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24 veterans receive the Medal of Honor from President Obama 24 veterans receive the Medal of Honor from President Obama
(35 minutes later)
President Obama awarded the Medal of Honor to 24 veterans Tuesday, most of whom were initially passed over because they were Hispanic, Jewish or African American.President Obama awarded the Medal of Honor to 24 veterans Tuesday, most of whom were initially passed over because they were Hispanic, Jewish or African American.
The emotional ceremony marked the culmination of a 50-year campaign waged by Mitchel Libman, a Korean War veteran who was convinced his childhood friend from Brooklyn was denied the nation’s highest commendation for combat valor because he was Jewish.The emotional ceremony marked the culmination of a 50-year campaign waged by Mitchel Libman, a Korean War veteran who was convinced his childhood friend from Brooklyn was denied the nation’s highest commendation for combat valor because he was Jewish.
Obama noted that a Medal of Honor ceremony “is always a special occasion. But today it is truly historic.”Obama noted that a Medal of Honor ceremony “is always a special occasion. But today it is truly historic.”
“This ceremony reminds us of one of the enduring qualities that makes America great, that makes us exceptional,” Obama said. “No nation is perfect. But here in America, we confront our imperfections and face a sometimes painful past, including the truth that some of these soldiers fought and died for a country that did not always see them as equal. “This ceremony reminds us of one of the enduring qualities that makes America great, that makes us exceptional,” Obama said. “No nation is perfect. But here in America, we confront our imperfections and face a sometimes painful past, including the truth that some of these soldiers fought and died for a country that did not always see them as equal.”
Prompted by a law enacted by Congress a dozen years ago, the Pentagon conducted an extensive review to examine past discrimination in Medal of Honor decisions and concluded 19 men did not receive the medal because of their racial or ethnic backgrounds. Prompted by a law passed by Congress a dozen years ago, the Pentagon conducted an extensive review to examine past discrimination in Medal of Honor decisions and concluded that 19 men did not receive the medal because of their racial or ethnic backgrounds.
The event in the East Room included the single largest group of Medal of Honor recipients since World War II, when more than two dozen service members were recognized shortly before the end of fighting.The event in the East Room included the single largest group of Medal of Honor recipients since World War II, when more than two dozen service members were recognized shortly before the end of fighting.
Only three of the newest honorees are still alive, all of whom served in Vietnam and performed heroic acts in 1969: Melvin Morris, a former Green Beret who was wounded three times while recovering the body of his fatally wounded master sergeant in the Chi Lang district; Santiago J. Erevia, a former radio telephone operator who conducted “courageous actions” during a search-and-clear mission near Tam Ky; and Jose Rodela, who served as a special forces company commander during 18 hours of combat operations in Phuoc Long Province. Only three of the newest honorees are still alive, all of whom served in Vietnam and performed heroic acts in 1969: Melvin Morris, a former Green Beret who was wounded three times while recovering the body of his fatally wounded master sergeant in the Chi Lang district; Santiago J. Erevia, a former radio telephone operator who conducted “courageous actions” during a search-and-clear mission near Tam Ky; and Jose Rodela, who served as a Special Forces company commander during 18 hours of combat operations in Phuoc Long Province.
The move to rectify these historic inequities showed how much American society has changed in the past few decades, and illustrated the president’s personal investment in addressing issues of discrimination within the U.S. military. The move to rectify these historic inequities showed how much American society has changed in the past few decades and illustrated the president’s personal investment in addressing issues of discrimination within the U.S. military.
But the reassessment was complicated by the destruction of millions of military personnel files in a 1973 fire in the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, and came too late for many of the men and women who had personally known the medal recipients. But the reassessment was complicated by the destruction of millions of military personnel files in a 1973 fire in the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, and it came too late for many of the men and women who had personally known the medal recipients.
Since many of the veterans had died by the time the Pentagon began reviewing the files of those who had served between December 1941 and September 2001, officials compared cases to those of previous Medal of Honor recipients and interviewed family members, fellow soldiers, and others. Since many of the veterans had died by the time the Pentagon began reviewing the files of those who had served between December 1941 and September 2001, officials compared cases to those of previous Medal of Honor recipients and interviewed family members, fellow soldiers and others.
