Veterans Melvin Morris, Jose Rodela, and Santiago Erevia were each awarded the Medal of Honor in a special White House ceremony.
On March 18, in a ceremony at the White House, President Barack Obama placed medals around the necks of Vietnam veterans Jose Rodela, Melvin Morris, and Santiago Erevia. The audience then gave them a standing ovation. The three men were awarded the Medal of Honor, which is given to veterans for exceptional valor, or bravery, in combat.
Even though Rodela, Morris, and Erevia served many years ago, they are just now being properly recognized. They waited a long time to receive the country’s highest military honor. Because of past discrimination against ethnic minorities, the three men were passed over from being honored right after the time they served.
Of the 24 veterans from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War that were awarded the Medal of Honor in the ceremony, only Rodela, Morris, and Erevia were still alive to accept this honor. The other veterans were honored posthumously, or after their deaths. A biography of each of these soldiers was read at the ceremony. Members of their families accepted the medals on their behalf.
All of the veterans honored had previously received a Distinguished Service Cross for their bravery. President Obama upgraded those awards to the Medal of Honor. This was the result of a review that Congress requested that looked at the combat service of ethnic minorities. The review was done to ensure that people who should have received the Medal of Honor were not overlooked due to prejudice. Prejudice is an unfair treatment of people due to their race, ethnicity, or religion.
When President Obama presented the awards, he said, “Today we have the chance to set the record straight. 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.”
Image credit: ©Larry Downing/Reuters
Related Link
- 24 Minority Veterans Receive Long Overdue Medal of Honor
Watch a CNN video about the new Medal of Honor recipients, including an interview with Vietnam veteran Melvin Morris.
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