However, he was a U.S. .and what our team did to make sure we left no man behind on that battlefield., On March 3, 2023, President Joe Biden will awarded Colonel Paris Davis (retired), with the Med of Honor at the White House. Biden underscored the fact that shortly after Paris left Vietnam, under the scourge of America's ongoing racial discrimination, paperwork for Col. Davis' medal of honor went unprocessed twice. Youre just trying to get through that moment.. We have linked to these under the alphabetical listings. The President of the United States, in the name of the United States Congress, has awarded more than 3,520 Medals of Honor including 19 second awards to the nation's soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coast guardsmen since the decoration's creation in 1861. Second award previously awarded a Medal of Honor for action in the Boxer Rebellion. Paul Ray Smith was the first to receive it for his actions on April 4, 2003 when he held enemy forces back, allowing other wounded soldiers to be evacuated to safety. Davis daughter, Regan Davis Hopper, a mom of two teenage sons, told the AP that she only learned of her dads heroism in 2019. U.S. Army Fort Benning and The Maneuver Center of Excellence The snipers were armed only with their sniper rifles and pistols. Among other privileges, Medal of Honor recipients receive invitations to attend presidential inaugurations and accompanying festivities. Shughart and Gordon were eventually mortally wounded after nearly exhausting all available ammunition; Durant, the only survivor, was taken hostage. [16] 111 people received the Medal of Honor from the SpanishAmerican War. Over 40 million casualties resulted, including approximately 20 million military and civilian deaths. One of the first Black soldiers in the Armys Special Forces, Davis earned his Airborne and Ranger qualifications in 1960 and his Special Forces qualification in 1962. It is presented by the U.S. President in name of the Congress to an individual who distinguished themself conspicuously by gallantry and bravery at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. The following pages list Medal of Honor recipients by time period and conflict; in some cases, citations are also provided. Notably, Charles Lindbergh, while a reserve member of the U.S. Army Air Corps, received his Medal of Honor as a civilian pilot. He has many years of experience in journalism, digital media and broadcasting and holds a degree from the University of Utah. Looking on at right is Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough. The Treaty of Paris ended the conflict 109 days after the outbreak of war giving the United States ownership of the former Spanish colonies of Puerto Rico, the Philippines and Guam. Floyd Bennett and Richard Evelyn Byrd received it for their participation in what was thought to be the first successful heavier-than-air flight to the North Pole and back. Rigg continued his research and found 27 service members were given the Medal of Honor on Iwo Jima seven for actions similar to Jackson's. Of the seven Medal of Honor recipients who jumped . 1861-1898 Civil War, 1861-1865 Interim period, 1866-1871 There are two protocols for awarding the Medal of Honor. The first Samoan Civil War lasted for eight years. No. Its just the antithesis of that, he said. . Medal of Honor. Also a total of 21 (4.5% of all World War II Medals of Honor) were awarded to members of the all-Japanese American 100th Infantry Battalion of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, for actions in numerous battles across six different campaigns. His entire team survived. So, Im just thrilled that this has happened, finally.. The Medal of Honor is bestowed upon a member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes themselves "conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States." [2] Among them were: Major Patrick Brady, Major Kern . President Joe Biden awards the Medal of Honor to Vietnam War veteran Retired Army Col. Paris Davis at a White House ceremony on Friday morning. Their citations are full of heroics and sacrifice. Birth: New York, N.Y. G.O. Upon reaching the downed Blackhawk, which was under intense enemy fire, Gordon and Shughart pulled the crew from the wreckage and proceeded to set up a defensive perimeter. The Medal of Honor is the only U.S. military award worn around the neck as opposed to being pinned on the uniform. There was a time in history that the United States was divided. Born on May 6, 1939, Paris Davis studied political science at Southern University through an ROTC scholarship before his deployment to Vietnam. They collectively embody the values that we as a country strive to upholdcourage, bravery, and the desire and dedication to do what is right in the midst of life's most difficult circumstances. Over 60 million people, the majority of them civilians, were killed, making it the deadliest conflict in human history. Gordon and Shughart were part of a sniper team for Delta Force that was assigned to watch over the operation, engaging targets from their position in the Blackhawk. