Military Review English Edition May-June 2014 | Page 98

Valor 24

MEDAL oF HONOR
WORLD WAR II KOREAN WAR
VIETNAM WAR

T

WENTY-FOUR VETERANS from three wars were
awarded the nation’s highest military decoration, the
Medal of Honor, during a ceremony at the White House
on 18 March 2014.
Three Vietnam veterans—Master Sgt. Jose Rodela, Sgt.
1st Class Melvin Morris, and Sgt. Santiago J. Erevia—
received their awards from President Barack Obama.
Posthumous awards were presented to the families of the
other 21 recipients.
The medals were an upgrade of previously awarded
Distinguished Service Crosses for various acts of uncommon bravery during World War II, the Korean War, and
the Vietnam War. The upgrades resulted from a congressionally mandated review of awards to ensure heroism
of veterans was not overlooked due to prejudice or
Class
Sgt. Jose Rodela, and
Santiago J.
discrimination. The recipients were of Hispanic, Jewish, Sgt. 1ststand in Melvin Morris, MasterWhite House, Washington,Sgt. March 2014,
Erevia,
the East Room of the
18
and African-American descent.
after receiving the Medal of Honor for their heroic deeds during the Vietnam War.
President Obama said during his remarks, “For their
gallantry under fire each of these soldiers was long ago recognized with the Army’s second-highest award—the Distinguished Service Cross. But ask their fellow veterans, ask their families, and they’ll tell you that their extraordinary deeds
merited the highest recognition. And today, we have the chance to set the record straight.”
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel inducted the soldiers into the Pentagon Hall of Heroes the next day. Secretary Hagel
said the 24 soldiers’ “acts of gallantry in battle merit our highest recognition.”

WORLD WAR II

Pvt. Pedro Cano

Pvt. Joe Gandara

Staff Sgt. Salvador J. Lara

Staff Sgt. William F. Leonard

Master Sgt. Manuel V. Mendoza