Seventy-two years after Congress stripped Buffalo Bill Cody of his Congressional Medal of Honor, the Army on Friday agreed the Indian scout deserved the distinction and restored his name to the honor roll.
"He's entitled to the honor, he was given the honor and he should have the honor," said Buffalo Bill's grandson, 76-year-old Bill G. Cody."We've always contended that once he was awarded the medal, they shouldn't revoke it - especially after he was dead. Congress apparently feels the same way by reinstating this," said Cody, who runs a guest ranch named after his grandfather.
William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody, who became a famous Western showman after the Indian wars, received the medal in 1872 for his gallantry as an Army scout during the wars. However, it was revoked in 1917 after Congress retroactively changed the rules for the honor by holding that only enlisted men and officers could receive the award. A scout was considered a civilian.
U.S. Sens. Alan Simpson and Malcolm Wallop, who jointly announced the Army's decision, said Buffalo Bill deserved the award.
"Today's action by the Army sets the rec-ord straight," Wallop said. "After extensive research and review of the facts, the Army has decided that Buffalo Bill clearly deserves our nation's highest honor."