WEBVTT 00:34.540 --> 00:36.707 Ladies and gentlemen , please bow with 00:36.707 --> 00:39.419 me as I pray for this solemn occasion . 00:40.560 --> 00:43.479 Almighty God with humble hearts we 00:43.479 --> 00:46.360 gather before you today , grateful for 00:46.360 --> 00:48.639 the privilege of honoring these seven 00:48.639 --> 00:50.959 courageous and selfless defenders of 00:50.959 --> 00:53.840 freedom whose acts of bravery were 00:53.840 --> 00:56.279 demonstrated during combat operations 00:56.520 --> 01:00.439 in Korea and Vietnam . Heavenly Father , 01:00.740 --> 01:02.979 we thank you for their valor and 01:02.979 --> 01:05.059 courage in the face of extreme 01:05.059 --> 01:08.220 circumstances for their families and 01:08.220 --> 01:11.220 friends who stand with them today in 01:11.220 --> 01:15.059 love and in remembrance of 6 of them 01:15.059 --> 01:18.059 who are no longer with us and for 01:18.059 --> 01:21.959 specialists Kenneth J David who by your 01:21.959 --> 01:25.220 grace joins us as our nation bestows 01:25.220 --> 01:28.489 upon him . And his fellow comrades , 01:28.709 --> 01:32.059 the Medal of Honor . Grant us , oh God , 01:32.169 --> 01:34.290 the strength to follow the noble 01:34.290 --> 01:38.050 examples of these seven soldiers who 01:38.050 --> 01:41.339 seeking not their own renown but 01:41.930 --> 01:44.930 the well-being of others pressed 01:44.930 --> 01:48.680 forward in the fight steadfast , strong 01:48.680 --> 01:51.620 and unwavering . Heavenly Father , 01:51.870 --> 01:54.110 bless all future generations of 01:54.110 --> 01:56.910 Americans who hear of the great deeds 01:56.910 --> 01:59.949 and sacrifices of these heroes as our 01:59.949 --> 02:03.529 nation demonstrates a commitment 02:03.830 --> 02:07.019 to never forget the exploits of those 02:07.309 --> 02:11.220 who defend freedom . And Lord bless our 02:11.220 --> 02:14.460 beloved nation empower us to 02:14.460 --> 02:17.339 preserve the freedoms we cherish as 02:17.339 --> 02:20.139 Americans and let the light of liberty 02:20.139 --> 02:23.179 continue to shine from sea to shining 02:23.179 --> 02:26.740 sea . in your holy name we pray , amen . 02:33.270 --> 02:34.992 Please be seated , thank you . 02:39.809 --> 02:43.759 Ladies and gentlemen , As a 02:43.830 --> 02:46.720 commander in chief . This is the most 02:46.720 --> 02:50.339 solemn occasion that I participated in 02:50.389 --> 02:52.660 in my 4 years every time we do this 02:52.660 --> 02:56.110 event . Secretary Austin , Secretary 02:56.110 --> 02:59.229 Warmer , Chairman Brown . General , 02:59.270 --> 03:02.190 it's good to see you . Representative 03:02.190 --> 03:04.770 Case , Castro Ryan and . Tan 03:06.330 --> 03:10.029 Most importantly , Veterans , service 03:10.029 --> 03:12.149 members , and previous Medal of Honor 03:12.149 --> 03:16.080 recipients . Today is the final time 03:16.080 --> 03:18.990 as commander in chief . And I'm deeply 03:18.990 --> 03:21.309 privileged to honor 7 American , 03:21.960 --> 03:24.600 American heroes . That's not hyperbole . 03:24.639 --> 03:27.470 These are genuine to the core heroes . 03:28.160 --> 03:30.320 Heroes of different ranks , different 03:30.320 --> 03:32.240 positions , and even different 03:32.240 --> 03:36.000 generations . But heroes who all went 03:36.000 --> 03:38.759 above and beyond the call of duty , 03:39.089 --> 03:41.210 heroes who all deserve our nation's 03:41.210 --> 03:43.543 highest and oldest military recognition , 03:43.649 --> 03:46.410 the Medal of Honor . First , 03:49.029 --> 03:52.809 Private Bruno Uri . Proud 03:52.809 --> 03:55.740 son of Hawaii . Bruno joined the army 03:55.740 --> 03:59.300 when he was just 19 years old . Less 03:59.300 --> 04:02.210 than one year later . He was completing 04:02.210 --> 04:05.240 a mission in Korea . Bruno saw his 04:05.240 --> 04:07.389 fellow soldiers were wounded and 04:07.389 --> 04:10.639 stranded under enemy fire . Without 04:10.639 --> 04:13.690 hesitation , he ran out to rescue them , 04:13.970 --> 04:16.640 giving his own life to save the lives 04:16.640 --> 04:20.229 of his brothers in arms . That's valor . 04:20.509 --> 04:22.342 That's the definition of valor . 04:22.949 --> 04:26.589 Private first class . You know , 04:26.670 --> 04:30.290 uh , I , I think , uh , it's incredible 04:30.290 --> 04:32.540 when I think of the men and women who 04:32.540 --> 04:35.320 done who got this award , but Private 04:35.320 --> 04:38.329 First Class Waturo Nakamura . 04:39.209 --> 04:42.049 After an attack on Pearl Harbor , he 04:42.049 --> 04:43.890 was , uh , forced to live in an 04:43.890 --> 04:46.170 internment camp like so many other 04:46.170 --> 04:48.337 Japanese Americans like my good friend 04:48.337 --> 04:50.392 Danny Noway who was a hero himself . 04:50.920 --> 04:54.600 Put in a term in camp . But still , he 04:54.600 --> 04:56.656 signed up to serve our nation during 04:56.656 --> 04:58.544 World War II and the Korean War . 