Nearly six decades after leading his Marines through a brutal ambush in Vietnam, retired Marine Corps Major James Capers Jr.was awarded the Medal of Honor Thursday by President Donald Trump.The 88-year-old, who is widely recognized as the "father of Marine Corps Special Operations," dedicated the medal to the young men who made the ultimate sacrifice for the United States."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 we honor this flag," Capers said Friday on "Fox & Friends."TRUMP SIGNS MEDAL OF HONOR ACT TO RAISE PENSIONS FOR AMERICA'S MILITARY HEROESPresident Donald Trump awarded the Medal of Honor to retired Marine Maj.
James Capers Jr.during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on June 18, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
Trump presented the nation’s highest military decoration to two recipients, including one posthumous honoree.(Tom Brenner/Bloomberg via Getty Images)The ceremony conferred the nation’s highest military award upon three veterans — two from the Vietnam War and one from the Afghanistan War.
Trump honored retired Army Maj.Nicholas Dockery and presented the award posthumously to Marine Col.
John W.Ripley, who died in 2008.Capers served in the Vietnam War, where he heroically saved his fellow Marines in combat.
In 1967, his unit was ambushed in the jungle.Several service members were gravely injured that day, including Capers himself.Even after suffering a stomach wound, a broken leg and heavy bleeding, he refused to quit.
Capers continued leading his men, holding off the enemy until a medevac helicopter could reach them.He explained that what drove him through those difficult moments was his fellow Marines.ROB RIGGLE EXPRESSES 'DEEP PATRIOTISM,' LOVE FOR THE COUNTRY WHILE DISCUSSING TIME IN MARINE CORPSPresident Donald Trump presented the Medal of Honor, awarded posthumously to Marine Col.
John W.Ripley, to his son...