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin smiles as retired Army Col. Paris Davis walks beside President Joe Biden upon arriving for a White House ceremony in which Biden presented Davis the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in Vietnam nearly 58 years ago. Davis repeatedly sprinted into an open rice paddy to rescue each member of his team, according to the ArmyTimes. The Samoan Civil War(s) occurred in the Samoa Islands of the South Pacific in the late 19th century. They had just carried out a pre-dawn raid on a North Vietnamese army camp in the area on June 18. He had spent more than 12 hours bleeding out in the rice paddy before Davis reached him. The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. 1st Class Christopher Celiz. As they monitored the downing of the second Blackhawk, it became evident that ground forces would not be available to secure the crash site and protect the critically injured crew of four, all of whom survived the crash. Davis, a native of Cleveland, retired in 1985 at the rank of colonel and now lives in Alexandria, Virginia, just outside Washington. [10], The American Civil War (18611865) was a war between the United States (the Union) and the Southern states of the newly formed Confederate States of America under Jefferson Davis. Learn about what this day means to Medal of Honor Recipients here. [24] Most of these medals were presented to members of the United States Navy for rescuing or attempting to rescue someone from drowning. Davis said in a statement that Biden's call "prompted a wave of memories of the men and women I served with in Vietnam from the members of 5th Special Forces Group and other U.S. military units to the doctors and nurses who cared for our wounded.". With many of his men dead or wounded, Davis, a young captain at the time, repeatedly beat back enemy forces using everything and anything at his disposal; mortars, machine guns, grenades, the buttstock of his rifle and even hand-to-hand combat, he recalled. As Biden noted, the men who were with Davis that day in 1965 immediately nominated him for the Medal of Honor, but that paperwork was not processed. Si quieres personalizar tus opciones, haz clic en Gestionar configuracin de privacidad. | U.S. Army March to Service Campaign December 6, 2017 New Civilian Aides to the . He said he knew Davis had been recommended for the Medal of Honor shortly after the battle in 1965 and he spent years wondering why Davis hadnt been awarded the medal. Charles Lindbergh received the medal for flying the first solo non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean. It is given in recognition of the extraordinary courage and gallantry, "Above and beyond the call of duty", demonstrated by members of the American Armed Forces over the years. [6] Additions and changes to the list of recipients of the medal since the 1979 have been regularly published by the Congressional Research Service. In early 2021, Christopher Miller, then the acting defense secretary, ordered an expedited review of Davis case. There are 473 Medal of Honor recipients from the war. Earl D. Plumlee; and former Army Sgt. Davis told CBS News in 2021 that race was a factor his paperwork disappearing. Late in the afternoon, Davis was able locate his missing man and get him to safety. The Purple Heart Was One of the First Military Medals Given to All Ranks. Served under the name "Truesdale" before officially changing name to "Truesdell" on 25 July 1942. You know what it looks like, what it smells like. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images, U.S. Army Fort Benning and The Maneuver Center of Excellence, Woody Williams, the last surviving WWII Medal of Honor recipient dies at 98, Biden awards Medals of Honor to 3 soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. In an interview on the Phil Donahue Show in 1969, Davis said there were as many as 700 enemy combatants trying to overrun his position. African American Korean War Medal of Honor Recipients An estimated 600,000 African Americans served in the armed forces during the Korean War (1950 to 1953). However, the Medal of Honor has been presented to five First World War unknown soldiers of allied countries: the British Unknown Warrior in the United Kingdom by General Pershing on October 17, 1921; the Romanian Unknown Soldier, the French Unknown Soldier (entombed under the Arc de Triomphe), the Belgian Unknown Soldier, and the Italian Unknown Soldier (entombed in the Monument of Vittorio Emanuele II). The sun had only just begun to rise on June 18, 1965, when Davis and the three Green Berets under his command were pinned down by relentless enemy fire. This medal reflects what