President Trump on Thursday awarded the Medal of Honor to two heroes from the Vietnam War and one from the Afghanistan War.
War Heroes Honored
Retired U.S. Marine Maj. James Capers Jr., 88, the first Black American Marine officer recommended for the highest military award, waited nearly 60 years for his medal due to administrative and procedural issues.
Mr. Trump also awarded the Medal of Honor to retired U.S. Army Maj. Nicholas Dockery for distinguished service in Afghanistan and posthumously to U.S. Marine Col. John W. Ripley for heroism in Vietnam.
Mr. Capers, a native of Bishopville, South Carolina, became well known among his fellow servicemen through repeated acts of valor in 1967 while leading a Marine reconnaissance team near Phu Loc, Vietnam.
He sustained severe wounds during an ambush but refused to evacuate and continued to lead his team under enemy fire, making sure each corpsman made it out alive.
Only after every member of his team had been evacuated did he leave the battlefield.
Mr. Dockery received the medal for acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on Oct. 2, 2012.
Ripley received the medal posthumously for acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on April 2, 1972.
Original reporting: WMAL (Washington DC) — read the source article.