Washington – President Barack Obama is going to hand out 24 Medal of Honor to 24 veterans who served in WWII, Korean war and Vietnam War this coming March 18 in a White House ceremony. Some of these said veterans had been previously overlooked due to their racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Each of these war veterans had been previously given the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest military award in the country. That said award will be anted up come March when each will be given a Medal of Honor for the gallantry and the heroism they showed beyond their call of duty by President Barack Obama.
The awarding of these said medals by President Barack Obama will not only be in celebration of these veterans’ valor while they were assigned in major combat operations during WWII as well as in the Korean and Vietnam Wars but it will also serve as a corrective measure of what is thought as a case of discrimination that have run through for decades.
The pool of war veterans to receive the medals which will be awarded by President Barack Obama include 19 veterans of Hispanic descent with others being of Jewish and African-American descent.
Way back in 2002, the Congress decided upon a review on the war records of Hispanic-American as well as Jewish-American veterans via the Defense Authorization Act to make sure that those deserving of a Medal of Honor will not be denied due to prejudice.
During the said review, the Congress also found several war records of White Americans deserving of the said honor, thus, the 2002 Act was rectified so that these said soldiers will be allowed the upgrade along with the Jewish and Hispanic American soldiers.
One such upgrade also occurred way back in 1998 for Asian-Americans or Native American Pacific Islanders who served in the WWII. Among those who were given the Medal of Honor upgrade was former Senator Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaii.
The Medal of Honor is given to servicemen and women who commended themselves distinctively through bravery above and beyond their call of duty while fighting enemies of the country, opposing foreign forces in armed conflict or when with a friendly force engaged in armed conflict with another foreign force in which United States is not an aggressive party.
“Justice delayed is better than justice denied. It is a very welcome effort and show of sensitivity by this administration to seek to redress acts of discrimination, and it is especially laudatory that it relates to our soldiers who fought so bravely on behalf of this country in America’s wars,” ” said Abraham H. Foxman, National Director of the Anti-Defamation League.
Daniel M. Dellinger, American Legion National Commander, also expressed this reaction upon the incoming Medal of Honor awarding to be done by President Barack Obama himself:
“Proper recognition of their gallantry above and beyond the call of duty may be overdue, but for whatever reason it has taken so long, their time has now come. I have no reason to doubt that the upgrades are justified and deserving for these soldiers, three of whom from the Vietnam War are alive today, and will certainly represent all that the Medal of Honor means for the rest of their lives and inspire future generations.”
President Barack Obama will be awarding the Medal of Honor to these living veterans:
Spec. 4 Santiago J. Erevia – awarded the Medal of Honor for his exemplary act as a radio telephone operator in the Company C, 1st Battalion (Airmobile), 501st Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) in the time between the search-and-clear mission within the Tam Ky area in Vietnam.
Staff Sergeant Melvin Morris – awarded the Medal of Honor for the gallantry he showed while being a Strike Force Commander from Company D, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, while engaged in armed conflict against enemy troops within the vicinity of Chi Lang, Vietnam September 17, 1969.
Sergeant 1st Class Jose Rodela – awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery as a company commander, Detachment B-36, Company A, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, in face of armed enemy during combat operations in the province of Phuoc Long, Vietnam September 1, 1969.
President Barack Obama will also award medals posthumously to these individuals who have served during the Vietnam War:
Sergeant Candelario Garcia – will be given the Medal of Honor posthumously for his bravery while doing his duty in Lai Khe, Vietnam during combat operations December 8, 1968 as a Team Leader for Company B, 1st battalion, 2d Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division.
Spec. 4 Leonard L. Alvarado – will be given the Medal of Honor posthumously for his bravery while on duty during combat operations in the province of Phuoc Long, Vietnam August 12, 1969 as a rifleman with Comapny D, 2d Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile).
Staff Sergeant Felix M. Conde-Falcon – will be given the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous efforts during combat operations in Ap Tan Hoa, Vietnam April 4, 1969 as a Platoon Leader in Company D, 1st Battalion, 505th Infantry Regiment, 3d Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division.
