This Friday, President Biden will bestow the Medal of Honor to several U.S. Army soldiers for their extraordinary acts of bravery during combat. The U.S. flag was flown at half-staff over the White House in remembrance of former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away on December 29.
President Biden is set to honor seven U.S. Army soldiers on Friday by awarding them the prestigious Medal of Honor for their courageous service during the Korean and Vietnam wars.
This distinguished military honor is reserved for those who show remarkable valiance in combat. On Friday, six soldiers will receive the award posthumously: Pvt. Bruno R. Orig, Pfc. Wataru Nakamura, Cpl. Fred B. McGee, Pfc. Charles R. Johnson, retired Gen. Richard E. Cavazos, and Capt. Hugh R. Nelson Jr., along with Spc. 4th Class Kenneth J. David.
Orig, Nakamura, McGee, Johnson, and Cavazos demonstrated valor in Korea, where Orig, Nakamura, and Johnson lost their lives in action. Nelson and David served in Vietnam, with Nelson also being killed in combat. Each honoree exhibited exceptional bravery and “gallantry and intrepidity” while engaged with enemy forces or safeguarding fellow soldiers, as noted by the White House.
In addition, President Biden will award the Medal of Valor to eight first responders for their heroic actions, including five police officers who responded to a tragic shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, in March 2023.
The recipients of the Medal of Valor include Sgt. Jeffrey Mathes, Officer Rex Engelbert, and Detectives Michael Collazo, Ryan Cagle, and Zachary Plese. Other honorees include Sgt. Tu Tran, who saved a woman from a frozen pond in Lincoln, Nebraska, in February 2023; Lt. John Vanderstar, a New York City firefighter who rescued a mother and child from a burning building in October 2022; and firefighter Brendan Gaffney, who saved an unconscious child and pregnant woman in February 2023.