04:58.690 --> 05:01.279 During his last mission in May of 1951 , 05:01.670 --> 05:04.480 single-handedly , he defended his unit 05:04.730 --> 05:08.290 from enemy attack , fighting until he 05:08.290 --> 05:11.750 was killed by a grenade . Corporal Fred 05:11.750 --> 05:14.589 McGee , a Midwesterner , a steel worker , 05:14.959 --> 05:17.079 and a gunner , one of the first 05:17.079 --> 05:19.412 integrated army units of the Korean War . 05:20.570 --> 05:22.940 and body the very best of our country . 05:23.899 --> 05:27.529 In June 1952 , his unit was attacked , 05:28.100 --> 05:30.070 they took casualties . They were 05:30.070 --> 05:33.299 ordered to fall back , but Fred refused , 05:33.339 --> 05:36.339 refused to leave . Until he helped 05:36.339 --> 05:38.369 every wounded soldier evacuate . 05:39.570 --> 05:41.681 Private First Class Charlie Johnson , 05:42.290 --> 05:44.850 growing up in the words of Charlie's 05:44.850 --> 05:47.250 high school classmate , he was a heck 05:47.250 --> 05:49.690 of a football player . Well , back in 05:49.690 --> 05:52.119 1952 , Charlie signed up to serve in 05:52.119 --> 05:54.859 Korea . Trading his jersey for a 05:54.859 --> 05:57.309 uniform . During one battle , he gave 05:57.309 --> 05:59.420 his life to defend the bunker full of 05:59.420 --> 06:01.769 his wounded soldiers . His valor saved 06:01.769 --> 06:04.690 10 men , including an old high school 06:04.690 --> 06:08.309 classmate . General Richard , excuse 06:08.309 --> 06:12.089 me , excuse me , Cavasso . A 06:12.089 --> 06:13.978 young first lieutenant in Korea , 06:14.410 --> 06:16.632 Richard led his men through a difficult 06:16.632 --> 06:18.854 and deadly mission in enemy territory . 06:19.200 --> 06:21.880 Eventually , he was ordered to retreat , 06:22.489 --> 06:24.970 but he stayed . He stayed rescuing 06:24.970 --> 06:28.140 wounded soldiers one by one . So every 06:28.140 --> 06:31.190 one of them was evacuated . Virtan has 06:31.190 --> 06:33.134 served for 3 decades in the army , 06:33.429 --> 06:35.373 becoming the first , the country's 06:35.373 --> 06:38.529 first Hispanic 4-star general . And 06:38.529 --> 06:41.570 Captain Hug Nelson . Citadel graduate , 06:41.790 --> 06:44.540 helicopter pilot , and a proud young 06:44.540 --> 06:47.420 father . He was just 28 years old when 06:47.420 --> 06:49.309 he and his crew were shot down in 06:49.309 --> 06:52.570 Vietnam . You freed his men who were 06:52.570 --> 06:54.880 trapped in the wreckage . Then as Yenna 06:54.880 --> 06:57.320 began to attack , he used his body as a 06:57.320 --> 06:59.899 shield to protect them . It cost him 06:59.899 --> 07:02.559 dearly . It cost him his life . You 07:02.559 --> 07:04.519 commanding officer called it the 07:04.519 --> 07:06.686 ultimate act of self-sacrifice , which 07:06.686 --> 07:09.920 it was . And finally , Private First 07:09.920 --> 07:12.910 Class Ken David was here with us today . 07:13.559 --> 07:15.679 Only 55 years ago in Vietnam , his 07:15.679 --> 07:17.679 company was ambushed by the enemy . 07:18.299 --> 07:20.577 Kansas lieutenant was killed instantly . 07:20.890 --> 07:23.070 Then Ken himself was hit in the back 07:23.070 --> 07:25.799 with shrapnel . But he couldn't and 07:25.799 --> 07:29.619 wouldn't give up . Instead , he shouted 07:29.619 --> 07:33.320 and fired his weapon , attacking to 07:33.320 --> 07:35.264 attract attention to him away from 07:35.264 --> 07:38.070 others . And away from the wounded man . 07:38.570 --> 07:41.359 Imagine that courage . Come get me , 07:41.640 --> 07:43.751 come get me , don't get those folks . 07:44.410 --> 07:46.880 That's selflessness . I kind of want to 07:46.880 --> 07:48.991 say to you that I wish I could say to 07:48.991 --> 07:51.440 every man we're honoring today . You're 07:51.440 --> 07:55.279 a hero , a genuine hero , flat out 07:55.279 --> 07:57.720 straight up American hero , and we owe 07:57.720 --> 08:00.790 you , the families owe you . Let me 08:00.790 --> 08:03.510 close with this . I said as I said 08:03.510 --> 08:06.029 earlier . These are my final days as 08:06.029 --> 08:08.029 commander in chief . It's been the 08:08.029 --> 08:10.670 greatest honor of my life . To be 08:10.670 --> 08:12.726 entrusted with the greatest fighting 08:12.726 --> 08:14.948 force in the history of the world , and 08:14.948 --> 08:17.059 the finest military in the history of 08:17.059 --> 08:19.649 the world . And every day , every day , 08:19.690 --> 08:21.746 their integrity , their patriotism , 08:21.746 --> 08:24.209 and their courage . And to learn these 08:24.209 --> 08:26.970 stories of Americans like Bruno and 08:27.380 --> 08:29.713 Maturo and Fred and Charlie and Richard , 08:29.713 --> 08:33.440 you , Ken . Americans who have not only 08:33.440 --> 08:36.299 fought for our nation . Put embody the 08:36.299 --> 08:39.320 very best our nation has to offer . Let 08:39.320 --> 08:42.280 me also say this today we award these 08:42.280 --> 08:45.650 individuals a Medal of Honor . We can't 08:45.650 --> 08:48.940 stop here to go to the nation . It's up 08:48.940 --> 08:52.780 to us to give this meal meaning to 08:52.780 --> 08:55.580 keep fighting to keep fighting for one 08:55.580 --> 08:58.219 another , for each other . To keep 08:58.219 --> 09:00.108 defending everything these heroes 09:00.108 --> 09:02.489 fought for and many of them died for . 