a war in Iran<\/a>, his immigration crackdown, expansion of the White House and curtains that he chose at the executive mansion during his first presidency. On Iran, the president defended the preemptive action as necessary to block Tehran from rebuilding its nuclear program and becoming \u201can intolerable threat to the Middle East but also to the American people.\u201d <\/p>\nThe Medal of Honor is awarded by U.S. presidents, in the name of Congress, for combat service that goes beyond the call of duty and risks one’s life.<\/p>\n
On Sept. 14, 1968, Richardson was a staff sergeant on a reconnaissance mission as a platoon leader in the vicinity of Loc Ninh, part of the Republic of Vietnam.<\/p>\n
According to his citation, Richardson, a native of Cass City, Michigan, came under fire from the North Vietnamese Army, including heavy machine gun fire as he rescued three wounded soldiers. After the rescues, he led his unit to its intended destination, a hilltop identified as a place to direct airstrikes. He found the location to be part of an enemy camp but remained for at least seven hours, directing strikes even after being wounded by a sniper.<\/p>\n
Enemy forces eventually fled. Richardson, when found by other U.S. forces, declined medical evaluation so he could remain with his troops. <\/p>\n
\u201cHis gallant and selfless actions … spared the lives of 85 fellow soldiers,\u201d the White House said. <\/p>\n
Trump praised Richardson, who attended with some members of his unit, as a \u201cbrave man\u201d and described him as \u201ccentral casting.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cYou feel like fighting? I think we could take him today,\u201d Trump said, joking with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. <\/p>\n
As a staff sergeant at Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Ollis was a skilled infantryman who led soldiers during an attack on the base by enemy combatants on Aug. 28, 2013. <\/p>\n
Ollis, 24 at the time, first directed soldiers to a bunker before returning to the building where they had been to check for any more endangered people, according to his citation. The Staten Island, New York, native came upon a Coalition Forces officer Lt. Karol Cierpica of Poland. They moved toward combatants who breached the base perimeter and joined other coalition forces. <\/p>\n
During fighting, one enemy combatant confronted Ollis and Cierpica.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith complete disregard for his own safety, he positioned himself between the insurgent and the Coalition Forces Officer, who had been wounded and unable to walk,\u201d his commendation reads. \u201cStaff Sergeant Ollis fired on the insurgent and incapacitated him, but as he approached the insurgent, the latter\u2019s suicide vest was denotated, mortally wounding him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Called to the podium by Trump, Cierpica at times grew emotional as he paid tribute. <\/p>\n
\u201cA soldier is not something you are from time to time. It is who you are forever,\u201d Cierpica said, later adding, \u201cI am deeply moved, happy and grateful to God.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cierpica named his son, Michael, after Ollis, and he addressed members of Ollis’ family by name, calling them \u201cmy second family from Staten Island\u201d and the U.S. his \u201csecond homeland.\u201d <\/p>\n
A master sergeant, Edmonds was the ranking non-commissioned officer among American prisoners of war at a German camp in early 1945. <\/p>\n
According to the commendation, the Germans announced on Jan. 26, 1945, that \u201conly Jewish-American prisoners would fall out for roll call the following morning, at the threat of execution.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edmonds, who enlisted from South Knoxville, Tennessee, determined that allowing that segregation would result in the torture or death of 200 Jewish American POWs. He directed officers to have all 1,200 American troops present themselves for roll call.<\/p>\n
With a German commandant enraged, Edmonds stood his ground and invoked prisoners’ rights under international law.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are all Jews here,\u201d Edmonds said in a quote that Trump recounted Monday. <\/p>\n
The German officer relented and made no further efforts to identify the Jewish American soldiers. <\/p>\n
\u201cReally amazing, right? It’s an amazing story,\u201d Trump said. <\/p>\n
Weeks later, as Allied forces advanced toward the camp, the Germans ordered POWs to prepare for evacuation. Edmonds prepared the POWs to assemble in formation and resist. German forces eventually retreated from the camp. <\/p>\n
\u201cWithout regard for his own life Master Sergeant Edmonds gallantly led these prisoners in a relentless pursuit of opposition and resistance, forcing the Germans to abandon the camp leaving the 1,200 American prisoners behind,\u201d the White House said. <\/p>\n
Edmonds’ son, Chris, first learned of the story when reading his father’s journals after his death, then interviewing surviving veterans who also were POWs. Chris Edmonds spent years pushing for the official recognition and on Monday accepted the medal from Trump on his father’s behalf. <\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
Barrow reported from Atlanta.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
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