Armando Lopez came to Washington on behalf of Private Joe Gandara, who served with Company D, 2d Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division and was recognized for his actions during combat operations against an armed enemy in Amfreville, France on June 9, 1944. Armando Lopez came to Washington on behalf of Pvt. Joe Gandara, who served with Company D, 2d Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division and was recognized for his actions during combat operations against an armed enemy in Amfreville, France, on June 9, 1944.
Lopez, who was a cousin of Gandara’s, told reporters he remembered his own mother and others telling stories about him even though “I was born after he passed away.”Lopez, who was a cousin of Gandara’s, told reporters he remembered his own mother and others telling stories about him even though “I was born after he passed away.”
“I didn’t know him,” Lopez said. “He had died parachuting in World War II. That’s all I know about him.”“I didn’t know him,” Lopez said. “He had died parachuting in World War II. That’s all I know about him.”
Libman, by contrast, described his late friend Leonard M. Kravitz — the uncle and namesake of the musician Lenny Kravitz — as a sweet and unassuming kid from Brooklyn who liked hanging out in a candy store with his friends.Libman, by contrast, described his late friend Leonard M. Kravitz — the uncle and namesake of the musician Lenny Kravitz — as a sweet and unassuming kid from Brooklyn who liked hanging out in a candy store with his friends.
“He was not the hero type, he was not the great athlete, but he was a good guy and I made sure he was always involved in everything that I did,” Libman told reporters Monday. “We grew up together. We all hung out in the candy store in Brooklyn, and in that candy store, you would find notes from one another.” “He was not the hero type, he was not the great athlete, but he was a good guy, and I made sure he was always involved in everything that I did,” Libman told reporters Monday. “We grew up together. We all hung out in the candy store in Brooklyn, and in that candy store, you would find notes from one another.”
It was in that same candy store Libman learned that Kravitz had earned the Distinguished Service Cross for the Army. Kravitz died in March 1951 while serving as an assistant machine gunner with Company M, 5th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division during combat in Yangpyong, Korea. It was in that same candy store that Libman learned that Kravitz had earned the Distinguished Service Cross for the Army. Kravitz died in March 1951 while serving as an assistant machine gunner with Company M, 5th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division during combat in Yangpyong, Korea.
Libman said that while “you don’t usually argue about it,” given that it was the military’s second-highest honor, he thought Kravitz deserved more.Libman said that while “you don’t usually argue about it,” given that it was the military’s second-highest honor, he thought Kravitz deserved more.
“I came to the conclusion that they don’t give Jews the Medal of Honor. And it was pretty accurate,” said Libman, who convinced former Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.) to pass legislation calling for the Pentagon review. “However, things have changed for the better. And he got what he deserved, he got the Medal of Honor, and quite a few others got it too. So it made my life worth something.” “I came to the conclusion that they don’t give Jews the Medal of Honor. And it was pretty accurate,” said Libman, who persuaded then-Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.) to push legislation calling for the Pentagon review. “However, things have changed for the better. And he got what he deserved. He got the Medal of Honor, and quite a few others got it, too. So it made my life worth something.”
Libman said the president told him in May 2012 that the heroism of Kravitz and others would be recognized.Libman said the president told him in May 2012 that the heroism of Kravitz and others would be recognized.
“He was really very good,” Libman said of the president. “He said, ‘You know, this is not something we can do overnight. We can’t do it next week. I said, ‘That’s fine, the week after would be great.’ He totally cracked up.” “He was really very good,” Libman said of the president. “He said, ‘You know, this is not something we can do overnight. We can’t do it next week.’ I said, ‘That’s fine, the week after would be great.’ He totally cracked up.”
Miriam Theresa Adams, a niece of Gandara’s, said his parents had emigrated from Mexico in the early 1900s to Santa Monica and lived in a Mexican-American neighborhood. The family was proud of their U.S. citizenship and the sacrifice they made for this country, she said. Miriam Theresa Adams, a niece of Gandara’s, said his parents had emigrated from Mexico in the early 1900s to Santa Monica and lived in a Mexican-American neighborhood. The family was proud of their U.S. citizenship and the sacrifice they made for the United States, she said.
“When they brought him home he had one flag on his coffin,” Adams told reporters. “We are proud of that. He was proud of his heritage, but he was an American.” “When they brought him home, he had one flag on his coffin,” Adams told reporters. “We are proud of that. He was proud of his heritage, but he was an American.”