09:03.250 --> 09:05.979 Ideals of America . The freedom we 09:05.979 --> 09:09.260 cherish , the democracy that has made 09:09.260 --> 09:12.719 our progress possible . Remember . We 09:12.719 --> 09:14.552 are the only nation in the world 09:14.552 --> 09:16.775 building on every other nation is built 09:16.775 --> 09:18.775 based on geography , ethnicity , or 09:18.775 --> 09:20.997 religion . But we are only nation based 09:20.997 --> 09:23.869 on an idea . The idea is that we hold 09:23.869 --> 09:27.119 these true to be self-evident . All men 09:27.119 --> 09:29.440 and women are created equal , deserve 09:29.440 --> 09:31.607 to be treated equally throughout their 09:31.607 --> 09:33.773 entire lives . We haven't always lived 09:33.773 --> 09:35.829 up to it . We've never , ever , ever 09:35.829 --> 09:38.051 walked away from it . Today we must say 09:38.051 --> 09:41.630 clearly we never ever ever will . Now 09:41.630 --> 09:44.109 it's my great honor to ask Lieutenant 09:44.109 --> 09:47.280 Colonel Anthony Lee . Excuse me , 09:47.609 --> 09:50.380 let's . The Medal of Honors to read the 09:50.380 --> 09:52.900 Medal of Honor citations and thank you 09:52.900 --> 09:55.067 all for being here and God bless you . 09:55.219 --> 09:57.441 May God also protect our troops who are 09:57.441 --> 09:58.997 still engaged . Thank you . 10:10.440 --> 10:13.119 Loretta Orig , accepting on behalf of 10:13.119 --> 10:15.169 her brother , Private Bruno Ari . 10:21.460 --> 10:24.150 Attention to orders . The President of 10:24.150 --> 10:25.872 the United States of America , 10:25.872 --> 10:28.094 authorized by Act of Congress March 3 , 10:28.140 --> 10:31.099 1863 , has posthumously awarded in the 10:31.099 --> 10:33.266 name of Congress the Medal of Honor to 10:33.266 --> 10:35.432 Private Bruno R . Orig , United States 10:35.432 --> 10:37.950 Army . For conspicuous gallantry and 10:37.950 --> 10:39.950 intrepidity at the risk of his life 10:39.950 --> 10:41.950 above and beyond the call of duty . 10:42.369 --> 10:44.530 Private Bruno R . Orrig distinguished 10:44.530 --> 10:46.363 himself by acts of gallantry and 10:46.363 --> 10:48.474 intrepidity above and beyond the call 10:48.474 --> 10:50.530 of duty while serving with Company G 10:50.530 --> 10:52.308 23rd Infantry Regiment , Second 10:52.308 --> 10:54.363 Infantry Division in the vicinity of 10:54.363 --> 10:56.474 Chip Yong Ye , Korea on February 15 , 10:56.474 --> 10:58.729 1951 . While returning from a wire 10:58.729 --> 11:00.896 laying mission , Private Orig observed 11:00.896 --> 11:03.007 a number of his comrades who had been 11:03.007 --> 11:05.118 wounded in a fierce enemy attack that 11:05.118 --> 11:07.229 was still in progress . With complete 11:07.229 --> 11:09.396 disregard for his own safety . Private 11:09.396 --> 11:11.507 Orig went to the aid of these men and 11:11.507 --> 11:13.562 remained in an exposed position . In 11:13.562 --> 11:15.785 order to administer first aid to them . 11:15.785 --> 11:18.007 With the assistance of several comrades 11:18.007 --> 11:20.229 from the company command post , Private 11:20.229 --> 11:22.285 Orig began removing the wounded to a 11:22.285 --> 11:24.451 place of safety . While returning from 11:24.451 --> 11:23.750 one of these trips , Private Ori 11:23.750 --> 11:26.070 noticed that all except one man of a 11:26.070 --> 11:28.070 machine gun crew had been wounded . 11:28.200 --> 11:30.750 Without hesitation , he volunteered to 11:30.750 --> 11:32.799 man the weapon . Remaining in this 11:32.799 --> 11:34.743 position , Private Org placed such 11:34.743 --> 11:36.688 effective fire on the enemy that a 11:36.688 --> 11:38.799 withdrawing friendly platoon was able 11:38.799 --> 11:41.077 to move back without a single casualty . 11:41.789 --> 11:44.011 Private Orig continued to inflict heavy 11:44.011 --> 11:45.900 casualties on the enemy until the 11:45.900 --> 11:48.067 company positions were overrun . Later 11:48.067 --> 11:50.067 that day , when the lost ground was 11:50.067 --> 11:52.067 recaptured , Private Orig was found 11:52.067 --> 11:54.178 dead beside his weapon , and the area 11:54.178 --> 11:56.289 in front of his gun was littered with 11:56.289 --> 11:57.845 enemy dead . Private Orig's 11:57.845 --> 12:00.011 extraordinary heroism and selflessness 12:00.011 --> 12:02.178 above and beyond the call of duty were 12:02.178 --> 12:04.345 in keeping with the highest traditions 12:04.345 --> 12:06.456 of military service and reflect great 12:06.456 --> 12:08.511 credit upon himself , his unit , and 12:08.511 --> 12:09.900 the United States Army . 12:43.119 --> 12:45.599 Gary Takashima , accepting on behalf of 12:45.599 --> 12:48.960 his uncle , Private First Class Wataru 12:48.960 --> 12:49.710 Nakamura . 