More than a decade ago, when retired Army Lt. Gen. Leroy Sisco learned U.S. Medal of Honor recipients received a “paltry” $600 a month, the Boerne resident traveled to Washington, D.C., and saw to it Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs raised that award to $1,400 monthly.
Now, some 15 years later, the $1,400 figure — about $16,000 per year — has not changed. In the interim, Sisco’s Military Warriors Support Foundation began to flourish, and Sisco once again picked up the cause for Medal of Honor recipients, saying the amount has not kept pace with the economy.
Sisco flew to Washington earlier this month to take part in a bill-signing ceremony in the Oval Office — a bill that will nearly quadruple the stipend for recipients to $67,500 a year.
“An E5 sergeant, his retirement pay and his disability pay, he’s living off $1,500 a month,” Sisco said, the exasperation evident in his voice. “Now it’s going to be close to $5,800 a month, tax free.”
“This money, long overdue, will better help them cope with the obstacles they face on a daily basis. We owe them at least that much.”
-- Ret. Army Lt. Gen. Leroy Sisco
The Medal of Honor, established during the Civil War, is the nation’s highest military decoration and is awarded for actions above and beyond the call of duty in combat. It comes with a stipend and special privileges.
There are 61 living Medal of Honor recipients, according to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Of those, 45 are veterans of the Vietnam War, while the other 16 fought in the Global War on Terror.
The bill passed 424-0 in the U.S. House of Representatives in February. It only got Senate approval last month — again a unanimous vote, 100-0 — with President Donald Trump signing it into law Dec. 1.
Sisco was present for the signing of the legislation.
Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, who introduced the bill in the House, wanted the stipend raised due to a lack of reimbursement for recipients helping with recruiting, or families asking for donations to help with expenses.
“The least we can do is lift the financial burden off of these selfless warriors who continue to serve our great nation,” Nehls said in a statement after the legislation became law.
There have been 3,520 Medal of Honor recipients since 1861. Many of those alive today live on a limited income “and about 20 of them can’t even get out of their homes” because of age or disability, Sisco said.
“This money, long overdue, will better help them cope with the obstacles they face on a daily basis,” he said. “We owe them at least that much.”
Sisco is the CEO and founder of the Military Warriors Support Foundation, which has awarded more than 1,000 mortgage-free homes to servicemen and women and Gold Star families since it began in 2007.
Sisco said 127 homes were announced with the support of country music legend and Boerne resident George Strait, often on stage.
Honors received by Sisco over a 42-year military career include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal and Adjutant Generals Individual Award.
Sisco also is president and founder of the Welding Student Support Foundation, which bolsters the welding and agricultural mechanics program at Champion High School.
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