President Joe Biden presents the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration, to then-Private First Class Kenneth J. David, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025.
President Joe Biden, center, poses for a photo with Medal of Valor honorees in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. Honorees are, from left, Lt. John Vanderstar of the New York City Fire Department, Firefighter Brendan Gaffney of the New York City Fire Department, Sgt. Tu Tran, of the Lincoln, Neb. Police Department, Det. Michael Collazo, of the Nashville, Tenn. Police Department, Chief John Drake, receiving on behalf of Officer Rex Engelbert, of the Nashville, Tenn. Police Department, Sgt. Jeffrey Mathes, of the Nashville, Tenn. Police Department, Det. Zachary Plese, of the Nashville, Tenn. Police Department, and Det. Ryan Cagle, of the Nashville, Tenn. Police Department.
President Joe Biden speaks during an event to mark his administration's efforts to confirm federal judges during his term in the State Dining Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington.
FILE - Covenant School parents and their attorneys huddle in prayer outside a courtroom before a hearing to decide whether documents and journals of a Nashville school shooter can be released to the public, April 17, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
President Joe Biden presents the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration, to then-Private First Class Kenneth J. David, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025.
President Joe Biden presents the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration, to then-Private First Class Kenneth J. David, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025.
President Joe Biden speaks before presenting the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration, to several recipients during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025.
President Joe Biden speaks before presenting the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration, to several recipients during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025.
President Joe Biden, center, poses for a photo with Medal of Valor honorees in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. Honorees are, from left, Lt. John Vanderstar of the New York City Fire Department, Firefighter Brendan Gaffney of the New York City Fire Department, Sgt. Tu Tran, of the Lincoln, Neb. Police Department, Det. Michael Collazo, of the Nashville, Tenn. Police Department, Chief John Drake, receiving on behalf of Officer Rex Engelbert, of the Nashville, Tenn. Police Department, Sgt. Jeffrey Mathes, of the Nashville, Tenn. Police Department, Det. Zachary Plese, of the Nashville, Tenn. Police Department, and Det. Ryan Cagle, of the Nashville, Tenn. Police Department.
CORRECTS SPELLING OF LAST NAME TO BONAUTO, NOT BONUATO - President Joe Biden awards the Presidential Citizens Medal to Mary Bonauto during a ceremony in the East Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington.
President Joe Biden awards the Presidential Citizens Medal to Gracie Galloway on behalf of Joseph Galloway during a ceremony in the East Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington.
President Joe Biden awards the Presidential Citizens Medal to Wayne Tsutsumi on behalf of Mitsuye Endo Tsutsumi during a ceremony in the East Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington.
President Joe Biden awards the Presidential Citizens Medal to Collins Seitz, Jr., on behalf of Collins Seitz during a ceremony in the East Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington.
President Joe Biden awards the Presidential Citizens Medal to Rupa Redding-Lallinger on behalf of Louis Redding during a ceremony in the East Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington.
President Joe Biden awards the Presidential Citizens Medal to Cynthia Baker on behalf of Nancy Kassebaum during a ceremony in the East Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington.
President Joe Biden awards the Presidential Citizens Medal to Grace McCarthy on behalf of Carolyn McCarthy during a ceremony in the East Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington.
President Joe Biden listens to a reporter's question after an event to award the Presidential Citizens Medal to recipients in the East Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington.
President Joe Biden stands during an event to award the Presidential Citizens Medal to recipients in the East Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington.
An official holds medals during an event for President Joe Biden to award the Presidential Citizens Medal to recipients in the East Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington.
Biden awards the Medal of Honor and Medal of Valor to military heroes and first responders
President Joe Biden has awarded the Medal of Honor to military recipients who displayed heroism and self-sacrifice in combat and the Medal of Valor to first responders who put their own lives at risk to save others
President Joe Biden presents the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration, to then-Private First Class Kenneth J. David, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025.
Susan Walsh - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Joe Biden, center, poses for a photo with Medal of Valor honorees in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. Honorees are, from left, Lt. John Vanderstar of the New York City Fire Department, Firefighter Brendan Gaffney of the New York City Fire Department, Sgt. Tu Tran, of the Lincoln, Neb. Police Department, Det. Michael Collazo, of the Nashville, Tenn. Police Department, Chief John Drake, receiving on behalf of Officer Rex Engelbert, of the Nashville, Tenn. Police Department, Sgt. Jeffrey Mathes, of the Nashville, Tenn. Police Department, Det. Zachary Plese, of the Nashville, Tenn. Police Department, and Det. Ryan Cagle, of the Nashville, Tenn. Police Department.
Susan Walsh - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Joe Biden speaks during an event to mark his administration's efforts to confirm federal judges during his term in the State Dining Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS
FILE - Covenant School parents and their attorneys huddle in prayer outside a courtroom before a hearing to decide whether documents and journals of a Nashville school shooter can be released to the public, April 17, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
Travis Loller - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Joe Biden presents the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration, to then-Private First Class Kenneth J. David, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025.
Susan Walsh - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Joe Biden presents the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration, to then-Private First Class Kenneth J. David, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025.
Susan Walsh - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Joe Biden speaks before presenting the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration, to several recipients during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025.
Susan Walsh - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Joe Biden speaks before presenting the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration, to several recipients during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025.
Susan Walsh - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Joe Biden, center, poses for a photo with Medal of Valor honorees in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. Honorees are, from left, Lt. John Vanderstar of the New York City Fire Department, Firefighter Brendan Gaffney of the New York City Fire Department, Sgt. Tu Tran, of the Lincoln, Neb. Police Department, Det. Michael Collazo, of the Nashville, Tenn. Police Department, Chief John Drake, receiving on behalf of Officer Rex Engelbert, of the Nashville, Tenn. Police Department, Sgt. Jeffrey Mathes, of the Nashville, Tenn. Police Department, Det. Zachary Plese, of the Nashville, Tenn. Police Department, and Det. Ryan Cagle, of the Nashville, Tenn. Police Department.