12:59.580 --> 13:01.830 Attention to orders . The President of 13:01.830 --> 13:03.552 the United States of America , 13:03.552 --> 13:05.774 authorized by Act of Congress March 3 , 13:05.774 --> 13:07.941 1863 , has posthumously awarded in the 13:07.941 --> 13:10.108 name of Congress the Medal of Honor to 13:10.108 --> 13:12.219 Private First Class Wataru Nakamura , 13:12.229 --> 13:14.390 United States Army , for conspicuous 13:14.390 --> 13:16.501 gallantry and intrepidity at the risk 13:16.501 --> 13:18.612 of his life above and beyond the call 13:18.612 --> 13:20.880 of duty . Private First Class Wataru 13:20.880 --> 13:23.047 Nakamura distinguished himself by acts 13:23.047 --> 13:25.213 of gallantry and intrepidity above and 13:25.213 --> 13:27.324 beyond the call of duty while serving 13:27.324 --> 13:29.658 with Company I , 38th Infantry Regiment , 13:29.658 --> 13:31.436 Second Infantry Division in the 13:31.436 --> 13:33.547 vicinity of Pung Chong Nee , Korea on 13:33.547 --> 13:36.280 May 18 , 1951 . At about daybreak of 13:36.280 --> 13:38.058 that date , Private First Class 13:38.058 --> 13:39.947 Nakamura volunteered to check and 13:39.947 --> 13:42.002 repair a communications line between 13:42.002 --> 13:44.150 his platoon and the command post . As 13:44.150 --> 13:46.261 he made his way along the line in the 13:46.261 --> 13:48.150 early morning half light , he was 13:48.150 --> 13:50.206 brought under fire by an enemy force 13:50.206 --> 13:52.372 that had surrounded friendly positions 13:52.372 --> 13:54.261 and were threatening to break the 13:54.261 --> 13:56.261 company defense lines . Immediately 13:56.261 --> 13:58.372 without regard for his own safety and 13:58.372 --> 14:00.317 without waiting for help , Private 14:00.317 --> 14:02.428 First Class Nakamura rushed the enemy 14:02.428 --> 14:03.928 with fixed bayonet engaged 14:04.239 --> 14:06.200 single-handedly , he attacked and 14:06.200 --> 14:08.309 destroyed a hostile machine gun nest 14:08.590 --> 14:10.812 and drove the enemy from several of the 14:10.812 --> 14:12.868 bunkers they had captured . When his 14:12.868 --> 14:14.979 ammunition was depleted , he withdrew 14:14.979 --> 14:17.380 under intense enemy fire . Then he met 14:17.380 --> 14:19.658 an ammunition party ascending the hill . 14:19.780 --> 14:22.058 Quickly briefing the officer in charge , 14:22.058 --> 14:24.224 Private First Class Nakamura , rearmed 14:24.224 --> 14:26.391 himself and covered by the fire of the 14:26.391 --> 14:28.558 officer and two comrades , returned to 14:28.558 --> 14:30.669 the attack . In a fierce charge , he 14:30.669 --> 14:32.830 killed 3 of the enemy in 1 bunker and 14:32.830 --> 14:35.052 killed and seriously wounded another in 14:35.052 --> 14:37.299 the last enemy held bunker . Continuing 14:37.299 --> 14:39.466 to press the attack , he fell mortally 14:39.466 --> 14:41.989 wounded by an enemy grenade . Private 14:41.989 --> 14:44.045 First Class Nakamura's extraordinary 14:44.045 --> 14:46.229 heroism and selflessness above and 14:46.229 --> 14:48.451 beyond the call of duty were in keeping 14:48.451 --> 14:50.673 with the highest traditions of military 14:50.673 --> 14:52.785 service and reflect great credit upon 14:52.785 --> 14:54.785 himself , his unit , and the United 14:54.785 --> 14:54.590 States Army . 15:17.760 --> 15:20.760 Victoria Secrest accepting on behalf of 15:20.760 --> 15:22.859 her father , Corporal Fred McGee . 15:30.619 --> 15:33.010 Attention to orders . The President of 15:33.010 --> 15:34.732 the United States of America , 15:34.732 --> 15:36.954 authorized by Act of Congress March 3 , 15:36.954 --> 15:39.121 1863 , has posthumously awarded in the 15:39.121 --> 15:41.288 name of Congress the Medal of Honor to 15:41.288 --> 15:43.650 Corporal Fred B . McGee , United States 15:43.650 --> 15:46.320 Army . For conspicuous gallantry and 15:46.320 --> 15:48.320 intrepidity at the risk of his life 15:48.320 --> 15:50.320 above and beyond the call of duty . 15:50.619 --> 15:52.730 Corporal Fred B . McGee distinguished 15:52.730 --> 15:54.730 himself by gallantry in action near 15:54.730 --> 15:57.729 Tongwon Nee , Korea on June 16 , 1952 15:58.099 --> 15:59.932 in an assault on enemy fortified 15:59.932 --> 16:02.919 positions . As gunner on a light 16:02.919 --> 16:04.808 machine gun and a weapons squad , 16:04.808 --> 16:07.030 Corporal McGee delivered a heavy volume 16:07.030 --> 16:08.975 of supporting fire from an exposed 16:08.975 --> 16:11.141 position despite intense enemy machine 16:11.141 --> 16:13.141 gun and mortar fire directly on his 16:13.141 --> 16:15.469 location . Though forced to move his 16:15.469 --> 16:17.469 gun several times , he continued to 16:17.469 --> 16:19.580 support the assault and give covering 16:19.580 --> 16:21.580 fire to the assault elements of his 16:21.580 --> 16:23.580 platoon . When his squad leader was 16:23.580 --> 16:25.580 wounded together with several other 16:25.580 --> 16:27.469 members of his squad , he assumed 16:27.469 --> 16:29.302 command and moved the squad even 16:29.302 --> 16:31.191 farther forward to a more exposed 16:31.191 --> 16:32.802 position in order to deliver 16:32.802 --> 16:34.913 neutralizing fire on an enemy machine 16:34.913 --> 16:36.747 gun , sweeping the other assault 16:36.747 --> 16:38.747 platoon with deadly flanking fire . 16:39.080 --> 16:41.136 When his machine gunner was mortally 16:41.136 --> 16:43.302 wounded , he again took over the gun . 