Honoring American Heroes: Medal of Honor Recipients and Their Acts of Valor

WASHINGTON — On February 15, 1951, Army Private Bruno R. Orig was returning from a mission when he discovered his fellow soldiers under siege in what is now recognized as the Battle of Chipyong-ni during the Korean War. The brave infantryman provided first aid to his wounded comrades and assisted in moving them to safety. He then took over a machine gun post, enabling a friendly platoon to retreat without casualties. Tragically, Orig was later found dead beside the machine gun, having fought valiantly against enemy combatants.

On Friday, President Joe Biden recognized Orig among the Medal of Honor recipients in one of his final opportunities to officially commend acts of selflessness and bravery in wartime. He posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor to six men and acknowledged one living recipient during a White House ceremony. In a separate Oval Office event, closed to the press, he presented the Medal of Valor to eight first responders who risked their lives to save others.

“These are heroes of different ranks, different positions, and even different generations,” Biden stated during the Medal of Honor ceremony. “They are heroes who all went above and beyond the call of duty.” Reflecting on his presidency, Biden remarked, “These are my final days as commander in chief. It was the greatest honor of my life to lead America and the finest military in the history of the world.”

During the Korean War, Private First Class Wataru Nakamura heroically destroyed an enemy machine gun nest and recaptured several bunkers. Despite exhausting his ammunition, he resumed his assault after being rearmed, only to be killed by an enemy grenade and later buried in Los Angeles.

Army Corporal Fred B. McGee was also honored for his gallantry near Tang-Wan-Ni, Korea, on June 16, 1952. He took command of his squad, neutralized an enemy machine gun, and assisted in rescuing the wounded, ultimately sacrificing his life in the process.

From Millbrook, New York, Army Private First Class Charles R. Johnson was killed on June 12, 1953, after holding off Chinese forces during the Korean War, saving the lives of at least ten soldiers in the process.

After multiple assaults on entrenched enemies in Sagimak during the Korean War, Army First Lieutenant Richard E. Cavazos remained behind to evacuate five battle casualties. Cavazos, who served for over three decades, achieved the rank of four-star general before passing away in 2018 at age 88. Fort Hood was renamed in his honor on May 9, 2023.

In Vietnam, Army Captain Hugh R. Nelson Jr. from Rocky Mount, North Carolina, demonstrated extraordinary bravery on June 5, 1966, when he pulled two specialists from a downed helicopter, shielding one from enemy fire at the cost of his own life.

During combat in Vietnam on May 7, 1970, then-Army Private First Class Kenneth J. David drew enemy fire away from his injured comrades, sustaining wounds from a satchel charge. Despite his injuries, David continued to fight, diverting fire from landing Medevac helicopters and was evacuated only after the last helicopter landed. Remarkably, the Ohioan is still alive today.

In addition to the Medal of Honor, Biden awarded the Medal of Valor to eight courageous individuals who displayed exceptional bravery in life-saving attempts. Among the recipients were law enforcement officials who responded to a shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, on March 27, 2023, where six lives were tragically lost.

Nashville Police Department’s Sergeant Jeffrey Mathes, Officer Rex Engelbert, and detectives Michael Collazo, Ryan Cagle, and Zachary Plese bravely rushed to the scene, confronting gunfire from the shooter. They successfully evacuated classrooms and ultimately neutralized the threat.

Sergeant Tu Tran of the Lincoln, Nebraska, Police Department was recognized for his heroism on February 22, 2023, when he swam 30 feet into icy waters to rescue a woman trapped in a sinking vehicle. Additionally, Lieutenant John Vanderstar, a New York City firefighter, received the Medal of Valor for saving a mother and child from a burning apartment on October 23, 2022. Firefighter Brendan Gaffney was also honored for his courage in rescuing an unconscious child and a pregnant woman from an apartment fire.