Major Capers: "When your men are in peril and you have an opportunity to save your men, I chose to get off the helicopter to lighten the load." Living legend. [Medal of Honor, 2 min video]

1 posted on 06/19/2026 1:18:14 PM PDT by ransomnote

If we are going to commemorate Juneteenth, it should be for men like this who are a credit to the American race.

2 posted on 06/19/2026 1:24:20 PM PDT by chajin ("There is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12)

3 posted on 06/19/2026 1:31:34 PM PDT by generally ( Don't be stupid. We have politicians for that.)

“If we are going to commemorate Juneteenth, it should be for men like this who are a credit to the American race.”

Not a bad idea.

4 posted on 06/19/2026 1:35:42 PM PDT by reasonisfaith (What are the personal implications if the Resurrection of Christ is a true event in history?)

Video Transcript:

I wonder if he’s thinking about his friends, the men that didn’t come home.

Yeah. Yeah, you always think about that. You never turn that loose.

You know, I lost a lot of good men in battlefields and I fought two wars and suffered 19 bullet holes.

And along the way, out of the battle zones, my son died in my arms of appendicitis.

And my wife of 50 years died of cancer. So I had to survive that on type of losing wonderful Marines, special operation Marines and combat.

So there’s no real satisfaction in getting a medal when I’ve lost so much.
Wow. Wow. What did the military, how did the military help you get through so much tragedy?

Well, that’s what the military does. We’re one unit. When one falls, somebody else has to replace that one, that person who fell.

So I feel honored to have the support that I find today.

I’m honored and I give gratitude to the ones who made this happen. I can’t say I’m happy to be here because this award belongs to a lot of young men who followed me and died in battlefields around this world for a country that that we honor this flag.

So I appreciate that. Well, Major Capers, I was reading about your story and you led your team in Vietnam with broken legs.

You had lost a lot of blood. You had lost a lot of blood. You were trying to get your men out with the helicopter and you even offered you volunteered.

I’ll get off this helicopter. If the helicopter is too heavy, I’ll stay behind.

Yeah. That’s what you’re supposed to do. When your man is in peril and you have an opportunity to save your men, then that’s what I chose to do to get off the helicopter, the light and the load so that my men can survive.

I had a war dog named King and we even brought a war dog. He was killed saving my life. And we brought him home. We didn’t leave him there. Even though the helicopter was overloaded, we took that chance. We had to do that. We didn’t never leave anyone behind.

Even the service dog that saved your life.

5 posted on 06/19/2026 1:50:13 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Israel first!)

I will give odds this “been there and done that” Marine officer supports Pete Hegseth.

6 posted on 06/19/2026 1:54:41 PM PDT by frog in a pot (Are they already inside the wire? See open borders and not paying TSA payroll during war.)

To: E. Pluribus Unum

I can’t say I’m happy to be here because this award belongs to a lot of young men who followed me and died in battlefields around this world for a country that that we honor this flag.

And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.

7 posted on 06/19/2026 2:10:36 PM PDT by chajin ("There is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12)

Heroes always deny they are heroes and downplay their heroism.

This is a man’s man and a remarkable courageous patriot. Why did it take so long to get him the Medal of Honor?

8 posted on 06/20/2026 1:59:23 AM PDT by Freedom_Is_Not_Free (America -- July 4, 1776 to November 3, 2020 -- R.I.P.)

To: Freedom_Is_Not_Free

GROK:

Major James Capers Jr. Receives Medal of Honor at Age 88
Major James Capers Jr. (USMC, Ret.), now 88 years old, received the Medal of Honor from President Trump on June 18, 2026.
The award recognizes his extraordinary heroism as a second lieutenant leading a Force Reconnaissance patrol near Phu Loc, Vietnam, from March 31–April 3, 1967.
The Action
During a multi-day reconnaissance mission, Capers’ small team faced repeated ambushes by superior enemy forces. Despite being severely wounded — including by a claymore mine, gunshot wounds, a broken leg, and heavy bleeding (he was wounded 19 times across his career) — he continued to lead his men. He directed airstrikes and fire support, refused evacuation until all his men were safe, and was the last to board the medevac helicopter.
Why Did It Take So Long?
Capers was originally recommended for the Medal of Honor shortly after the action but received the Silver Star instead. The upgrade faced decades of administrative and procedural obstacles, including the statutory time limit that normally requires awards within 3–5 years (unless waived by Congress).
Bureaucratic hurdles in the military awards process
Loss of a key advocate (a two-star general who supported the Medal of Honor reportedly died in a helicopter crash)
Challenges common to many Vietnam-era recommendations, especially for pioneering Black Marine officers like Capers — the first Black Marine in Force Recon with a battlefield commission
In 2026, bipartisan legislation (H.R. 3377) was passed by Congress and signed into law, explicitly waiving the time limit and authorizing the award nearly 59 years later.
“There’s no real satisfaction in getting a medal when I’ve lost so much.”
— Major James Capers Jr., dedicating the award to his fallen comrades while expressing gratitude and love for his country.
This recognition honors a trailblazing warrior who embodied selfless leadership throughout his distinguished career.

9 posted on 06/20/2026 9:20:38 AM PDT by ransomnote (IN GOD WE TRUST)

Thanks for the update.

10 posted on 06/20/2026 11:14:43 AM PDT by Freedom_Is_Not_Free (America -- July 4, 1776 to November 3, 2020 -- R.I.P.)

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