teamwork, service and dedication can achieve, Davis said, wearing the Medal of Honor and a green Army service uniform covered with medals and ribbons. Although the 10th Mountain Division had been inactivated by November 30, 1945, there was no formal representation to honor their only Medal of Honor recipient, John D. Magrath. He sure as hell deserves it now. Over the decades, his brothers in arms and many others fought for Davis to be recognized for his bravery. [28], World War I, also known as the First World War and the Great War, was a global military conflict which took place primarily in Europe from 1914 to 1918. [46] Thomas Bennett was a conscientious objector who received the medal for his actions as a medic;[47] three chaplains received the medal, including Vincent R. Capodanno, who served with the Marine Corps and was known as the Grunt Padre. [12] During this conflict the Medal of Honor was presented to 426 soldiers, 13 posthumously for acts of bravery and gallantry in combat. Early in the Civil War, a medal for individual valor was proposed to General-in-Chief of the Army Winfield Scott. [39] Additionally, the only Medal of Honor ever presented to a member of the United States Coast Guard (Douglas Albert Munro) was received for actions during this war.[24]. Chu Pa Region, Pleiku Province. When youre fighting, youre not thinking about this moment, Davis said. For his unwavering courage and leadership in the face of near-certain death, Davis was awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart. [n 2] This global conflict split the majority of the world's nations into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis powers. The idea of Davis getting the Medal of Honor was first mentioned by his comrades on the battlefield that day in 1965. Each ray of the five pointed star contains sprays of laurel and oak and is tipped with a trefoil. Colonel Davis was one of the first Black officers in the U.S. Army's Special Forces. The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. But by time the sun came up, they found themselves under full enemy attack and were trying to evade a constant barrage of bullets and artillery. On March 3, 2023, President Joe Biden will awarded Colonel Paris Davis (retired), with the Med of Honor at the White House. Will more minority veterans receive the Medal of Honor? Second award previously awarded a Medal of Honor for action in the Mexican Campaign. After the Mexican-American War, the award was discontinued, which meant there was no military award with which to recognize the nation's fighting men. No medal went with the honor. In total 63 Medals of Honor were received for actions during the occupation; 1 Army, 9 to members of the United States Marine Corps and 53 to Navy personnel.[24]. MacArthur Family. Found 3,515 result s . The Medal of Honor is the highest medal of valor in battle awarded by the United States to the men and women of the Armed Forces. Si no quieres que nosotros ni nuestros socios utilicemos cookies y datos personales para estos propsitos adicionales, haz clic en Rechazar todo. The concluding event was the Second Samoan Civil War. MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C.-The Congressional Medal of Honor Society (the Society) welcomes Medal of Honor Recipient Paris Davis as its newest member. Place and date: Near Medeah Ferme, France, 3 October 1918. Thank you, President Biden. I still have an American out there. As the battle neared a close, 19 hours after it began, Davis ran across the field of fire to rescue SP4 Brown before final extraction. During this conflict 471 United States military personnel received the Medal of Honor, 273 of them posthumously. The medal is normally awarded by the president of the United States, but as it is presented "in the name of the United States Congress", it is sometimes . [22], The Boxer Movement or Boxer Rebellion, which occurred in China from November 1899 to September 7, 1901, was an uprising by members of the Chinese Society of Right and Harmonious Fists against foreign influence in areas such as trade, politics, religion and technology that occurred in China during the final years of the Manchu rule (Qing Dynasty). In the ensuing battle, two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters were shot down. He likes the title of soldier: Retired Army Col. Paris Davis to receive Medal of Honor on Friday, US to send bridge-launching vehicles for tank deployments to Ukraine in new $400M aid package, Japan complains to US over Utah senators remarks on imprisoned Navy officer, Former soldier gets 45 years in prison for plotting with neo-Nazi group to kill other troops, Military, VA provide troops, vets more gun safety options to help reduce suicides, Pentagon tells service members to stop displaying giant US flags at major events, K-Town Now features the latest news from the Kaiserslautern Military Community. While he braved fire from both the enemy and from amidst American air support, he ran to pick up Waugh for MEDEVAC and, according to Davis, carried him fireman style, in a hail of automatic weapon fire, to safety. Though ordered to leave the fighting, Davis answered, Sir, Im just not going to leave. [42], During this war, 146 Medals of Honor were awarded.