16:43.302 --> 16:45.302 On order , he directed his squad to 16:45.302 --> 16:47.570 withdraw and voluntarily remained 16:47.570 --> 16:50.000 behind to help evacuate the wounded and 16:50.000 --> 16:52.559 dead . Though wounded in the face , he 16:52.570 --> 16:55.369 heroically exposed himself by standing 16:55.369 --> 16:58.289 straight up in intense enemy machine 16:58.289 --> 17:00.511 gun and mortar fire while attempting to 17:00.511 --> 17:02.845 evacuate the body of the company runner . 17:02.890 --> 17:05.112 Forced to abandon the body , he aided a 17:05.112 --> 17:07.619 wounded man to be moved to the rear and 17:07.619 --> 17:09.730 safely through a huge volume of enemy 17:09.730 --> 17:11.639 mortar and artillery fire . The 17:11.639 --> 17:13.750 gallantry displayed by Corporal McGee 17:13.750 --> 17:16.078 reflects great credit upon himself and 17:16.078 --> 17:17.800 is in keeping with the highest 17:17.800 --> 17:19.634 traditions of military service . 17:45.829 --> 17:49.380 Doctor Juanita Mendez , accepting on 17:49.380 --> 17:51.491 behalf of her brother , Private First 17:51.491 --> 17:53.180 Class , Charles Johnson . 18:34.040 --> 18:37.810 Attention to orders . The 18:37.810 --> 18:39.699 President of the United States of 18:39.699 --> 18:41.921 America , authorized by Act of Congress 18:41.921 --> 18:43.810 March 3 , 1863 , has posthumously 18:43.810 --> 18:45.810 awarded in the name of Congress the 18:45.810 --> 18:47.921 Medal of Honor to Private First Class 18:47.921 --> 18:49.921 Charles R . Johnson , United States 18:49.921 --> 18:51.977 Army . For conspicuous gallantry and 18:51.977 --> 18:53.977 intrepidity at the risk of his life 18:53.977 --> 18:53.760 above and beyond the call of duty . 18:54.939 --> 18:56.939 Private First Class Charles R . R . 18:56.939 --> 18:58.772 Johnson distinguished himself by 18:58.772 --> 19:00.883 conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity 19:00.883 --> 19:03.106 beyond the call of duty while defending 19:03.106 --> 19:05.328 outpost Harry against overwhelming odds 19:05.328 --> 19:07.383 and making the ultimate sacrifice to 19:07.383 --> 19:09.495 save the lives of his comrades in the 19:09.495 --> 19:11.661 Republic of Korea during the period of 19:11.661 --> 19:13.849 June 11 , 1953 to June 12 , 1953 . 19:14.739 --> 19:16.961 Private First Class Johnson was serving 19:16.961 --> 19:19.072 as a Browning automatic rifleman with 19:19.072 --> 19:21.239 Company B 15th Infantry Regiment , 3rd 19:21.239 --> 19:23.839 Infantry Division . Chinese forces 19:23.839 --> 19:25.783 attacked his unit during a massive 19:25.783 --> 19:27.950 nighttime assault . During the ensuing 19:27.950 --> 19:29.839 battle , overwhelming numbers of 19:29.839 --> 19:32.189 Chinese troops assaulted the trenches 19:32.189 --> 19:34.300 and bunkers defended by Private First 19:34.300 --> 19:36.969 Class Johnson and his squad . Private 19:36.969 --> 19:39.025 First Class Johnson , wounded from a 19:39.025 --> 19:41.191 direct artillery hit on his bunker and 19:41.191 --> 19:43.413 subsequently from a hand grenade thrown 19:43.413 --> 19:45.302 inside the bunker at the personal 19:45.302 --> 19:46.913 disregard for his injuries , 19:47.010 --> 19:49.489 administered first aid to those more 19:49.489 --> 19:52.109 seriously injured . Understanding the 19:52.109 --> 19:54.276 seriousness of the situation and being 19:54.276 --> 19:56.220 under direct fire from the enemy , 19:56.220 --> 19:58.387 Private First Class Johnson personally 19:58.387 --> 20:00.609 dragged a wounded soldier to the safety 20:00.609 --> 20:02.276 of a secure bunker , stopping 20:02.276 --> 20:04.442 intermittently to aid injured soldiers 20:04.442 --> 20:06.553 and kill several enemy troops in hand 20:06.553 --> 20:08.910 to hand combat . Departing the safety 20:08.910 --> 20:10.854 of the 2nd bunker , he conducted a 20:10.854 --> 20:13.077 search for weapons and ammunition , and 20:13.077 --> 20:15.060 then returned to rearm everyone . 20:15.800 --> 20:17.939 Recognizing their untenable situation 20:17.939 --> 20:20.106 and disregarding his personal safety , 20:20.229 --> 20:22.396 he exited the bunker , placing himself 20:22.670 --> 20:24.559 between the enemy and his injured 20:24.559 --> 20:26.910 comrades , informing them he would hold 20:26.910 --> 20:29.979 off the enemy as best as he could . His 20:29.979 --> 20:31.757 brave and selfless efforts were 20:31.757 --> 20:33.979 directly attributed to saving the lives 20:33.979 --> 20:36.810 of as many as 10 soldiers . Private 20:36.810 --> 20:38.810 First Class Johnson's extraordinary 20:38.810 --> 20:41.088 actions in close combat with the enemy , 20:41.088 --> 20:43.254 his unyielding courage and bravery and 20:43.254 --> 20:45.032 profound concern for his fellow 20:45.032 --> 20:46.866 soldiers are in keeping with the 20:46.866 --> 20:49.032 highest traditions of military service 20:49.032 --> 20:51.254 and reflect great credit upon himself , 20:51.254 --> 20:53.477 his unit , and the United States Army . 21:09.410 --> 21:10.410 Hm 21:41.319 --> 21:44.160 Laura Blevins , accepting on behalf of 21:44.160 --> 21:46.327 her father , General Richard Cavazos . 