President Obama Awards the Medal of Honor to 24 Army Veterans

March 18, 2014
06:57 PM EDT

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President Obama awarded 24 Medals of Honor during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, March 18, 2014. (WH Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

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President Obama presents the Medal of Honor to Specialist Four Santiago J. Erevia during the Medal of Honor ceremony. (WH Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

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President Obama presents the Medal of Honor to Staff Sergeant Melvin Morris during the Medal of Honor ceremony. (WH Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

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President Obama presents the Medal of Honor to Staff Sergeant Melvin Morris during the Medal of Honor ceremony. (WH Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

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President Obama presents the Medal of Honor to Sergeant First Class Jose Rodela during the Medal of Honor ceremony. (WH Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

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President Obama recognizes honorees Staff Sgt. Melvin Morris, Sgt. 1st Class Jose Rodela, and Spec. 4 Santiago J. Erevia. (WH Photo by Pete Souza)

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President Obama presents the posthumous Medal of Honor for Spec. 4 Alvarado. The award is accepted by his daughter. (WH Photo by Pete Souza)

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President Obama presents the posthumous Medal of Honor for Pvt. Cano. The award is accepted by his daughter. (WH Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

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President Obama presents the posthumous Medal of Honor for Pfc. Lara. The award is accepted by his brother. (WH Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

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President Obama presents the posthumous Medal of Honor for Master Sergeant Negron. The award is accepted by his daughter. (WH Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

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President Obama presents the posthumous Medal of Honor for First Lieutenant Schwab. The award is accepted by his son. (WH Photo by Pete Souza)

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President Obama presents the posthumous Medal of Honor for Sgt. Nietzel. The award is accepted by his cousin. (WH Photo by Pete Souza)

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President Obama presents the posthumous Medal of Honor for Pfc. Leonard. The award is accepted by his daughter. (WH Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

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President Obama presents the posthumous Medal of Honor for Staff Sgt. Mendoza. The award is accepted by his wife. (WH Photo by Pete Souza)

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President Obama presents the posthumous Medal of Honor for Sgt. Weinstein. The award is accepted by his wife. (WH Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

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President Obama presents the posthumous Medal of Honor for Pvt. Vera. The award is accepted by his nephew. (WH Photo by Pete Souza)

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President Obama presents the posthumous Medal of Honor for Sgt. Garcia. The award is accepted by CSM Michael Grinston. (WH Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

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President Obama presents the posthumous Medal of Honor for Cpl. Baldonado. The award is accepted by his brother. (WH Photo by Pete Souza)

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President Obama presents the posthumous Medal of Honor for Spec. 4 Duran. The award is accepted by his daughter. (WH Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

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President Obama presents the posthumous Medal of Honor for Spec. 4 Copas. The award is accepted by his daughter. (WH Photo by Pete Souza)

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President Obama presents the posthumous Medal of Honor for Pvt. Gandara. The award is accepted by his niece. (WH Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

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President Obama presents the posthumous Medal of Honor for Staff Sgt. Conde-Falcon. The award is accepted by his son. (WH Photo by Pete Souza)

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President Obama presents the posthumous Medal of Honor for Cpl. Espinoza. The award is accepted by his son. (WH Photo by Pete Souza)

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President Obama presents the posthumous Medal of Honor for Sgt. Gomez. The award is accepted by his nephew. (WH Photo by Pete Souza)

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President Obama presents the posthumous Medal of Honor for Pvt. Rivera. The award is accepted by his granddaughter. (WH Photo by Pete Souza)

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President Obama presents the posthumous Medal of Honor for Master Sergeant Pena. The award is accepted by his son. (WH Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

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President Obama presents the posthumous Medal of Honor for Pfc. Kravitz. The award is accepted by his niece. (WH Photo by Pete Souza)

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Tina Duran-Ruvalcaba and Lenora Alvarado embrace. Each accepted the Medal of Honor awarded posthumously to their fathers. (WH Photo by Pete Souza)

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This afternoon, President Obama awarded the Medal of Honor to 24 Army veterans in recognition of their valor during major combat operations in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

Each veteran honored today had already received the Distinguished Service Cross – the nation's second-highest military award – but 19 of them were previously overlooked for the Medal of Honor due to their racial or ethnic backgrounds. Today's ceremony follows a 12-year Pentagon review, ordered by Congress, of past discrimination in the military.

