{"id":2615909,"date":"2026-06-18T22:46:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T02:46:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-awards-medal-of-honor-to-vietnam-and-afghanistan-war-veterans\/"},"modified":"2026-06-18T22:47:35","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T02:47:35","slug":"trump-awards-medal-of-honor-to-vietnam-and-afghanistan-war-veterans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-awards-medal-of-honor-to-vietnam-and-afghanistan-war-veterans\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump awards Medal of Honor to Vietnam and Afghanistan war veterans"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrump-awards-medal-of-honor-to-vietnam-and-afghanistan-war-veterans%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2615909&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>President Donald Trump honored three U.S. military veterans with the Medal of Honor, the country&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/medal-of-honor-recipient-reenlists-in-marine-corps-15-years-after-leaving-the-service\/\" title=\"... of ... Recipient Reenlists in Marine Corps 15 Years After Leaving the ...\">highest military decoration<\/a> for bravery, during a ceremony at the White House. The recipients included Marine Corps Maj. James Capers Jr. and Marine Corps Col. John Ripley, who served in Vietnam, and Army Maj. Nicholas Dockery, who fought in Afghanistan. <\/p>\n<p>Capers was recognized for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/man-against-machine-stories-from-ukraines-donbas-front-line\/\" title=\"Man against machine: Stories from Ukraine&#039;s Donbas front line\">rescuing wounded soldiers<\/a> in 1967 during a reconnaissance mission in Vietnam, demonstrating remarkable bravery despite injuries. Ripley was awarded posthumously for his heroic efforts in 1972,when he single-handedly destroyed a crucial bridge to halt North Vietnamese forces,climbing steel beams and detonating explosives after five hours. Dockery was honored for rescuing wounded soldiers in 2012 under Taliban attack, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >coordinating rescue operations<\/a> and signaling enemy positions to U.S. gunships.<\/p>\n<p>Trump praised the men as &#8220;great people&#8221; and expressed gratitude for their service, emphasizing that the nation will never forget their sacrifices. during the event, he also joked about wanting a Medal of Honor for himself, joking that he would have given it to himself if he could. The ceremony highlighted the valor and heroism of these service members in their respective conflicts.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> on Thursday awarded the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/medal-of-honor\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4140\">Medal of Honor<\/a> to three U.S. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/military\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"266\">military<\/a> veterans who served in Vietnam and Afghanistan.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The highest military decoration for acts of valor was given to Marine Corps Maj. James Capers Jr. and Marine Corps Col. John Ripley, both of whom fought in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/vietnam\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2133\">Vietnam<\/a>, and Army Maj. Nicholas Dockery, who fought in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/afghanistan\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"337\">Afghanistan<\/a>.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4615669\/rutte-nato-ukraine-window-of-opportunity\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Rutte urges NATO countries to take advantage of Ukrainian \u2018window of opportunity\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4615543\/watch-live-trump-medal-of-honor-ceremony\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>WATCH LIVE: Trump participates in Medal of Honor award ceremony<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4613860\/hegseth-us-military-restart-operations-iran-if-needed\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Hegseth says military in position to restart operations against Iran \u2018if we need to\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThese are great men, great people,\u201d Trump said at the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/white-house\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"8767\">White House<\/a> ceremony. \u201cWe thank you and we will never, ever forget you.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Capers helped rescue wounded men in 1967 after they were ambushed by Vietnamese fighters during a reconnaissance mission that went wrong. At one point, he sustained serious injuries, including a broken leg, but he pushed through the pain.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAfter a shot of morphine, Jim asserted command of the firefight,\u201d Trump said in recounting the mission. \u201cHe took over like nobody\u2019s ever seen before.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1972, Ripley single-handedly laid and detonated 500 pounds of explosives to destroy a key bridge that North Vietnamese forces would have crossed. The ordeal lasted five hours, with Ripley climbing the bridge\u2019s steel beams himself. He prayed and then detonated the bridge, halting the enemy\u2019s advance.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cJohn completed not one, not two, but five such trips,\u201d Trump said, calling him a \u201cvery strong guy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ripley\u2019s award was awarded posthumously; he died in 2008. His family attended the ceremony in his place.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dockery rescued wounded soldiers in 2012 when his platoon was surrounded by the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/taliban\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"605\">Taliban<\/a>. He also coordinated the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/search-and-rescue-teams-at-site-of-indonesian-plane-crash\/\" title=\"Search and rescue teams at site of Indonesian plane crash\">rescue operation<\/a> while calling in mortar support and using smoke grenades to signal enemy positions for U.S. gunships. Dockery left the area once all of his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tamar-jacoby-how-ukrainians-are-learning-to-live-with-the-war-sirens\/\" title=\"Tamar Jacoby: How Ukrainians Are Learning to Live With the War Sirens\">wounded comrades<\/a> were taken to safety.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou were the last man to depart the battlefield that day,\u201d Trump told him, \u201cand you left it a legend and a hero.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4615884\/trump-no-limits-power-iran-war\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4615884\/trump-no-limits-power-iran-war\/\">TRUMP SAYS HIS POWER IS UNLIMITED AFTER IRAN WAR: \u2018THERE ARE NO LIMITS\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the ceremony, the president joked he once wanted a Medal of Honor of his own, even though he never served in the military.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI wanted to give it to myself, but I was informed I couldn\u2019t do it,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd I couldn\u2019t find anything where I was actually worthy, so here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump awards Medal of Honor to three Vietnam and Afghanistan veterans<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2615910,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26169768949837-e1781834445442.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[81421,33783,3634,81420],"class_list":["post-2615909","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-afghanistan-war","tag-medal-of-honor","tag-trump","tag-vietnam-war"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26169768949837-e1781834445442.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2615909","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2615909"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2615909\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2615913,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2615909\/revisions\/2615913"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2615910"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2615909"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2615909"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2615909"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}