President Andrew Johnson signed a bill approving the Medal of Honor for Walker.
On November 11, 1865, President Andrew Johnson signed legislation granting the Medal of Honor to Mary Edwards Walker, acknowledging her selfless service during the Civil War. Walker's reception of the Medal of Honor marked her as the first and only woman to receive this foremost U.S. military decoration. This recognition was a testament to her exceptional bravery, dedication, and trailblazing role as a female physician and soldier in an era that often sidelined women's contributions.