President Joe Biden on Friday awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration, to seven U.S. the army Veterans for heroism in the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
“I am very privileged to honor seven American heroes. That is not hyperbole,” Biden said, noting that Friday’s ceremony was the last time he would present the Medal of Honor as president. “These are true heroes. Heroes of different ranks, different positions, different generations too, but heroes who went above and beyond the call of duty, heroes who deserve our nation’s highest and oldest military recognition. The Medal of Honor.”
President Joe Biden at the Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House on January 3, 2026.
Pool/ABC News
According to the White House, the “Medal of Honor” is “awarded to those who are conspicuously distinguished for gallantry and courage at the risk of their own lives.”
“The whole conduct must involve great personal courage or great self-sacrifice, so remarkable that it clearly distinguishes the individual above his fellows and risks his life,” he said before the White House event. Biden has resigned.
President Joe Biden speaks before awarding the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration, to various recipients during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, Jan. 3, 2025.
Susan Walsh/AP
Five of the recipients were killed in battle. Among those who survived and were honored is Korean War veteran Richard Cavazos, who became the Army’s first Hispanic four-star general.
Cavazos, who has since died, received the Medal of Honor for heroism while fighting as a first lieutenant in the Korean War, and previously received the Distinguished Service Cross.
General Richard Edward Cavazos.
US Army
“He was a man of deep faith, who loved his country, who loved his family, who loved his soldiers, and it was that love, no love greater than that, that drove him to the hill that night in 1953 to gather the men of his company and lead them to safety.” his son Tommy Cavazos told reporters before the event.
Richard Cavazos ordered his troops to withdraw while fighting under intense enemy fire and led his troops to safety, according to the Army. However, he remained alone on the battlefield and found five wounded, evacuating them one by one. He then returned to the battlefield to search for the missing soldiers, leading at least two groups of men separated from the main fighting force to safety.
“He strongly believed that the Army was an opportunity for ordinary citizens to raise their hands, take an oath and do an extraordinary job of protecting this country,” added Tommy Cavazos.
General Richard Edward Cavazos is pictured in an undated photo.
US Army
On May 9, 2023, it was Fort Hood, Texas It was named Fort Cavazos as part of a A broader effort by the Biden administration To rename military facilities named after Confederate generals.
“General Cavazos was known around the Army as a battle-proven warrior,” Lt. Gen. Sean Bernabe, III Armored Corps commanding general, said at the time. “Let his name and all that it stands for inspire us all to live up to his legacy every day.”
Pfc. Charles R. Johnson, Cpl. Fred B. McGee, PFC. Wataru Nakamura and Pvt. Bruno R. Orig was honored for his actions in the Korean War, Hugh R. Nelson Jr. Capt. and Pfc. Kenneth J. David was honored for his actions during the Vietnam War.
David, a previous recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, is the only surviving recipient. He was awarded for gallantry in a 1970 battle where he helped his 14-man squad drive back hundreds of North Vietnamese troops.
President Joe Biden presents the Medal of Honor to then-Pfc. Kenneth J. David for his actions during the Vietnam War in a ceremony at the White House on January 3, 2025.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
On May 7, 1970, David left his platoon’s defensive perimeter and repeatedly drew attention to himself after an initial enemy attack that fatally wounded his platoon leader and several other service members, according to the Army.
“Surrounded on three sides by a superior enemy force, he engaged them with his rifle and hand grenades,” the White House said in a press release. “As the enemy attempted to concentrate their fire on the wounded, Private First Class David jumped from his position and shouted for the fire to be returned to him.”
Although wounded in the attack, he continued to draw enemy fire away from his platoon so that the wounded could be evacuated, denying himself support until everyone else was safe.
“Imagine that courage — come get me, come get me, don’t take those people. That’s selflessness,” Biden said Friday. “Ken, I just want to tell you, I wish I could say to all the men we’re honoring today, you’re a hero, a real hero, a straight, honest American hero. And we owe you. .”
“He did not withdraw from his position in front of the perimeter until the last helicopter landed and continued to fire until he was finally evacuated,” the White House added.
ABC News’ Matt Seyler and Cheyenne Haslett contributed to this report.
