Mary Walker's Medal of Honor was revoked in 1917 and so were the Medals of Honor of 911 other individuals.
Great care must be taken when comparing Civil War era "Medals of Honor" with the current Medal of Honor.
Prior to the Civil War, the United States armed forces awarded no medals. During the Mexican-American War, a "certificate of merit" was established to honor those who distnguished themselves in action but no medal went with the award.
At the start of the Civil War a medal for individual valor was proposed to General-in-Chief of the Army Winfield Scott. However, Scott felt that medals smacked of European affectation and nixed the idea.
The Navy, however, established a medal of valor in December 1861. The Army followed suit with a medal of honor in July 1862 and the measure provided for awarding a medal of honor "to such noncommissioned officers and privates as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action, and other soldierlike qualities, during the present insurrection."
Therefore, during the Civil War, the "medal of honor" was the only medal that the U.S. Army handed out.
It was given out for "gallantry" with great risk to life.
It was given out for "soldierlike qualities" to individuals that never heard a shot fired in battle.
For example, in June, 1863, approximately 300 of the 864 members of the 27th Maine agree to remain to guard Washington, DC after their enlistment had expired. In return Secretary of War Edwin Stanton submitted the entire group of volunteers for Medals of Honor. Later, Medals of Honor were awarded to members of President Licoln's Funeral Guard. The Civil War era "Medal of Honor" was therefore America's first "Gedunk Medal" too.
In later years, more U.S. medals were created and a certain pecking order was established. The Medal of Honor was no longer given out like Halloween candy. It became reserved for the highest acts of bravery in the U.S. Armed Forces. For example, not a single American fighter ace in the entire European Theater was awarded the Medal of Honor. They were deemed worthy of only the Distinguished Service Cross which ranked below the Medal of Honor in the gallantry pecking order.
This change came about with America's entry into World War One when strict criteria were instituted.
During the "Medal of Honor Purge of 1917", a commission was formed to review the awards of all Civil War era Medals of Honor to determine if they met the new criteria. In all, 911 individuals had their "Medals of Honor" revoked.
The Medals of Honor handed out to the 27th Maine and Lincoln's Funeral Guard as "Gedunk Medals" were revoked.
Mary Walker's Medal of Honor was also revoked. (Feminists usually leave this part out.) However, Walker refused to turn the Medal of Honor back to the Army as requested.
So, yes, it is true that "Mary Walker, the first American woman to be a military doctor and a prisoner of war, received the medal in 1866 for her service during the Civil War". However, the Medal of Honor did not mean the same in 1866 as is does today.
Is Pfc. Lynch a hero? Yes.
Would Pfc. Lynch meet the criteria for a Civil War era Medal of Honor? Yes. Three hundred members of the 27th Maine got a Civil War era Medal of Honor simply for re-enlisting to stay in Washington, DC. Pfc. Lynch certainly did much more than that.
Does Pfc. Lynch meet the criteria for a current Medal of Honor? No.
How about a Bronze Star or maybe even a Silver Star. That is a more realistic ballpark assuming that the stories of her fighting back during the ambush are true and not media hype.
....in World War II.
Award was restored by Carter on 10 June 1977.