1 of seven | President Joe Biden presents former Pfc. Kenneth David with the Medal of Honor throughout a ceremony within the East Room of the White Home on Friday. Photograph by Samuel Corum/UPI | License Photograph
Jan. 3 (UPI) — President Joe Biden on Friday awarded the Medal of Honor — the nation’s highest navy award — to a bunch of seven U.S. Military troopers, six of whom had been honored posthumously.
In a ceremony held on the East Room of the White Home, the posthumous medals had been awarded to Pvt. Bruno Orig, Pfc. Wataru Nakamura, Cpl. Fred McGee, Pfc. Charles Johnson, retired Common Richard Cavazos and Capt. Hugh Nelson Jr.
Spc. Kenneth David, the one dwelling honoree, acquired his medal from Biden in individual and acquired a standing ovation from attendees.
Following a prayer in honor of the seven recipients, Biden took the rostrum and commenced the ceremony by praising the recipients, calling them “heroes who all went above and past the decision of obligation.”
Noting that “these are my last days as commander-in-chief” as his time period in workplace nears its conclusion, the president stated it has been his personal honor to guide “the best navy on the planet.”
David, the one dwelling veteran receiving the award, drew fireplace on himself in Vietnam to guard the wounded earlier than being evacuated.
The Military stated David’s firm got here beneath an intense assault from a big hostile pressure in Thua Thien Province, Vietnam, on Could 7, 1970, which resulted in quite a few pleasant casualties.
He instantly took up a place to attract fireplace away from his comrades, partaking them together with his rifle and hand grenades. When the enemy tried to pay attention their fireplace on the wounded, David “jumped from his place and yelled to attract the fireplace again to himself,” persevering with to take action even after being wounded.
It was not till the final medical evacuation helicopter was touchdown that he retreated from his place in entrance of the perimeter and continued laying down fireplace till lastly being evacuated himself, in keeping with his commendation.
Orig, Nakamura, McGee, Johnson, and Cavazos all served in Korea whereas Nison served in Vietnam. Orig, Nakamura, Johnson, and Nelson all died in battle.
Cavazos went on to rise to change into a four-star common earlier than dying in 2017.
Earlier Friday, Biden awarded Medals of Valor — the nation’s highest civilian award for bravery — to eight public security officers, together with 5 from Nashville who responded to the Covenant College capturing in March 2023.