22:05.800 --> 22:08.030 Attention to orders . The President of 22:08.030 --> 22:09.752 the United States of America , 22:09.752 --> 22:11.974 authorized by Act of Congress March 3 , 22:11.974 --> 22:14.141 1863 , has posthumously awarded in the 22:14.141 --> 22:16.308 name of Congress the Medal of Honor to 22:16.308 --> 22:18.474 First Lieutenant Richard E . Cavazos , 22:18.474 --> 22:20.589 United States Army , for conspicuous 22:20.589 --> 22:22.700 gallantry and intrepidity at the risk 22:22.700 --> 22:24.811 of his life above and beyond the call 22:24.811 --> 22:26.978 of duty . First Lieutenant Richard E . 22:26.978 --> 22:29.200 Cavazo distinguished himself by acts of 22:29.200 --> 22:31.200 gallantry and intrepidity above and 22:31.200 --> 22:33.311 beyond the call of duty while serving 22:33.311 --> 22:35.478 as the Company commander . Company E , 22:35.478 --> 22:37.756 2nd Battalion , 65th Infantry Regiment , 22:37.756 --> 22:40.390 3rd Infantry Division on June 14 to 15 , 22:40.609 --> 22:43.739 1953 in the vicinity of Soggy Mack , 22:43.819 --> 22:46.550 Korea . On the night of June 14th , 22:46.680 --> 22:48.630 First Lieutenant Cavazos led his 22:48.630 --> 22:50.619 company in a raid on an entrenched 22:50.619 --> 22:52.630 enemy outpost with the mission of 22:52.630 --> 22:54.241 destroying the personnel and 22:54.241 --> 22:56.790 installation thereon . During the 22:56.790 --> 22:58.679 initial attack , First Lieutenant 22:58.679 --> 23:00.679 Cavazos led his men through intense 23:00.679 --> 23:02.846 enemy mortar and artillery fire . Upon 23:02.846 --> 23:04.901 entering the trenches , fierce close 23:04.901 --> 23:06.734 combat ensued during which First 23:06.734 --> 23:08.989 Lieutenant Cavazos directed heavy fire 23:08.989 --> 23:11.359 on the enemy in their positions . When 23:11.359 --> 23:13.470 an extremely intense enemy mortar and 23:13.470 --> 23:15.526 artillery barrage hit his position , 23:15.829 --> 23:17.940 First Lieutenant Cavazos withdrew the 23:17.940 --> 23:20.119 company and regrouped his men . Twice 23:20.119 --> 23:22.230 more , he led his men through intense 23:22.230 --> 23:24.286 enemy fire and assaults on the enemy 23:24.286 --> 23:26.175 position , destroying vital enemy 23:26.175 --> 23:29.130 fortifications and personnel . During 23:29.130 --> 23:31.241 the entire assault , First Lieutenant 23:31.241 --> 23:33.241 Cavazos gave effective commands and 23:33.241 --> 23:35.463 words of encouragement to his men . And 23:35.463 --> 23:37.630 by his personal example and leadership 23:37.630 --> 23:39.680 inspired them to heroic heights of 23:39.680 --> 23:41.949 achievement . When ordered to withdraw 23:41.949 --> 23:44.171 his company , First Lieutenant Convazos 23:44.171 --> 23:46.150 complied but remained alone on the 23:46.150 --> 23:48.869 enemy outpost to search for missing men . 23:49.900 --> 23:52.067 Although exposed to enemy fire , First 23:52.067 --> 23:54.300 Lieutenant Cavazos , located 5 battle 23:54.300 --> 23:57.500 casualties and evacuated each one by 23:57.500 --> 23:59.920 one , to a point on the reversed slope 23:59.920 --> 24:01.976 of a nearby hill where they could be 24:01.976 --> 24:04.087 safely recovered by friendly forces . 24:04.380 --> 24:06.602 Returning to the battlefield , he found 24:06.602 --> 24:08.602 a small group of men who had become 24:08.602 --> 24:10.547 separated from the main assaulting 24:10.547 --> 24:12.880 force and personally led them to safety . 24:12.880 --> 24:15.102 When informed that there were still men 24:15.102 --> 24:15.099 missing , First Lieutenant Cavazos 24:15.099 --> 24:17.043 again returned to the scene of the 24:17.043 --> 24:18.932 battle , where he located and led 24:18.932 --> 24:21.099 another small group of men to safety . 24:21.099 --> 24:23.155 Foreutenant Cavazos then made 2 more 24:23.155 --> 24:25.266 unassisted trips to the battlefield , 24:25.266 --> 24:27.969 searching for missing soldiers . Not 24:27.969 --> 24:30.136 until he was personally satisfied that 24:30.136 --> 24:32.080 the battlefield was cleared on the 24:32.080 --> 24:33.969 morning of June 15th did he allow 24:33.969 --> 24:35.913 treatment of his own combat wounds 24:35.913 --> 24:38.550 sustained during the action . First 24:38.550 --> 24:40.383 Lieutenant Cavazos's conspicuous 24:40.383 --> 24:42.606 gallantry , extraordinary heroism , and 24:42.606 --> 24:44.619 intrepidity at the risk of his life 24:44.619 --> 24:46.750 above and beyond the call of duty are 24:46.750 --> 24:48.917 in keeping with the highest traditions 24:48.917 --> 24:51.028 of military service and reflect great 24:51.028 --> 24:53.083 credit upon himself , his unit , and 24:53.083 --> 24:54.472 the United States Army . 25:10.160 --> 25:13.199 Deborah Nelson McKnight , accepting on 25:13.199 --> 25:15.199 behalf of her father , Captain Hugh 25:15.199 --> 25:16.199 Nelson . 