[43]. New York's Medal of Honor Recipients Frank J. Bart Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, Company C, 9th Infantry, 2d Division. African American US Medal Of Honor Recipients During The Civil War - Part I: US Navy Published February 18, 2021 By John V. Quarstein The Medal of Honor was established in 1862 to honor soldiers and sailors who served beyond the call of duty. [58] Since 2001, 18 American service-members have received the Medal of Honor for actions in Afghanistan, four of them posthumously. During the hours-long engagement, Davis constantly fought enemy troops while encouraging those around him. Among the recipients were Webb Hayes, the son of former U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes, and two prominent Marine Corps officers, Hiram I. Bearss and David Dixon Porter. 3/3/2023 1:16:43 PM. She grew up in Oswego, New York, raised by her progressive parents along with her six brothers and sisters. They were discarded because he was Black, and thats the only conclusion that I can come to.. Quote: 'America was behind me.' the last surviving WWII Medal of Honor recipient dies at 98 . These adjustments help to make sure that the purchasing power of your benefits keeps up with inflation. [67] Seven service members have received the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq; five from the Army, one from the Marine Corps and one from the Navy. Each of the countries reciprocally awarded medals to the U.S. "Sir, I'm just not going to leave. Im just proud of him., who was the most recent medal of honor recipient, what causes delays in medal of honor awards. Medal of Honor recipient returns to active duty Michelle Tan Army Times View Comments 0:00 0:57 WASHINGTON Army Capt. The Marines restored order throughout most of the republic (with the exception of the eastern region); the country's budget was balanced, its debt was diminished, and economic growth resumed; infrastructure projects produced new roads that linked all the country's regions for the first time in its history; a professional military organization, the Dominican Constabulary Guard, replaced the partisan forces that had waged a seemingly endless struggle for power. After receiving the call from President Biden announcing the award, Colonel Davis responded in a family statement, The call today from President Biden prompted a wave of memories of the men and women I served with in Vietnam from the members of 5th Special Forces Group and other U.S. military units to the doctors and nurses who cared for our wounded. The United States needed a formal way to award gallantry in combat. Army Sergeant First Class Jared C. Monti received his medal for attempting to rescue a wounded soldier at the cost of his own life. Clinton awards Medal of Honor to 2 killed in Somalia, List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients, List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Indian Wars, List of Medal of Honor recipients for the SpanishAmerican War, List of PhilippineAmerican War Medal of Honor recipients, List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Boxer Rebellion, List of Medal of Honor recipients (Veracruz), United States occupation of the Mexican port of Veracruz, List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War I, assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II, List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Battle of Iwo Jima, List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Attack on Pearl Harbor, List of Korean War Medal of Honor recipients, List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War, List of post-Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipients, List of Medal of Honor recipients in non-combat incidents, United States Army Center of Military History, "Medal of Honor Medal of Honor Historical Society of the United States", "Canada honours winners of top U.S. medal", "Thousands of Canadians, including a Medal of Honor recipient, served with the U.S. military in Vietnam", "Winning the west the Army in the Indian Wars, 18651890", "Marine Amphibious Landing in Korea, 1871", "The Price of Freedom: Americans at WarSpanish American War", "The United States Armed Forces and the Mexican Punitive Expedition: Part 1", "The Treaty of Versailles and its Consequences", "The President's News Conference of June 29, 1950 - Teaching American History", "Remembering the Forgotten War: Korea, 19501953", "War to Resist US Aggression And Aid Korea Marked in DPRK", "From the Vietnam War to an Indochina War", "Rebuilding