Quote:
Seeking to correct a historic injustice, President Obama will award the nation's highest combat honor to two dozen veterans -- mostly Latino and Jewish -- who fought as far back as World War II but were denied the coveted Medal of Honor because of discrimination.Only three of the recipients are still alive.
The campaign to issue the awards began in 2002 when Congress passed the Defense Authorization Act, which prompted a review of Latino and Jewish service members who had been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's second-highest honor, but not the Medal of Honor.
After reviewing about 600 records from Dec. 1941 to Dec. 2001, the Pentagon discovered 19 Latino and Jewish service members who deserved the Medal of Honor. The review also found five additional service members who had been overlooked for the honor.
During a ceremony on March 18, the president will award the 24 medals to Army veterans of major combat missions in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Twenty-one medals will be given posthumously.
"The United States Army is proud of these soldiers and glad to see their professionalism, service and sacrifice being recognized again -- in full view of a new generation," an Army spokeswoman said in a statement.
Of the 24 awards, eight will be awarded to veterans who fought in the Vietnam War, nine to veterans from the Korean War and seven to veterans who served in World War II.
Marking an end to the 12-year review, the Medal of Honor ceremony is expected to have special meaning for a president that has put a heavy focus on discrimination in the armed services, ending a ban on openly gay and lesbian service members.
If you guys don't know, my mom works with homeless Vets, so I +1 to Obama for this :)