Susan Walsh - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS
CORRECTS SPELLING OF LAST NAME TO BONAUTO, NOT BONUATO - President Joe Biden awards the Presidential Citizens Medal to Mary Bonauto during a ceremony in the East Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Joe Biden awards the Presidential Citizens Medal to Gracie Galloway on behalf of Joseph Galloway during a ceremony in the East Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Joe Biden awards the Presidential Citizens Medal to Wayne Tsutsumi on behalf of Mitsuye Endo Tsutsumi during a ceremony in the East Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Joe Biden awards the Presidential Citizens Medal to Collins Seitz, Jr., on behalf of Collins Seitz during a ceremony in the East Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Joe Biden awards the Presidential Citizens Medal to Rupa Redding-Lallinger on behalf of Louis Redding during a ceremony in the East Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Joe Biden awards the Presidential Citizens Medal to Cynthia Baker on behalf of Nancy Kassebaum during a ceremony in the East Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Joe Biden awards the Presidential Citizens Medal to Grace McCarthy on behalf of Carolyn McCarthy during a ceremony in the East Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Joe Biden listens to a reporter's question after an event to award the Presidential Citizens Medal to recipients in the East Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Joe Biden stands during an event to award the Presidential Citizens Medal to recipients in the East Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS
An official holds medals during an event for President Joe Biden to award the Presidential Citizens Medal to recipients in the East Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington.
WASHINGTON (AP) 69制片厂制作传媒 On Feb. 15, 1951, Pvt. Bruno R. Orig was returning from a mission when he found his fellow soldiers under attack in what's now known as the Battle of Chipyong-ni.
The infantryman provided first aid to his comrades wounded in the attack and began helping move those men to safety. He then took over a machine gun post and allowed a friendly platoon to pull back without a casualty. When the ground was recaptured later that day, Orig was found dead beside the machine gun, surrounded by enemy combatants he had killed.
Orig was among the Medal of Honor recipients recognized Friday by President in one of his last opportunities to officially acknowledge acts of selflessness and personal bravery in times of war. Biden bestowed the medal posthumously to six men and one living recipient at a White House ceremony. In a separate Oval Office ceremony closed to the news media, he awarded the Medal of Valor to eight first responders who put their own lives at risk to save others.
69制片厂制作传媒淭hese are heroes of different ranks, different positions and even different generations," Biden said at the Medal of Honor ceremony Friday evening. 69制片厂制作传媒淭hey are heroes who all went above and beyond the call of duty.69制片厂制作传媒
During the Korean War, Pfc. Wataru Nakamura destroyed an enemy machine gun nest and recaptured several bunkers. He exhausted his ammunition but resumed his attack after being rearmed, and he was ultimately killed by an enemy grenade and buried in Los Angeles.
Army Cpl. Fred B. McGee is being recognized for his gallantry and intrepidity near Tang-Wan-Ni, Korea, on June 16, 1952, when he assumed command of his squad, neutralized an enemy machine gun and then sent his squad back while he helped rescue the wounded. The Ohio native died in 2020, according to news reports.
Army Pfc. Charles R. Johnson, from Millbrook, New York, was killed on June 12, 1953, after holding off Chinese forces during the Korean War. His actions saved the lives of as many as 10 soldiers.
After multiple raids on an entrenched enemy in the area of Sagimak during the Korean War, Army 1st Lt. Richard E. Cavazos stayed behind alone to evacuate five battle casualties to safety. Cavazos served more than three decades in the service, eventually attaining the rank of four-star general. The Texan died in 2018 at age 88. Fort Hood was renamed in honor of him on May 9, 2023.
After an armed helicopter crashed during the Vietnam War on June 5, 1966, Army Capt. Hugh R. Nelson Jr. from Rocky Mount, North Carolina, pulled two specialists from the aircraft, shielding one of them from enemy gunfire at the loss of his own life.
While fighting in Vietnam on May 7, 1970, then-Army Pfc. Kenneth J. David drew enemy fire away from injured comrades and onto himself, becoming wounded by a satchel charge. But David kept fighting and pulled fire away from landing Medevac helicopters, getting evacuated himself after the last helicopter landed. The Ohioan is still living.
Acknowledging his last days as president, Biden on Friday called it the greatest honor of his life to be entrusted to lead the country and 69制片厂制作传媒渢he finest military in the history of the world.69制片厂制作传媒
On Friday, Biden also awarded eight people the Medal of Valor, which goes to those who have shown exceptional courage in attempting to save human lives.
The recipients included the law enforcement officials who responded to a shooter who killed six people on March 27, 2023, at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Nashville Police Department's Sgt. Jeffrey Mathes, Officer Rex Engelbert and Detectives Michael Collazo, Ryan Cagle and Zachary Plese rushed to the scene and faced gunfire from the shooter. They cleared out classrooms and ultimately took down the shooter.
Biden also recognized Sgt. Tu Tran of the Lincoln, Nebraska, Police Department. On Feb. 22, 2023, Tran swam 30 feet (9 meters) into a frigid pond to rescue a woman from a submerging vehicle.
Lt. John Vanderstar, a New York City firefighter, received the Medal of Valor for rescuing a mother and child from a burning apartment on Oct. 23, 2022. Separately, New York City firefighter Brendan Gaffney was honored for braving an apartment building fire to save an unconscious child and a pregnant woman.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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