"No nation is perfect," the President said at today's ceremony. "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."

At the ceremony, the President awarded the Medal of Honor to three living veterans, and 21 other veterans received the honor posthumously. Read more details on today's recipients here.

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Sgt. 1st Class Rodela received the Medal for actions with Detachment B-36, Company A, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, 9/1/69.

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Staff Sgt. Morris received the Medal for actions with Company D, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, Sept. 17, 1969.

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Spec. 4 Erevia received the Medal for actions with Company C, 1st Battalion (Airmobile), 501st Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile).

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Spec. 4 Alvarado received the Medal for actions with Company D, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), Aug. 12, 1969.

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Staff Sgt. Conde-Falcon received the Medal for actions with Company D, 1st Battalion, 505th Infantry Regiment, 3d Brigade, 82d Airborne Div., 4/4/69.

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Spec. 4 Duran received the Medal for actions with Company E, 2d Battalion, 5th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), April 10, 1969.

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Sgt. Garcia received the Medal for actions with Company B, 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry, 1st Brigade,1st Infantry Division, Dec. 8, 1968.

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Cpl. Baldonado received the Medal for actions with 3rd Squad, 2nd Platoon, Company B, 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment, Nov. 25, 1950.

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Cpl. Espinoza received the Medal for actions with Company A, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, Aug. 1, 1952.

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Sgt. Gomez received the Medal for actions with Company I, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Sept. 3, 1950.

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Pfc. Kravitz received the Medal for actions with Company M, 5th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, March 6 and 7, 1951.

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Master Sgt. Negron received the Medal for actions with Company L, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, April 28, 1951.

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Master Sgt. Pena received the Medal for actions with Company F, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Sept. 4, 1950.

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Pvt. Vera received the Medal for actions with Company F, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division in Chorwon, Korea, Sept. 21, 1952.

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Sgt. Weinstein received the Medal for actions with 1st Platoon, Company G, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, Oct. 19, 1951.

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Pvt. Cano received the Medal for actions with Company C, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, Dec. 3, 1944.

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Pvt. Gandara received the Medal for actions with Company D, 2nd Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division, June 9, 1944.

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Sgt. Leonard received the Medal for actions with Company C, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, Nov. 7, 1944.

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Staff Sgt. Mendoza received the Medal for actions with Company B, 350th Infantry, 88th Infantry Division, Oct. 4, 1944.

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1st Lt. Schwab received the Medal for actions with Company E, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, Sept. 17, 1944.

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Living veterans honored at today's ceremony:

Specialist Four Santiago J. Erevia
Staff Sergeant Melvin Morris
Sergeant First Class Jose Rodela

Veterans honored posthumously at today's ceremony:

World War II veterans
- Private Pedro Cano
- Private Joe Gandara
- Private First Class Salvador J. Lara
- Sergeant William F. Leonard
- Staff Sergeant Manuel V. Mendoza
- Sergeant Alfred B. Nietzel
- First Lieutenant Donald K. Schwab
Korean War veterans
- Corporal Joe R. Baldonado
- Corporal Victor H. Espinoza
- Sergeant Eduardo C. Gomez
- Private First Class Leonard M. Kravitz
- Master Sergeant Juan E. Negron
- Master Sergeant Mike C. Pena
- Private Demensio Rivera
- Private Miguel A. Vera
- Sergeant Jack Weinstein
Vietnam War veterans
- Sergeant Candelario Garcia
- Specialist Four Leonard L. Alvarado
- Staff Sergeant Felix M. Conde-Falcon
- Specialist Four Ardie R. Copas
- Specialist Four Jesus S. Duran