In a moving White House ceremony, President Biden bestowed the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military award, upon seven U.S. Army veterans. Their extraordinary bravery during the Korean and Vietnam Wars was recognized and celebrated. The recipients included Private Bruno Orig, Private First Class Wataru Nakamura, Corporal Fred McGee, Private First Class Charles Johnson, retired General Richard Cavazos, Captain Hugh Nelson, Jr., and Specialist Fourth Class Kenneth David.
President Biden praised the veterans as "genuine heroes" who "went above and beyond the call of duty." He emphasized the importance of honoring their sacrifices and continuing to uphold the values they fought to protect.
Among the honorees was Captain Hugh Nelson Jr., the first graduate of The Citadel Military College to receive the Medal of Honor. Nelson, a helicopter pilot in Vietnam, displayed exceptional courage on June 5, 1966, near Moc Hoa. After his helicopter was downed by enemy fire, he disregarded his own injuries and shielded his wounded crewmates from intense enemy fire, ultimately sacrificing his life to ensure their rescue.
Nelson's daughter, Debra McKnight, accepted the award on his behalf. She was only five years old when her father deployed to Vietnam. The Citadel cadet Tomas Fitzpatrick, who plans to join the Army infantry, also attended the ceremony, reflecting on Nelson's legacy of courage and selflessness.
President Biden underscored the importance of remembering these acts of heroism and continuing to strive for the ideals these veterans represented. He called upon the nation to continue fighting for one another and defending the values these heroes fought and died for.
