Posted on 07/31/2017 2:40:47 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
An Army medic who "ran into danger" to save wounded soldiers during a Vietnam War battle despite his own serious wounds on Monday became the first Medal of Honor recipient under President Donald Trump, 48 years after the selfless acts of bravery for which James McCloughan is now nationally recognized.
McCloughan mouthed "thank you" as Trump placed the distinctive blue ribbon holding the medal around the neck of the former Army private first class. As the president and commander in chief shook McCloughan's hand, Trump said "very proud of you" and then pulled the former soldier into an embrace.
"I know I speak for every person here when I say we are in awe of your bravery and your actions," Trump said after describing McCloughan's actions for a rapt audience including numerous senior White House and administration officials.....
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
VFW Magazine has and interesting story on “Medics in Vietnam.”
I always wonder about these decorations that they decide to award decades later.
We were called out for an awards ceremony at Benning in ‘69 for a DSC awarded for action 25 years earlier.
I wonder what changes/happens in the interim?
what an honor to have President trump place the Medal of Honor around the neck of a brave American hero...
it must have been awful to have the America hating Obama do the same to the others in the past...
There is a whole shop in the pentagon dedicated to old uniforms and insignia.
I’ve never seen a President who seems to have such a deep, profound and meaningful bond with our Vets.
Perhaps the last 4 traitors in the WH has lowered my expectations , but Trump truly loves our greatest people
This is a different guguyy, but it may help explain it:
By DAVE PHILIPPS
JULY 30, 2016
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Unofficially, in the jungles of Laos in 1970, hundreds of North Vietnamese troops closed in on a small team of United States Army commandos. Unofficially, as men were shot down, a medic sprinted through a hail of bullets to help, hefting a man over his shoulder as he fired back with one hand. Unofficially, even when bloodied by a rocket, the medic kept going, not sleeping for days as he cared for 51 wounded soldiers.
Officially, though, American troops were not in Laos. So officially, nothing happened.
“President Donald Trump will be putting that on me for the first time in his experience of doing such a thing,” McCloughan said. “That’s pretty special.”
Very special. This story brought tears to my eyes.
I’ve known some medics who were in Vietnam. Very special men those guys.
The President spent over five minutes detailing the actions the medic took over two days while he was severely wounded himself. Eight to nine of the men he saved were in the audience and stood to be recognized. Also in the audience were other MOH receipents and his family. After the army he spent 38 years as a school coach for a variety of sports. He stood at attention during the President’s remarks and the reading of his citation. However you could see his eyes were moist and after receiving his award he pointed to members of family and friends with his hand over heart and saluted others. It was a very moving ceremony.
2d ID Vet, Thank you for posting this story. As for the Spec 5 rank, there are several companies that produce historic unit patches and insignia of rank, primarily for the re-enactor market, but they are available.
Vietnam Medic receives MOH Ping
Medics, corpsmen, battlefield doctors - bless them all!
My next door neighbor told me that his cousin got a star in a big celebration.
A star?
Yes, a star that’s silver.
Whoa, nellie!
He was a corpsman in Afghanistan who risked his hide to help others.
Salute!
Maybe someone got real busy and sewed one up, . . .
In 24+ year Army career, I never met a medic, PA, nurse, or doc that wasn’t a nice person and who I didn’t like. Maybe I was lucky and beat the odds, but the truth is, my experience tells me that the overwhelming majority of them are solid people. (Met some that got in trouble...(smile)...but that doesn’t mean they weren’t nice people.)
Army navy surplus
What an amazing story. It’s pained me to watch these ceremonies for the past 8 yrs.
President Bush 44 has earned a mountain of criticism, but his dedication to and respect for the members of our military were superb...
*hand over heart*
My dad’s friend received a Silver Star for action in Vietnam about 30 years after he was put in for it.
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