the Army Vietnam to Desert Storm", "The Coming American Retreat from Global Military Interventions", "President Obama to Award Medal of Honor", White House Office of the Press Secretary, "Army Ranger to be awarded Medal of Honor", "Soldiers' selfless acts should inspire at holidays", "Obama OKs Medal of Honor for living Marine", "Rescue Operations in the Second Gulf War", "Operations in Iraq: History of the military campaign in Iraq", "After extraordinary sacrifice - and years of delay", "Pinoy WWII vets still top Fil-Am concern", "Lieutenant William Halford, USN, (18411919)", "List of living Medal of Honor recipients", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Medal_of_Honor_recipients&oldid=1138038602, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the United States Army Center of Military History, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. Use the search bar to filter and sort the database by first name, last name, service branch, and conflict. 5 Dennis M. Fujii, U.S. Army (2022) Sergeant First Class Christopher Celiz, U.S. Army (2021) Master Sergeant Earl Plumlee, U.S. Army (2021) Sergeant First Class Alwyn Cashe, U.S. Army (2021) Davis was among the first Black Special Forces officers, despite efforts to dissuade his service, Biden said at the ceremony. On October 3, 1993, during the Battle of Mogadishu, members of the U.S. Army Rangers and SOCOM's Delta Force executed a mission to capture members of Gen. Mohamed Farrah Aidid's forces. President Joe Biden awards the Medal of Honor to Vietnam War veteran Retired Army Col. Paris Davis at a White House ceremony on Friday morning. "Paris helped write the history of our nation. The stated purpose of the invasion was to capture Osama bin Laden, destroy al-Qaeda and remove the Taliban regime which had provided support and safe harbor to al-Qaeda. You just havent licked it.. William D. Swenson; Army Master Sgt. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images Four of these were for Army personnel, twenty-two went to navy sailors and the remaining thirty-three went to Marines. Sixty-one Canadians who were serving in the United States Armed Forces have received the Medal of Honor; most received it for actions in the American Civil War. The first Medal of Honor recipient was John Mackie. They are parents and siblings, colleagues and friends. For a list of recipients born in, accredited to and Medals earned in New Jersey, click here: New Jersey (updated 25 May 2021) Dwight W. Birdwell. The first African American recipient for this award was Robert Blake, who manned his post during a naval engagement against infantry while under heavy fire (William Harvey Carney is commonly and erroneously cited as the first African-American to receive a medal because his actions in combat did precede those of the other African-American recipients, although his physical medal was not presented until 1900). 6241), beginning in 1918, explicitly states that recipients must be serving in the U.S. Armed Forces at the time of performing a valorous act that warrants the award, exceptions have been made. A second living recipient, Sergeant First Class Leroy Petry, received the medal from President Obama during a July 12, 2011 ceremony. Although originally awarded for both combat and non-combat heroism, the Medal of Honor today is presented for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty. The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, and in Vietnam as the American War, occurred from 1959 to April 30, 1975. The retaliation by Austria-Hungary against Serbia activated a series of alliances that set off a chain reaction of war declarations. He is the eighth living recipient to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Afghanistan. Assisted in capturing the Korean flag from the citadel of the fort, For hand-to-hand combat and saving the life of Alexander McKenzie, Returned to duty after being wounded several times, Carrying out his duties with coolness, Grace set forth gallant and meritorious conduct throughout this action, Serving as color bearer of the battalion, Hayden planted his flag and protected it under heavy fire, Fighting the enemy inside the fort, Lukes received a severe cut over the head. [8], While current law, (10U.S.C. President Biden on Friday awarded retired Army Special Forces Col. Paris Davis the Medal of Honor for repeatedly risking his life to save his men during a fierce ambush in Vietnam nearly 60 years ago. It wasnt one of those things when you think, Im bleeding. Its one of those things when you say, I can still move.. U.S. Marines invaded and took control of the country within two months; in November that same year, the U.S. imposed a military government. I believe they were intentionally discarded. 1st Class Melvin Morris. The War in Afghanistan, which began on October 7, 2001, was launched by the United States, the United Kingdom, and NATO allies in response to the September 11 attacks. