Retired Marine Maj. James Capers and late Marine Col. John Ripley were awarded for their heroism in the Vietnam War.
Capers, who was the first Black enlisted Marine to receive a battlefield commission, had to wait the longest for his medal out of the three veterans. That ended on Thursday when the president clasped the pale blue ribbon around his neck at the White House for his efforts during a four-day reconnaissance mission in 1967 in Vietnam.
Ripley, who died in 2008, was recognized for his action in 1972 for maneuvering under a bridge in Dong Ha while coming under enemy fire. He detonated the charges, blowing up the bridge and was credited for delaying the North Vietnamese military's advance. His son received a cased medal from Trump.
"A 250-year tradition of the bravest and greatest heroes ever to walk the earth, but only a few have received our highest military distinction, the Congressional Medal of Honor," Trump said at the White House. "I wanted to give it to myself, but I was informed I couldn't do it, and I couldn't find anything where I was actually worthy. So here we are."
Typically, to be considered for the Medal of Honor, recommendations have to be made within three years of combat. For those whose recommendations came later, they have to be greenlighted by legislation in Congress, which was signed earlier this year.
"Maybe this is better. You had to wait a little while, didn't you? Huh. Jim, the nation kept you waiting far too long. So I say to you, congratulations, you made it," the president said.
