Today on June 18, President Trump will award the Medal of Honor to retired Recon Marine Major James Capers Jr. for his heroism during a 1967 ambush in Vietnam.
Major Capers was shot twice and suffered 17 shrapnel wounds and other injuries during the April 1967 ambush.
Not only did Capers lead his team to safety, but he twice tried to get out of the helicopter carrying the rest of his teammates so that it would be light enough to take off, and had to be pulled back inside by his men.
Major Capers is the first Black Marine to lead a reconnaissance company and to receive a battlefield commission.
The 1967 ambush began when hidden explosives detonated. Capers suffered shrapnel wounds to his abdomen and other parts of his body and a broken leg. Despite his wounds, he ordered a mortar strike on the team’s position to keep the enemy at bay.
Then, even after losing a significant amount of blood and being administered morphine, he led his team to a helicopter landing zone. When a helicopter landed, Capers refused to get on board unless the crew took the body of the team’s military working dog.
Capers was originally awarded the Bronze Star with “V” device for his heroism, which was upgraded to the Silver Star in 2010.
🚨 LMAO! President Trump has a hard time putting the Medal of Honor on Major Nicholas Dockery and the room is cracking up
"Ooh! I'm gonna do it a little differently, a little nicer. That sucker's NEVER coming off!" 😂
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@aazimk23@fiago7 That makes sense. I forget that’s more common in bigger cities. Visited a Detroit 2 weeks ago and our hotel was strictly valet no self park.