President Donald Trump presented the Medal of Honor to three veterans for acts of heroism during the Vietnam and Afghanistan wars. The ceremony honored Marine Corps Maj. James Capers Jr., Army Maj. Nicholas Dockery, and the posthumous award to Marine Corps Col. John W. Ripley.
The presentation of the Medal of Honor highlights significant acts of valor by American service members and underscores the ongoing recognition of military heroism across different eras of conflict.
President Donald Trump presented the Medal of Honor to three veterans on Thursday, recognizing acts of bravery during the Vietnam and Afghanistan conflicts. The recipients included Marine Corps Maj. James Capers Jr., Army Maj. Nicholas Dockery, and the posthumous award to Marine Corps Col. John W. Ripley.
Capers, 88, was honored for his actions in 1967 when his reconnaissance mission in Vietnam turned into a fierce battle. Despite being wounded in a mine explosion, he asserted command and ensured the safety of his fellow Marines, calling in air support and loading wounded men onto a rescue helicopter.
Ripley received a posthumous award for his actions in 1972. He single-handedly placed 500 pounds of explosives on a crucial bridge to halt the advance of North Vietnamese forces, making multiple trips across the structure under enemy fire before detonating it.
Dockery was recognized for his heroism in Afghanistan in 2012. During an ambush by an estimated 150 Taliban fighters, he rallied his scattered team, rescued wounded soldiers, performed CPR on one, and shielded him from mortar blasts with his own body. He continued to coordinate support and signal enemy positions until all wounded were evacuated.
Trump praised the recipients, calling them "great men, great people," and emphasizing that they would never be forgotten.