“It’s simply astounding whenever you hear what every of them have executed,” the president marveled throughout a White Home ceremony. “They went far above and past the decision of responsibility. It’s a phrase at all times used, nevertheless it takes on life whenever you see these males.”
The recipients embody Spec. 5 Dwight Birdwell, who led an armored unit by a bloody ambush in 1968; Maj. John J. Duffy, a Special Forces officer who fought off an assault in 1972; Spec. 5 Dennis M. Fujii, who, having survived a helicopter crash, directed airstrikes on advancing forces whereas beneath fireplace in Laos in 1971; and Workers Sgt. Edward N. Kaneshiro, who cleared a trench of enemy fighters utilizing grenades and a rifle in 1967 and died a number of months later in one other battle.
Biden stated that the awards have been attainable partly due to a congressionally mandated evaluation of actions of Native Individuals, Asian Individuals and Pacific Islanders throughout the Korean and Vietnam wars. An identical evaluation of underrecognized valor circumstances throughout World Warfare II resulted in 22 Medal of Honor commendations, together with one for the late senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), Biden stated.
Birdwell, Duffy and Fujii stood at consideration as Biden draped the award round their necks within the East Room of the White Home. Kaneshiro’s award was accepted posthumously by his son, John.
“It has been an extended journey to this present day for these heroes and their households, and greater than 50 years have handed — 50 years — because the jungles of Vietnam, the place as younger males these troopers first proved their mettle,” Biden stated. “Time has not diminished their astonishing bravery, their selflessness in placing the lives of others forward of their very own, and the gratitude that we as a nation owe them.”
Birdwell, of Oklahoma, had beforehand been acknowledged with the Silver Star, the army’s third-highest award for valor in fight, for his actions. However years later, his former commanding officer, retired Gen. Glen Otis, and different veterans of the battle pressed for extra, Biden recalled.
Birdwell took motion as North Vietnamese forces launched the opening assault of what would come to be often known as the Tet Offensive, marked by coordinated assaults throughout Vietnam on U.S. troops, South Vietnamese troopers and their allies. Birdwell’s unit was known as on to repel an assault on a significant army set up, Tan Son Nhut Air Base, and was ambushed on the way in which.
Biden recalled how Birdwell’s unit took the brunt of assault, and that Birdwell took cost after his tank commander was gravely wounded, laying down suppressive fireplace as North Vietnamese troopers shot at him.
“He used the tank’s cannon, he used the tank’s machine gun, he used his private rifle,” Biden stated. “He sustained fireplace, drove again the attackers, and created a spot of relative security for injured males behind the tank to take cowl.”
Birdwell was hit by shrapnel however stored preventing. Finally, he was ordered to board a helicopter to evacuate, however he crawled out the alternative facet of the plane and went again to preventing.
“That’s what you name taking orders and inflicting bother,” Biden stated. “God love you.”
Birdwell went on to a profession in legislation and to serve on the Cherokee Nation’s supreme court docket, Biden stated.
Duffy earned his award throughout the Battle of Hearth Assist Charlie, when he was the one American serving on a base with South Vietnamese troopers. He had been wounded twice in earlier battles however refused to be evacuated, Biden stated.
Working with the decision signal “Dusty Cyanide,” Duffy coordinated airstrikes beneath fireplace for hours on April 14, 1972, as enemy forces threatened to overrun their base. At one level, Biden recalled, he known as in a strike “excessive hazard shut” on his personal place to drive again advancing forces.
Duffy stayed with wounded troopers on the bottom till the next day, rallying them to maneuver as they have been pursued by Viet Cong fighters. Duffy was the final to board the helicopter and caught a Vietnamese ally who was falling out of the plane after being shot, Biden stated.
Duffy retired from the Army in 1977 and was later nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for poetry — the “definition of a warrior poet,” Biden stated.
Fujii obtained the award for his actions on Feb. 18, 1971, throughout a rescue operation in Laos that spiraled uncontrolled after his helicopter got here beneath fireplace and crashed. A second helicopter landed a couple of minutes later and recovered a number of different troopers, however Fujii waved it off, fearing that it was too harmful to maintain the plane on-site.
Biden recalled that Fujii stayed behind and handled wounded Vietnamese allies within the discipline. The next evening, they got here beneath a renewed assault, and Fujii braved enemy fireplace repeatedly to coordinate airstrikes for the following 17 hours.
“At this time, Specialist 5 Fujii, we keep in mind and we have a good time simply how many individuals you helped,” Biden stated.
The fourth Medal of Honor acknowledged Kaneshiro, who was raised in Hawaii by dad and mom who have been Japanese immigrants, Biden stated.
On Dec. 1, 1966, his infantry squad was ambushed by North Vietnamese troops who have been hid in a village and guarded by fortified bunkers, underground tunnels and a big trench. Different U.S. troopers have been killed, and Kaneshiro assaulted the ditch whereas carrying his M16 rifle and 6 grenades, Biden stated.
“Laying flat within the floor, Workers Sergeant Kaneshiro hurled his first grenade,” Biden stated. “It sailed immediately by the aperture of the bunker, taking out the machine-gunner within the first throw.”
Kaneshiro moved alongside the ditch for 35 meters, killing different enemy troopers as he went and stopping what may have been “a catastrophe for the entire platoon,” Biden recalled. He was killed in motion on March 6, 1967, about three months later.
“I hope at the moment you’re taking some pleasure and luxury in realizing his valor is lastly receiving the complete recognition it has at all times deserved,” Biden advised the Kaneshiro household.
