circumstances....”
....are you sure about this?...when did it go into effect?
The last Medal of Honor citation to a living military service member was in Vietnam. Since that time seven Medals of Honor have been presented, all posthumously. 33 years have passed since the end of the Vietnam War.
Since that time there has been the Tehran hostage rescue, the invasion of Grenada, the occupation of Beirut ending with the destruction of the USMC barracks, the invasion of Panama, the first Gulf War, Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, the occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the War on Terrorism (ongoing), the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan (ongoing), and the second Gulf War and Iraq occupation (ongoing).
It is not unusual that only seven Medals of Honor have been presented in that time. However, it is unfortunate that out of numerous and extraordinary acts of heroism, some individuals receiving several high ranking decorations for repeated acts of bravery far beyond the call of duty, in that time, the Pentagon has found no living individual who has risen to the standards they have set for the recognition with the Medal of Honor.
And, as much as I am loathe to say it, presenting a MoH posthumously, for the selfless act of jumping on a hand grenade to save the life of your comrades, in truth while meritorious, hardly rates the ultimate citation.