WASHINGTON, D.C. – (January 3, 2025) – President Joe Biden awarded the Medal of Honor on January 3, 2025, to seven U.S. Army soldiers who served their country above and beyond the call of duty – five during the Korean War and two during the Vietnam War. Six of the awards were posthumous; the seventh Recipient attended the award ceremony in person. These awards bring the total number of individual Medal of Honor Recipients since the Civil War to 3,526, and the total number of living Recipients to 61.

Following the White House ceremony, the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation (NMOHMF) released the following statement from Chris Cassidy, NMOHMF President and CEO:

“The National Medal of Honor Museum joins our entire nation in celebrating the recognition of these seven extraordinary Americans. We are especially grateful to have another living Recipient who can speak first-hand to all that the Medal of Honor represents.

“Coming from different backgrounds and finding themselves in different circumstances, each of these Recipients demonstrated something shared: the values of the Medal. Decades later, their actions continue to resonate, inspiring us and future generations with their courage, selflessness and patriotism. The National Medal of Honor Museum looks forward to preserving and sharing their remarkable stories when we open our doors in March.”

Full citation and biographical information for the new Recipients can be found below.

Korean War:

• Private Bruno R. Orig (posthumous) – A soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Korean War. He previously was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
• Private First Class Wataru Nakamura (posthumous) – A soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Korean War. He previously was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
• Corporal Fred B. McGee (posthumous) – A soldier who was awarded the Silver Star for his actions in the Korean War. He passed before the award could be signed.
• Private First Class Charles R. Johnson (posthumous) – A soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Korean War. He previously was awarded the Silver Star.
• General Richard E. Cavazos (posthumous) – Though retired and later promoted to General, Cavazos served in both the Vietnam and Korean Wars. He was the first Hispanic American to reach the rank of four-star general in the U.S. Army. He was previously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for actions in the Korean War.

Vietnam War:

• Captain Hugh R. Nelson, Jr. (posthumous) – A soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War. He previously was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
• Specialist Fourth Class Kenneth J. David (living recipient) – A soldier who served and sacrificed in the Vietnam War. He previously was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

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About the Museum, Monument and Institute: The National Medal of Honor Museum, Monument and Griffin Institute will inspire individuals by honoring and preserving the history of the highest military decoration awarded for valor in combat.

The Museum, opening in 2025, will serve as a national landmark located in America’s heartland in Arlington, Texas, and provide an unrivaled, interactive visitor experience that commemorates the historical thread of sacrifice, patriotism, and courage that connects members of the United States military service past and present. It is the Museum’s mission to tell the stories of Medal of Honor recipients in a dynamic and interactive setting that will inspire visitors to recognize the potential for the extraordinary that resides in us all. 

 Through dynamic and far-reaching curriculum and programming, the National Medal of Honor Griffin Institute is bringing to life the core values inherent to the Medal of Honor in classrooms, boardrooms, and communities around the country.

 In 2021, The National Medal of Honor Monument Act was signed into law, paving the way for the monument’s placement in Washington, D.C. Soon, Americans and visitors of every nation will have the opportunity to reflect on the values represented by those whose selfless and courageous actions have served to safeguard freedom and democracy the world over.