Obama to award Medal of Honor to two dozen veterans, including 19 who were overlooked because of ...
Source: Washington Post
Obama to award Medal of Honor to two dozen veterans, including 19 who were overlooked because of their racial or ethnic backgrounds
President Obama will correct a historical act of discrimination next month when he awards the Medal of Honor, the nations highest commendation for combat valor, to 19 Hispanic, Jewish and African-American veterans overlooked previously because of their racial or ethnic backgrounds.
The unusual presentation will culminate a 12-year Pentagon review ordered by Congress into past discrimination in the ranks, and will hold a particular poignancy hosted by the nations first African-American president. Although the review predates Obamas tenure, he has made addressing discrimination in the military ranks including ending the ban on gay and lesbian service members a priority as commander in chief.
The recipients, which the White House will announce Friday afternoon, served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Collectively their award ceremony will mark the single largest batch of Medal of Honor recipients since World War II, when more than two dozen service members were honored in the conflicts last days. Just three of the 24 who will be honored in all are still alive.
Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-to-ward-medal-of-honor-to-19-soldiers-who-were-overlooked-because-of-their-ethnicity/2014/02/21/209594e8-9b10-11e3-975d-107dfef7b668_story.html?wpisrc=al_comboPN_p
This is excellent news, but the title of this article is so long that the point of the title can't even appear in the limited space alloted for it.
Dustlawyer
(10,494 posts)I will not gripe about how long it took only because I don't want to take away from the Honor!
lunasun
(21,646 posts)malthaussen
(17,175 posts)Tx4obama
(36,974 posts)sheshe2
(83,637 posts)they will finally be honored!
Cha
(296,775 posts)msedano
(731 posts)Still alive, Vietnam:
Specialist Four Santiago J. Erevia
Staff Sergeant Melvin Morris
Sergeant First Class Jose Rodela
WWII
Private Pedro Cano
Private Joe Gandara
Private First Class Salvador J. Lara
Sergeant William F. Leonard
Staff Sergeant Manuel V. Mendoza
Sergeant Alfred B. Nietzel
First Lieutenant Donald K. Schwab
Korea
Corporal Joe R. Baldonado
Corporal Victor H. Espinoza
Sergeant Eduardo C. Gomez
Private First Class Leonard M. Kravitz
Master Sergeant Juan E. Negron
Master Sergeant Mike C. Pena
Private Demensio Rivera
Private Miguel A. Vera
Sergeant Jack Weinstein
Vietnam
Sergeant Candelario Garcia
Specialist Four Leonard L. Alvarado
Staff Sergeant Felix M. Conde-Falcon
Specialist Four Ardie R. Copas
Specialist Four Jesus S. Duran