President Trump to Award Medal of Honor to Three Veterans for Extraordinary Acts of Valor.
Washington, D.C.:
President Donald J. Trump will award the nation’s highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, to three American service members in recognition of their extraordinary courage and selfless service in combat. The recipients are retired Marine Corps Major James Capers Jr., the late Marine Corps Colonel John W. Ripley, and retired Army Major Nicholas Dockery.
The White House announced that the awards will honor acts of gallantry and intrepidity performed during combat operations in Vietnam and Afghanistan, recognizing heroism that went far beyond the call of duty.
Major James Capers Jr. Honored for Vietnam War Heroism
Retired Marine Corps Major James Capers Jr., who served as a Second Lieutenant with the 3rd Force Reconnaissance Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, will receive the Medal of Honor for his actions during a dangerous reconnaissance mission in the Republic of Vietnam from March 31 to April 3, 1967.
According to the White House, Capers led a small reconnaissance patrol assigned to locate a North Vietnamese regimental base camp deep within enemy-controlled territory. During the four-day operation, his team encountered a numerically superior enemy force on three separate occasions. Despite the repeated engagements, Capers continued the mission and successfully directed supporting fire against an enemy base camp, disrupting plans for an attack on a nearby Marine battalion.
The mission reached its most critical point on the final day when the patrol was ambushed by a claymore mine and subjected to intense enemy fire. Capers suffered multiple severe wounds and significant blood loss. Nevertheless, he continued leading his men, coordinating supporting fire, and directing movement toward an extraction zone.
Demonstrating exceptional leadership and selflessness, Capers refused evacuation until every member of his team had been safely extracted. Only after ensuring the safety of his Marines did he board the evacuation helicopter himself.
Colonel John W. Ripley to Receive Posthumous Recognition
Marine Corps Colonel John W. Ripley will be awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions during the Vietnam War on April 2, 1972, when he was serving as Senior Marine Advisor to the Third Vietnamese Marine Corps Infantry Battalion.
During a major North Vietnamese offensive, enemy forces sought to capture a strategically important bridge in the village of Dong Ha. Recognizing the critical importance of preventing the bridge from falling into enemy hands, Ripley undertook a daring mission to destroy it.
Under intense enemy fire, Ripley single-handedly transported approximately 500 pounds of explosives into position. For nearly three hours, he repeatedly exposed himself to hostile fire while maneuvering beneath the bridge along its steel support beams. He carefully placed explosive charges at key structural points before successfully detonating them.
The destruction of the bridge halted the advancing enemy mechanized forces and played a significant role in disrupting the offensive, earning Ripley a place among the most celebrated heroes of the Vietnam War.
Major Nicholas Dockery Recognized for Bravery in Afghanistan
Retired Army Major Nicholas Dockery will receive the Medal of Honor for his actions while serving as a Second Lieutenant and platoon leader with the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan, on October 2, 2012.
During a combat operation, Dockery’s platoon came under attack from a large and heavily armed Taliban force. Over the course of a four-hour battle fought in restrictive urban terrain, Dockery repeatedly placed himself in danger while maintaining contact with enemy fighters and directing his unit’s defense.
Despite the intense fighting, he personally rescued and evacuated three wounded soldiers, exposing himself to enemy fire multiple times. Following the evacuation of casualties and the reorganization of his unit, Dockery continued leading the defense from an exposed rooftop position, where he coordinated rotary-wing aircraft support against subsequent enemy counterattacks.
The White House described his actions as a remarkable demonstration of courage, leadership, and devotion to his fellow soldiers.
Nation’s Highest Military Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military award presented by the United States government. It is awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through acts of conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their own lives above and beyond the call of duty.
Recipients must have demonstrated extraordinary heroism while engaged in combat against an enemy of the United States, during military operations involving conflict with opposing foreign forces, or while serving alongside friendly foreign forces engaged in armed conflict.
The ceremony honoring Capers, Ripley, and Dockery will recognize acts of valor spanning nearly five decades of American military history, from the battlefields of Vietnam to the mountains of Afghanistan. Their actions, the White House said, exemplify the highest traditions of military service and sacrifice.
