WASHINGTON — On February 15, 1951, Army Private Bruno R. Orig was on his way back from a mission when he came upon his fellow soldiers under assault during what is now known as the Battle of Chipyong-ni.
Orig, an infantryman, immediately provided medical assistance to injured comrades and helped evacuate them to safety. He then manned a machine gun position, allowing a friendly platoon to retreat without suffering any casualties. Tragically, later that day, Orig was found lifeless beside the machine gun, surrounded by the enemy combatants he had neutralized.
Orig was among those honored with the Medal of Honor on a special occasion organized by President Joe Biden, marking one of his final chances to recognize acts of courage and selflessness in warfare. During a ceremony at the White House, Biden presented the medal posthumously to six recipients and one living honoree. In a separate closed-door session in the Oval Office, he awarded the Medal of Valor to eight first responders who risked their lives to save others.
“These individuals are heroes who come from different backgrounds, positions, and eras,” stated Biden during the Medal of Honor ceremony. “Each one went above and beyond the call of duty.”
During the Korean War, Private Wataru Nakamura bravely dismantled an enemy machine gun position and reclaimed several bunkers. Despite running out of ammunition, he continued his assault after receiving more supplies, ultimately succumbing to an enemy grenade. Nakamura was later laid to rest in Los Angeles.
Army Corporal Fred B. McGee displayed exceptional bravery near Tang-Wan-Ni, Korea, on June 16, 1952. After leading his squad and neutralizing an enemy machine gun, he stayed behind to assist in evacuating wounded soldiers. McGee passed away in 2020, as reported.
Army Private Charles R. Johnson from Millbrook, New York, was killed on June 12, 1953, while valiantly holding off Chinese forces during the Korean War, saving the lives of approximately ten soldiers in the process.
In another instance from the Korean War, Army First Lieutenant Richard E. Cavazos remained behind to evacuate five wounded troops after multiple assaults on an entrenched enemy position near Sagimak. Cavazos completed over three decades of military service, ultimately rising to the rank of four-star general. He passed away in 2018 at the age of 88, and Fort Hood was renamed in his honor on May 9, 2023.
During the Vietnam War, on June 5, 1966, Army Captain Hugh R. Nelson Jr. from Rocky Mount, North Carolina, heroically rescued two specialists from a downed helicopter, shielding one from gunfire at the cost of his own life.
On May 7, 1970, then-Private Kenneth J. David in Vietnam drew enemy fire away from injured colleagues, sustaining wounds himself from a satchel charge. Nevertheless, David continued to battle and redirected fire away from arriving Medevac helicopters, securing his own evacuation after the final helicopter landed. David is still alive today.
Reflecting on his presidency, Biden expressed his gratitude on Friday, stating that leading the nation and the “finest military in history” was the greatest honor of his life.
Additionally, Biden awarded eight individuals the Medal of Valor, which honors those who demonstrate extraordinary courage in life-saving efforts.
Among the recipients were law enforcement officers who responded to a shooting incident at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, on March 27, 2023, where six lives were lost.
Nashville Police Department’s Sergeant Jeffrey Mathes, Officer Rex Engelbert, and Detectives Michael Collazo, Ryan Cagle, and Zachary Plese acted quickly, facing gunfire as they evacuated classrooms and ultimately subdued the shooter.
Biden also acknowledged Sergeant Tu Tran from the Lincoln, Nebraska Police Department, who swam 30 feet into icy waters on February 22, 2023, to rescue a woman trapped in a sinking vehicle.
Firefighter Lieutenant John Vanderstar from New York City was awarded the Medal of Valor for rescuing a mother and child from a blazing apartment on October 23, 2022. In a separate recognition, firefighter Brendan Gaffney was honored for his bravery in saving an unconscious child and a pregnant woman from an apartment fire.
