President Obama to Award Medal of
Honor
On March 18th, 2014, President
Barack Obama will award 24 Army veterans the Medal of Honor for conspicuous
gallantry. These veterans will receive the Medal of Honor in recognition of
their valor during major combat operations in World War II, the Korean War and
the Vietnam War. Each of these Soldiers’ bravery was
previously recognized by award of the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation’s second highest military award; that award
will be upgraded to the Medal of Honor in recognition of their gallantry,
intrepidity and heroism above and beyond the call of duty.
In 2002, Congress, through the
Defense Authorization Act, called for a review of Jewish American and Hispanic
American veteran war records from WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, to
ensure those deserving the Medal of Honor were not denied because of
prejudice. During the review, records of
several Soldiers of neither Jewish nor Hispanic descent were also found to
display criteria worthy of the Medal of Honor.
The 2002 Act was amended to allow these Soldiers to be honored with the
upgrade - in addition to the Jewish and Hispanic American Soldiers.
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