Medal of Honor to be awarded to 24 Army veterans in mass ceremony

President Obama will award the Medal of Honor to 24 primarily Hispanic and Jewish recipients from WWII and the Korean and Vietnam wars in an attempt to correct any previous bias.

President Obama will award the Medal of Honor to 24 Army veterans during a mass ceremony next month in an attempt to correct any prior acts of bias.

Scheduled for March 18, the event will award the MOA to primarily Jewish and Hispanic warriors from WWII and the Korean and Vietnam wars that may have been previously overlooked because of their ethnicity. The Army worked with the National Museum of American Jewish Military History, the Jewish War Veterans of the USA, and the American GI Forum to select the final 24 soldiers from a list of 600, The Blaze reports.

Of the 24 to receive the MOA, only three are still living, all of which are veterans of the Vietnam War.

– Spc. 4 Santiago J. Erevia of San Antonio, for courage during a search and clear mission near Tam Ky, South Vietnam, on May 21, 1969.

– Staff Sgt. Melvin Morris of Cocoa, Fla., for courageous actions during combat operations in the vicinity of Chi Lang, South Vietnam, on Sept 17, 1969.

– Sgt. 1st Class Jose Rodela of San Antonio for courage during combat operations in Phuoc Long province, South Vietnam, on Sept. 1, 1969

The posthumous recipients are as follows:

-Sgt. Candelario Garcia, born in Corsicana, Texas, for courageous actions during combat operations in Lai Khe, South Vietnam, on Dec. 8, 1968.

– Spc. 4 Leonard L. Alvarado, born in Bakersfield, Calif., died during combat operations in Phuoc Long province, South Vietnam, on Aug. 12, 1969.

– Staff Sgt. Felix M. Conde-Falcon, born in Juncos, Puerto Rico, killed during combat operations in Ap Tan Hoa, South Vietnam, on April 4, 1969.

– Spc. 4 Ardie R. Copas of Fort Pierce, Fla. killed during combat operations near Ph Romeas Hek, Cambodia, on May 12, 1970.

– Spc. 4 Jesus S. Duran of San Bernardino, Calif., for courageous actions during combat operations in South Vietnam on April 10, 1969.

– Cpl. Joe R. Baldonado, born in Colorado, killed during combat operations in Kangdong, Korea, on Nov. 25, 1950.

– Cpl. Victor H. Espinoza of El Paso, Texas, for courageous actions during combat operations in Chorwon, Korea, on Aug. 1, 1952.

– Sgt. Eduardo C. Gomez, born in Los Angeles, for courageous actions during combat operations in Tabu-dong, Korea, on Sept. 3, 1950.

– Pfc. Leonard M. Kravitz, born in New York City, killed during combat operations in Yangpyong, Korea, on March 6-7, 1951.

– Master Sgt. Juan E. Negron of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, for courageous actions during combat operations in Kalma-Eri, Korea, on April 28, 1951.

– Master Sgt. Mike C. Pena, born in Newgulf, Texas, killed in action during combat operations in Waegwan, Korea, on Sept. 4, 1950.

– Pvt. Demensio Rivera, born in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, for courageous actions during combat operations in Changyong-ni, Korea, on May 23, 1951.

– Pvt. Miguel A. Vera, born in Puerto Rico, killed during combat operations in Chorwon, Korea, on Sept. 21, 1952.

– Sgt. Jack Weinstein of Saint Francis, Kan. for courageous actions during combat operations in Kumsong, Korea, on Oct. 19, 1951.

– Private Pedro Cano, born in La Morita, Mexico, for courageous actions during combat operations in Schevenhutte, Germany, on Dec. 3, 1944.

– Pvt. Joe Gandara, born in Santa Monica, Calif., for courageous actions during combat operations in Amfreville, France, on June 9, 1944.

– Pfc. Salvador J. Lara, of Riverside, Calif., for courageous actions during combat operations in Aprilia, Italy, May 27-28, 1944.

– Sgt. William F. Leonard, of Lockport, N.J., for courageous actions during combat operations near St. Die, France, on Nov. 7, 1944.

– Staff Sgt. Manuel V. Mendoza, born in Miami, Ariz., for courageous actions during combat operations on Mount Battaglia, Italy, on Oct. 4, 1944.

– Sgt. Alfred B. Nietzel, born in New York City, for courageous actions during combat operations in Heistern, Germany, on Nov. 18, 1944.

[ The Blaze ]