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe and Army Sgt. The war was fought between the Communist-supported Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) and the United States supported Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). The US Army also did not issue citations for the Distinguished Service Cross, its second highest award for valo. The war ended after decisive naval victories for the United States in the Philippines and Cuba. [3] The President of the United States, in the name of the United States Congress, has awarded more than 3,520 Medals of Honor including 19 second awards to the nation's soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coast guardsmen since the decoration's creation in 1861. Many Medal of Honor recipients have given interviews detailing their actions which have been posted online. Recipient . Riots in Havana by pro-Spanish "Voluntarios" gave the United States reason to send in the warship USSMaine. [24] One of those awarded the Medal of Honor for rescuing others was Fireman Second Class Telesforo Trinidad, who, as of 2020, has been the only Asian American sailor to be awarded the Medal of Honor. Though wounded in the hand from a grenade and in the leg from enemy fire, Davis refused to leave behind two badly injured comrades, Master Sergeant Billy Waugh and Specialist 4 Robert Brown, behind. The Silver Star is the third highest U.S. combat-only award. Mar 03, 2023, 12:59 ET. "To receive . It heightens the thing, if youve got to wait that long Its like someone promised you an ice cream cone. During the Vietnam War and in the following twelve months, 234 Medals of Honor were received and since 1978 a further 32 awards have been presented. The main hostilities were during the period from June 25, 1950, until the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed on July 27, 1953. Puedes cambiar tus opciones en cualquier momento haciendo clic en el enlace Panel de control de privacidad de nuestros sitios y aplicaciones. It was the beginning of the war on terror. (Carlos Bongioanni/Stars and Stripes), Within minutes, the jungle lit up with enemy fire, Biden said in his remarks at Fridays ceremony, with Davis seated to his right. While the conflict was officially declared over on July 4, 1902,[19][20][21] American troops continued hostilities against remnants of the Philippine Army and other insurgent groups until 1913, and some historians consider these unofficial mop-up operations part of the war. And we have five here. For information on Medal of Honor recipients visit the Congressional Medal of Honor Society; or for specific issues email the . Civil War raged across the land from April 12, 1861 to May 9, 1865. Additionally, you can jump to the letter of the alphabet that their last name starts with . In light of the observance, here are some facts you might not know about the decoration: According to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, there have been 3,511 brave individuals who have received the Medal of Honor since the decoration's inception in 1861. All Rights Reserved. [17], The PhilippineAmerican War[n 1] was an armed military conflict between the United States and Filipino nationalists who established the First Philippine Republic, fought between 1899 and at least 1902, which arose from a Filipino political struggle against U.S. occupation of the Philippines. Additional Documents File size 27 KB MIME type There have been 19 double Medal of Honor recipients. [49], Since the end of the Vietnam War, also known as the Vietnam Conflict and Second Indochina War,[51][52] the United States was involved in a number of smaller conflicts during the end of the Cold War, including in Grenada, Panama, and elsewhere. The other process is through nomination by a member of Congress, usually at the request of a constituent and approved by a special act of Congress. The Medal of Honor was established during this conflict; 1523 were awarded (33 posthumously) for acts of bravery and gallantry in combat. You could smell the sweetness of blood.. [60] On June 19, 2014, Kyle Carpenter received the Medal of Honor in a ceremony at the White House. Sergeant First Class Thomas Payne is the most recent recipient and the first American to receive the medal in the fight against ISIS. Carlos Bongioanni/Stars and Stripes). The Korean War was ignited by the 1950 invasion of South Korea when the North Korean Army moved south on June 25, 1950 to seize the rest of the Korean peninsula, which had been formally divided since 1948. Paris Davis in Vietnam, 1965. WASHINGTON (AP) Nearly 60 years after he was first recommended for the nations highest award for bravery during the Vietnam War, retired Col. Paris Davis, one of the first Black officers to lead a Special Forces team in combat, will receive the prestigious Medal of Honor on Friday.