President Donald Trump presented the Congressional Medal of Honor to three combat veterans during a ceremony at the White House on June 18, 2026 [1].
The event recognizes extreme valor in the face of combat, highlighting the U.S. government's ongoing effort to identify and honor overlooked heroism from past conflicts.
The recipients included Major James Capers Jr., Major Nicholas Dockery, and Colonel John W. Ripley [1]. The awards acknowledge acts of bravery performed during the Vietnam War and the War on Terror in Afghanistan [3].
Major James Capers Jr., who is 88 years old [4], received the honor for his service during the Vietnam War. The ceremony also included a posthumous award for Colonel John W. Ripley, who died in 2008 [5].
The White House ceremony served as the formal venue for the presentation of the medals [2]. The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the U.S. government, reserved for those who distinguish themselves through conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty.
Three veterans were honored in total during the proceedings [1]. The group represented a span of military history, connecting the jungle warfare of Vietnam to the modern conflicts in Afghanistan [3].
“President Donald Trump presented the Congressional Medal of Honor to three combat veterans”
The posthumous award to Colonel Ripley and the recognition of an 88-year-old veteran underscore a continuing military and administrative review process to correct historical omissions in valor awards. By honoring veterans from both Vietnam and Afghanistan, the administration emphasizes a continuity of military sacrifice across different eras of American foreign policy.