25:23.469 --> 25:25.989 Attention to orders . The President of 25:25.989 --> 25:27.711 the United States of America , 25:27.711 --> 25:29.933 authorized by Act of Congress March 3 , 25:29.933 --> 25:32.189 1863 , has posthumously awarded in the 25:32.189 --> 25:34.356 name of Congress the Medal of Honor to 25:34.356 --> 25:36.849 Captain Hugh Revis Nelson Junior , 25:37.390 --> 25:39.550 United States Army , for conspicuous 25:39.550 --> 25:41.661 gallantry and intrepidity at the risk 25:41.661 --> 25:43.772 of his life above and beyond the call 25:43.772 --> 25:46.229 of duty . Captain Hugh R . Nelson Jr . 25:46.290 --> 25:48.346 distinguished himself by conspicuous 25:48.346 --> 25:50.346 gallantry and intrepidity above and 25:50.346 --> 25:52.457 beyond the call of duty while serving 25:52.457 --> 25:54.346 as a member of the 114th Aviation 25:54.346 --> 25:56.401 Company Air Mobile Light on June 5 , 25:56.401 --> 25:59.589 1966 near Moqua , Republic of Vietnam . 26:00.319 --> 26:02.486 Captain Nelson was the acting aircraft 26:02.486 --> 26:04.597 commander of an armed Huey helicopter 26:04.597 --> 26:06.763 on a search and destroy reconnaissance 26:06.763 --> 26:08.875 mission when it was struck by a large 26:08.875 --> 26:11.041 volume of enemy fire that rendered the 26:11.041 --> 26:13.041 aircraft virtually uncontrollable . 26:13.069 --> 26:15.236 With great difficulty , Captain Nelson 26:15.236 --> 26:17.347 and the pilot were able to crash land 26:17.347 --> 26:19.569 the aircraft without lateral controls . 26:19.829 --> 26:22.051 At some point after the crash , Captain 26:22.051 --> 26:24.218 Nelson exited the aircraft and went to 26:24.218 --> 26:26.107 the aid of his wounded comrades . 26:26.107 --> 26:28.107 Proceeding to the other side of the 26:28.107 --> 26:29.996 aircraft , he found his dazed and 26:29.996 --> 26:32.329 wounded crew chief still trapped inside . 26:32.969 --> 26:34.858 After removing the specialist and 26:34.858 --> 26:36.858 placing him on the ground , Captain 26:36.858 --> 26:38.691 Nelson climbed into the severely 26:38.691 --> 26:40.802 damaged helicopter to assist the door 26:40.802 --> 26:42.913 gunner , who was still trapped inside 26:42.913 --> 26:44.858 and unable to move . While Captain 26:44.858 --> 26:47.025 Nelson tried to free his comrade , the 26:47.025 --> 26:49.191 insurgents engaged the aircraft with a 26:49.191 --> 26:51.191 heavy volume of automatic rifle and 26:51.191 --> 26:52.858 small arms fire at a range of 26:52.858 --> 26:55.080 approximately 30 ft from the aircraft . 26:55.589 --> 26:57.756 Despite the heavy enemy fire , Captain 26:57.756 --> 26:59.922 Nelson continued his gallant efforts , 26:59.922 --> 27:02.145 freeing the trapped door gunner despite 27:02.145 --> 27:05.319 being hit by enemy fire . Upon removing 27:05.319 --> 27:07.152 the wounded door gunner from the 27:07.152 --> 27:09.319 aircraft , he forced the specialist to 27:09.319 --> 27:11.541 the ground . And without regard for his 27:11.541 --> 27:13.979 own life , used his own body as a 27:13.979 --> 27:16.699 shield to cover his comrade from the 27:16.699 --> 27:19.250 intense enemy fire . While shielding 27:19.250 --> 27:21.306 his comrade , Captain Nelson was hit 27:21.306 --> 27:22.972 several times by enemy fire , 27:22.972 --> 27:25.050 sacrificing his own life to save the 27:25.050 --> 27:27.540 life of his comrade . His selfless 27:27.540 --> 27:29.651 sacrifice allowed his wounded comrade 27:29.651 --> 27:31.484 to use a smoke grenade to signal 27:31.530 --> 27:33.586 supporting aircraft in the area that 27:33.586 --> 27:35.419 there were crash survivors . The 27:35.419 --> 27:37.086 supporting aircraft responded 27:37.086 --> 27:39.308 immediately , preventing the insurgents 27:39.308 --> 27:41.419 from advancing on the downed aircraft 27:41.419 --> 27:43.641 and successfully rescuing the 3 wounded 27:43.641 --> 27:45.650 crew members . Captain Nel Nelson's 27:45.650 --> 27:48.229 conscious decision to sacrifice his own 27:48.229 --> 27:50.750 life for that of his comrades saved the 27:50.750 --> 27:52.917 lives of his three fellow crew members 27:52.917 --> 27:55.339 that fateful day . Captain Nelson's 27:55.339 --> 27:57.283 distinctive accomplishments are in 27:57.283 --> 27:59.450 keeping with the highest traditions of 27:59.450 --> 28:01.395 military service and reflect great 28:01.395 --> 28:03.450 credit upon himself , his unit , and 28:03.450 --> 28:04.839 the United States Army . 28:23.099 --> 28:26.089 Specialist 4th Class Kenneth David . 28:40.849 --> 28:43.390 Attention to orders . The President of 28:43.390 --> 28:45.112 the United States of America , 28:45.112 --> 28:47.334 authorized by Act of Congress March 3 , 28:47.334 --> 28:49.829 1863 , has awarded in the name of 28:49.829 --> 28:52.250 Congress the Medal of Honor to Private 28:52.250 --> 28:54.869 First Class Kenneth J . David , United 28:54.869 --> 28:57.489 States Army . For conspicuous gallantry 28:57.489 --> 28:59.711 and intrepidity at the risk of his life 28:59.739 --> 29:01.739 above and beyond the call of duty . 