Spec. 4 Ardie R. Copas – will be given the Medal of Honor posthumously for his bravery during combat operations against armed attackers near Ph Romeas Hek, Cambodia May 12, 1970 as a Machine- gunner for the Comapny C, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division.
Spec. 4 Jesus S. Duran – will be given the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous efforts during combat operations in Vietnam April 10, 1969 as an acting M-16 machine-gunner in Company E, 2d Battalion, 5th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, (Airmobile).
President Barack Obama will also be giving posthumous Medal of Honors to the following individuals who served during the Korean War:
Cpl. Joe R. Baldonado – will be given the Medal of Honor posthumously for his bravery during combat operations against armed enemy in Kangdong, Korea November 25, 1950 as an acting Machine-gunner for the 3d Squad, 2d Platoon, Company B, 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment.
Cpl. Victor H. Espinoza – will be given the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous efforts during combat operations in Chorwon, Korea August 1, 1952 as an Acting Rifleman in Company A, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division.
Sergeant Eduardo C. Gomez – will be given the Medal of Honor posthumously for his bravery during combat operations in Tabu-dong, Korea September 3, 1950 as a serviceman belonging to the Company I, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division.
Pfc. Leonard M. Kravitz – (Uncle of musician Lenny Kravitz) will be given the Medal of Honor posthumously for his bravery during combat operations in Yangpyong, Korea March 6 and 7, 1951 as an Assistant Machine-gunner with Company M, 5th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division.
Master Sergeant Juan M. Negron – will be given the Medal of Honor posthumously for his bravery during combat operations in Kalma-Eri, Korea April 28, 1951 as a member of Company L, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division.
Master Sergeant Mike C. Pena – will be given the Medal of Honor posthumously for his brave acts during combat operations in Waegwan, Korea September 4, 1950 as a member of the Company F, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division.
Private Demensio Rivera – will be given the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous efforts during combat operations in Changyong-ni, Korea May 23, 1951 as an Automatic Rifleman with 2d Platoon, Company G, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division.
Private Michael A. Vera – will be given the Medal of Honor posthumously for his brave participation in the combat operations in Chorwon, Korea September 21, 1952 as an Automatic Rifleman with Company F, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division.
Segt. Jack Weinstein – will be given the Medal of Honor posthumously for his bravery during the combat operations in Kumsong, Korea October 19, 1951 as a leader of the 1st Platoon, Company G, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division.
President Barack Obama will also given posthumous Medal of Honors to these soldiers who served during the Second World War:
Private Pedro Cano – will be given the Medal of Honor posthumously for his bravery during combat operations in Schevenhutte, Germany December 3, 1944 as a serviceman in the Company C, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division.
Private Joe Gandara – will be given the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous war efforts during combat operations in Amfreville, France June 9, 1944 as a serviceman with the Company D, 2d Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division.
Pfc. Salvador C. Lara – will be given the Medal of Honor posthumously for his bravery during combat operations in Aprilia, Italy May 27 and 28, 1944 as a Squad Leader of a rifle squad with 2d Platoon, Company L, 180th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division.
Sergeant William F. Leonard – will be given the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous acts during combat operations near St. Die, France November 7, 1944 as a Squad Leader of Company C, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division.
Staff Sergeant Manuel V. Mendoza – will be given the Medal of Honor posthumously for his bravery during combat operations in Mt. Battaglia, Italy October 4, 1944 as a Platoon Sergeant with Company B, 350th Infantry, 88th Infantry Division.
Sergeant Alfred b. Nietzel – will be given the Medal of Honor posthumously for his brave acts during combat operations in Heistern, Germany November 18, 1944 as Section Leader for Company H, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division.
First Lt. Donald K. Schwab – will be given the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous acts during combat operations near Lure, France September 17, 1944 as the Commander of Company E, 15th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division.