Obama will award Medal of Honor to 24 overlooked Army veterans

[JPL]

Seeking to correct a historic injustice, President Obama will award the nation's highest combat honor to two dozen veterans -- mostly Latino and Jewish -- who fought as far back as World War II but were denied the coveted Medal of Honor because of discrimination.

Only three of the recipients are still alive.

The list of Medal of Honor recipients, as provided by the White House:

Vietnam War:

Specialist Four Santiago J. Erevia will receive the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions while serving as radio telephone operator in Company C, 1st Battalion (Airmobile), 501st Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) during search and clear mission near Tam Ky, Republic of Vietnam.

Staff Sergeant Melvin Morris will receive the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions while serving as Commander of a Strike Force drawn from Company D, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, during combat operations against an armed enemy in the vicinity of Chi Lang, Republic of Vietnam, on Sept. 17, 1969.

Sergeant First Class Jose Rodela will receive the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions while serving as the company commander, Detachment B-36, Company A, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces during combat operations against an armed enemy in Phuoc Long Province, Republic of Vietnam, on Sept. 1, 1969.

Sergeant Candelario Garcia will receive the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions while serving as an acting Team Leader for Company B, 1st Battalion, 2d Infantry, 1st Brigade,1st Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Lai Khe, Republic of Vietnam, on Dec. 8, 1968.

Specialist Four Leonard L. Alvarado will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as a Rifleman with Company D, 2d Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) during combat operations against an armed enemy in Phuoc Long Province, Republic of Vietnam, on Aug. 12, 1969.

Staff Sergeant Felix M. Conde-Falcon will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as an acting Platoon Leader in Company D, 1st Battalion, 505th Infantry Regiment, 3d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Ap Tan Hoa, Republic of Vietnam on April 4, 1969.

Specialist Four Ardie R. Copas will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as a Machinegunner in Company C, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy near Ph Romeas Hek, Cambodia, on May 12, 1970.

Specialist Four Jesus S. Duran will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as an acting M-60 machinegunner in Company E, 2d Battalion, 5th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) during combat operations against an armed enemy in the Republic of Vietnam, on April 10, 1969.

The Korean War:

Corporal Joe R. Baldonado will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as an acting machine gunner in 3d Squad, 2d Platoon, Company B, 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment during combat operations against an armed enemy in Kangdong, Korea, on Nov. 25, 1950.

Corporal Victor H. Espinoza will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as an Acting Rifleman in Company A, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Chorwon, Korea, on Aug. 1, 1952.

Sergeant Eduardo C. Gomez will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving with Company I, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Tabu-dong, Korea, on Sept. 3, 1950.

Private First Class Leonard M. Kravitz will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as an assistant machine gunner with Company M, 5th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Yangpyong, Korea, on March 6 and 7, 1951.

Master Sergeant Juan E. Negron will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as a member of Company L, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Kalma-Eri, Korea, on April 28, 1951.

Master Sergeant Mike C. Pena will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as a member of Company F, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Waegwan, Korea, on Sept. 4, 1950.

Private Demensio Rivera will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as an automatic rifleman with 2d Platoon, Company G, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Changyong-ni, Korea, on May 23, 1951.

Private Miguel A. Vera will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as an automatic rifleman with Company F, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division in Chorwon, Korea, on Sept. 21, 1952.

Sergeant Jack Weinstein will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while leading 1st Platoon, Company G, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division in Kumsong, Korea, on Oct. 19, 1951.

World War II:

Private Pedro Cano will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving with Company C, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Schevenhutte, Germany, on Dec. 3, 1944.

Private Joe Gandara will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving with Company D, 2d Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Amfreville, France, on June 9, 1944.

Private First Class Salvador J. Lara will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as the Squad Leader of a rifle squad with 2d Platoon, Company L, 180th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Aprilia, Italy, on May 27 and 28, 1944.

Sergeant William F. Leonard will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as a Squad Leader in Company C, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy near St. Die, France, on Nov. 7, 1944.

Staff Sergeant Manuel V. Mendoza will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as a Platoon Sergeant with Company B, 350th Infantry, 88th Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy on Mt. Battaglia, Italy, on Oct. 4, 1944.

Sergeant Alfred B. Nietzel will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as a section leader for Company H, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Heistern, Germany, on Nov. 18, 1944.

First Lieutenant Donald K. Schwab will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as the Commander of Company E, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, during combat operations against an armed enemy near Lure, France, on September 17, 1944.

Read the complete article: http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-obama-medal-of-honors-veterans-20140221,0,5919747.story#axzz2u9Vh1IvD

Jean-Paul

Edited February 23, 2014 by JPL

[Chris Boonzaier]

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/fla-man-shocked-when-learning-medal-honor

[Paul R]

Great stuff. I cannot wait to see the citations.

Chris, thanks for that link.

[Michael White]

What does this say about the American military and the Medal of Honor? Is one dishonored because of past prejudices or is the other diminished because of political interference? I realize that this is a sensitive topic ; I also believe that valour is not determined, decades later, by a panel of judges who are directed to re-assess and upgrade awards duly recognized in a previous era. Why did Joshua L. Chamberlain receive the Medal of Honor 30 years after a battle where many had already been recognized, at the time, for their actions? Did General Meade and his staff not understand the importance of Little Round Top? I know that Chamberlain was a very capable officer who distinguished himself in other battles as well, but it's just this afterthought business that I struggle with. I know that early in the 20th century dozens were stripped of the award , they being determined to be undeserving of the medal.In 40,50, or 60 years from now will those who won the medal in Iraq lose their award because it was " Bush's War". I hope not and I hope didn't offend anyone with my thoughts. I'm just musing.

Mike

[Chris Boonzaier]

Its a tough call... For me there is a flip side... racial aspect aside... how many soldiers missed out on a medal because they did not have good relations with their CO, while others who did less got a medal for kissing a$$ ?

From some contact I had with a Person working on these cases a few years back... They really, really, really had to do an extreme amount of work for all people put forward, and they did not take "passage of time" into account when the proof was not to be found.

Best

Chris

[Michael White]

Excellent points Chris. I hadn't thought about that way and it does go to the point that some people are denied promotions and/or awards because of various forms of malfeasance. Glad to accept your thoughts and viewpoint!

Regards,

Mike

[W McSwiggan]

I rather doubt that the worthiness of the war will impact on receipt or retention of any awards. These awards as are all (intended at least) a function of verifiable heroic action of the highest nature. If there are insufficient witnesses or dishonorable service on the part of a soldier, the award will not be made. I feel that belated recognition is better than no recognition. Racial prejudice was and to a degree remains a social issue that has also infected our military - that said - the US military has been historically in the vanguard of correcting these issues to include desegregation. My personal experience suggests that there will always be discrepancies in the awards and decorations system - often a matter where the injustice is more a function of rank than race or creed. Name a human "system" that is perfect if you can. We try and we correct where we fail. I see no dishonor in that.

Edited June 6, 2014 by W McSwiggan