29:02.150 --> 29:04.261 Private First Class Kenneth J . David 29:04.261 --> 29:06.094 distinguished himself by acts of 29:06.094 --> 29:08.094 gallantry and intrepidity above and 29:08.094 --> 29:10.428 beyond the call of duty on May 7 , 1970 , 29:10.428 --> 29:12.372 while serving as a radio telephone 29:12.372 --> 29:14.706 operator with Company D First Battalion , 29:14.706 --> 29:17.619 506th Infantry , 101st Airborne 29:17.619 --> 29:19.579 Division , near Fire Support Base 29:19.579 --> 29:22.180 Marine , Tuan Province , Republic of 29:22.180 --> 29:24.969 Vietnam . On this date , Private First 29:24.969 --> 29:26.969 Class David's company came under an 29:26.969 --> 29:28.858 intense enemy attack from a large 29:28.858 --> 29:31.089 hostile force . The enemy's ferocious 29:31.089 --> 29:33.145 initial assault mortally wounded the 29:33.145 --> 29:35.256 company's platoon leader and resulted 29:35.256 --> 29:36.922 in in numerous other friendly 29:36.922 --> 29:39.180 casualties . Upon the initial assault 29:39.180 --> 29:41.347 and without hesitation , Private First 29:41.347 --> 29:43.420 Class David handed his radio to his 29:43.420 --> 29:45.531 platoon sergeant and moved forward to 29:45.531 --> 29:47.698 the defensive perimeter , unleashing a 29:47.698 --> 29:49.753 barrage of automatic weapons fire on 29:49.753 --> 29:51.587 the enemy . From this location , 29:51.587 --> 29:53.531 Private First Class David bitterly 29:53.531 --> 29:55.642 resisted all enemy efforts to overrun 29:55.642 --> 29:58.170 his position . Realizing the impact of 29:58.170 --> 30:00.226 the enemy assault on the wounded who 30:00.226 --> 30:02.448 were being brought to the center of the 30:02.448 --> 30:04.559 perimeter , Private First Class David 30:04.559 --> 30:06.781 without regard for his own life , moved 30:06.781 --> 30:08.948 to a position outside of the perimeter 30:08.948 --> 30:11.114 while continuing to engage the enemy . 30:11.114 --> 30:12.948 Each time the enemy attempted to 30:12.948 --> 30:14.948 concentrate its fire on the wounded 30:14.948 --> 30:14.780 inside the perimeter , Private First 30:14.780 --> 30:16.558 Class David would jump from his 30:16.558 --> 30:19.060 position and yell to draw the enemy 30:19.060 --> 30:21.619 fire away from his injured comrades and 30:21.619 --> 30:24.699 back to himself . Refusing to withdraw 30:24.699 --> 30:26.810 in the face of the concentrated enemy 30:26.810 --> 30:28.699 fire now directed toward him , he 30:28.699 --> 30:30.477 continued to engage the enemy . 30:30.477 --> 30:32.310 Although wounded by an exploding 30:32.310 --> 30:34.421 satchel charge and running perilously 30:34.421 --> 30:36.579 low on ammunition , he tossed hand 30:36.579 --> 30:38.412 grenades toward the attackers to 30:38.412 --> 30:40.760 effectively counter their fire . The 30:40.760 --> 30:42.871 unit's medic , realizing that Private 30:42.871 --> 30:44.927 First Class David had been injured , 30:44.927 --> 30:47.093 moved to his position to provide aid , 30:47.093 --> 30:49.204 but Private First Class David assured 30:49.204 --> 30:51.204 him that he was OK and continued to 30:51.204 --> 30:53.750 fight on . Private First Class David's 30:53.750 --> 30:55.630 courageous and selfless actions 30:55.630 --> 30:57.780 continued to draw the enemy fire away 30:57.780 --> 31:00.002 from the incoming medevac helicopters , 31:00.189 --> 31:02.078 allowing the wounded to be safely 31:02.078 --> 31:04.989 evacuated . After allied reinforcements 31:04.989 --> 31:06.878 fought their way to his company's 31:06.878 --> 31:08.933 position , Private First Class David 31:08.933 --> 31:10.656 carried a wounded comrade to a 31:10.656 --> 31:12.767 sheltered position . He then returned 31:12.767 --> 31:14.822 to the contact area and continued to 31:14.822 --> 31:16.933 engage the enemy and provide covering 31:16.933 --> 31:18.989 fire for the wounded until the enemy 31:18.989 --> 31:21.500 broke contact and fled , at which point 31:21.500 --> 31:23.449 he too was medically evacuated . 31:24.339 --> 31:26.561 Private First Class David's conspicuous 31:26.561 --> 31:29.569 gallantry , extraordinary heroism , and 31:29.569 --> 31:31.569 intrepidity at the risk of his life 31:31.569 --> 31:33.930 above and beyond the call of duty are 31:33.930 --> 31:36.097 in keeping with the highest traditions 31:36.097 --> 31:38.208 of military service and reflect great 31:38.208 --> 31:40.650 credit upon himself , his unit , and 31:40.650 --> 31:42.039 the United States Army . 32:33.290 --> 32:35.457 Ladies and gentlemen , please bow with 32:35.457 --> 32:37.780 me for the benediction . Heavenly 32:37.780 --> 32:40.579 Father , as we depart this ceremony , 32:40.900 --> 32:43.819 may the courage of these seven heroes 32:43.819 --> 32:47.020 be our example . May righteousness be 32:47.020 --> 32:49.780 our choice and may hope be our guiding 32:49.780 --> 32:52.780 light as we move with purpose in our 32:52.780 --> 32:55.939 world , bless and protect our armed 32:55.939 --> 32:58.819 forces as they preserve our precious 32:58.819 --> 33:01.660 freedoms and keep the light of liberty 33:01.660 --> 33:03.827 burning bright on the United States of 33:03.827 --> 33:07.329 America and our allies around the world 33:07.660 --> 33:10.660 in your most holy name we pray . Amen . 33:12.609 --> 33:14.831 Distinguished guests , please remain in 33:14.831 --> 33:16.942 your seats as the president departs . 33:17.329 --> 33:17.390 It