how many medal of honor recipients are there how many medal of honor recipients are there

Start Your Search; News; About; Home; Awards; SILVER STAR; SILVER STAR RECIPIENTS. This effort has now been realized with the March 3, 2023 presentation of the Medal of Honor to Colonel Paris Davis at the White House. Nearly 60 years after he was first recommended for the nation's highest award for bravery during the Vietnam War, retired . The medal is normally awarded by the president of the United States, but as it is presented "in the name of the United States Congress", it is sometimes . [72], Current law,10U.S.C. It heightens the thing, if youve got to wait that long Its like someone promised you an ice cream cone. Civil War raged across the land from April 12, 1861 to May 9, 1865. Corporal. The fire mission gave him an opportunity to reach one of his wounded men, though Davis had been shot at least once and been wounded by a grenade by this point. Through education, leadership, and inspiring spaces for learning and reflection, the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation preserves and expands the impact of the 3,515 award recipients and the more than 40 million Americans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces since the Civil War. February 9, 1969 - February 11, 1969. This action by the U.S. indicated high national interest. He doesnt like to be called a hero. Official U.S. Army Youtube HOME HISTORY STATISTICS RECIPIENTS RECOMMENDATION PROCESS RESOURCES Statistics These figures represent Medal of Honor recipients from each conflict and branch of. Approaching a breach in the wall which was the only entrance to the fort, Sergeant Iams unhesitatingly jumped through the breach despite constant fire from the Cacos and engaged the enemy in a desperate hand-to-hand combat until the bastion was captured and Caco resistance neutralized. In the early days of the war, United States President Harry Truman called the United Nations response a "police action". Though wounded in the hand from a grenade and in the leg from enemy fire, Davis refused to leave behind two badly injured comrades, Master Sergeant Billy Waugh and Specialist 4 Robert Brown, behind. 1861-1898 Civil War, 1861-1865 Interim period, 1866-1871 Bearss became known for leading long-range reconnaissance patrols behind enemy lines and was later wounded as a colonel in World War I. Porter was from a distinguished military family and rose to become a major general. Davis recalled he wasnt concerned about his own well-being as much as he was concerned about other U.S. troops in harms way. The Medal of Honor is awarded to any military servicemember who "distinguishes himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty," according to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. After Davis left military service as a colonel in 1985, he went on to publish a small newspaper, the Metro Herald, in his home state of Virginia, where he still lives. 1 2 3 . Davis refused to leave the battlefield until his men were safely removed. That moment lasted nearly 19 hours and stretched over two days in mid-June 1965. Arthur MacArthur served during the Civil . Maj. Matthew O. Williams; former Army Capt. Some issues in our nation rise above partisanship, Miller wrote. [16] 111 people received the Medal of Honor from the SpanishAmerican War. . As they monitored the downing of the second Blackhawk, it became evident that ground forces would not be available to secure the crash site and protect the critically injured crew of four, all of whom survived the crash. But they are also unique. He compares receiving the medal to getting a long-anticipated ice cream cone and says the wait in no way lessens the honor. Si quieres personalizar tus opciones, haz clic en Gestionar configuracin de privacidad. Stood on the gunwale on the Benicia's launch, lashed to the ridgerope and remained unflinchingly in this dangerous position and gave his soundings with coolness and accuracy under a heavy fire. Born on May 6, 1939, Paris Davis studied political science at Southern University through an ROTC scholarship before his deployment to Vietnam. The Medal of Honor was established during this conflict; 1523 were awarded (33 posthumously) for acts of bravery and gallantry in combat. Recipients CIVIL WAR (12 April 1861 - 26 May 1865) Cabell Co. native Pvt. He said it wasnt the Green Beret way. I am so very grateful for my family and friends within the military and elsewhere who kept alive the story of A-team, A-321 at Camp Bong Son. U.S. Marines invaded and took control of the country within two months; in November that same year, the U.S. imposed a military government. MacArthur Family. View a list of all the Recipients of Two Medals of Honor of the Medal of Honor at the official website of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society National Medal of Honor Day is March 25, 2023. Looking on at right is Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough. [36] The worldwide financial cost of the war is estimated at a trillion 1944 U.S. dollars,[37][38] making it the most costly war both in capital expenditures as well as loss of lives. [32], During this war, 126 men received the Medal of Honor for their actions, including five Marines who received both the Army and Navy versions of the medal for the same action. hide caption. After receiving the call from President Biden announcing the award, Colonel Davis responded in a family statement, The call today from President Biden prompted a wave of memories of the men and women I served with in Vietnam from the members of 5th Special Forces Group and other U.S. military units to the doctors and nurses who cared for our wounded. Davis repeatedly sprinted into an open rice paddy to rescue each member of his team, according to the ArmyTimes. Paris Davis is awarded a Silver Star on Dec. 15, 1965. Paris Davis poses for an official U.S. Army service photo, circa early 1960s. A total of 42 Medals of Honor, representing 9% of all awarded during World War II, were presented for action in just two battles 15 for actions during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and 27 for actions during the Battle of Iwo Jima. Davis told CBS News in 2021 that race was a factor his paperwork disappearing. He is based in Washington, D.C. 2023 Stars and Stripes. Medal of Honor recipients who attended the White House ceremony on Friday, March 3 . Among the recipients were Webb Hayes, the son of former U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes, and two prominent Marine Corps officers, Hiram I. Bearss and David Dixon Porter. During the Vietnam War and in the following twelve months, 234 Medals of Honor were received and since 1978 a further 32 awards have been presented. Smedley Butler served 34 years as a Marine, where he fought in the Phillippine-American War, the Mexican Revolution and WWI. For distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy. Of the 3,515 Medals of Honor awarded by the United States, some 2,018 have gone to Irish-Americans, according to research cited by Patrick McDermot of Irish Veterans Post 2, created in Tampa in . [10], The American Civil War (18611865) was a war between the United States (the Union) and the Southern states of the newly formed Confederate States of America under Jefferson Davis. We, the Army, you know, we havent been able to see anything that would say, Hey, this is racism.. After the Second World War both the Army and Navy produced hardbound Medal of Honor compilations. After retiring from the Army in July of 1985 Davis started a newspaper in Virginia. The Medal of Honor is awarded to any military servicemember who "distinguishes . [56] They are the only snipers to have received the Medal of Honor. [11] Most awards were granted after the end of the Civil War with two late awards to Andrew Jackson Smith and Alonzo Cushing in 2001 and 2014. Each ray of the five pointed star contains sprays of laurel and oak and is tipped with a trefoil. In June 1900, the Boxers invaded Beijing and killed 230 non-Chinese. [2] Due to the nature of this medal, it is commonly presented posthumously. The snipers, assisted by the severely injured Durant, began to engage the attacking Somalis from the opposite side of the wreckage using assault rifles stored on the Blackhawk. [40] The war is sometimes called "The Forgotten War" because it is a major conflict of the 20th century that gets less attention than World War II, which preceded it, and the controversial Vietnam War, which succeeded it. God bless you, God bless all, God bless America., Medal of Honor recipients who attended the White House ceremony on Friday, March 3, 2023, as retired Army Col. Paris Davis received the militarys highest award for his heroic combat actions in Vietnam in 1965 are, from left: former Army Master Sgt. [61] Marine Corps Corporal Dakota Meyer became the third living recipient awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Ganjgal. I believe that someone purposely lost the paperwork, Ron Deis, a junior member of Davis team in Bong Son, told the AP in a separate interview. The Congressional Medal of Honor is the highest award for a military service member. James F. Adams(1st West Virginia Cavalry) captured the State flag of the 14th Virginia Cavalry (CSA) at Ninevah, Virginia, on 12 November 1864. With many of his men dead or wounded, Davis, a young captain at the time, repeatedly beat back enemy forces using everything and anything at his disposal; mortars, machine guns, grenades, the buttstock of his rifle and even hand-to-hand combat, he recalled. Continued to lead his ship despite being severely wounded, This page was last edited on 7 February 2023, at 18:16. Deis, now 79, helped compile the recommendation that was submitted in 2016. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin smiles as retired Army Col. Paris Davis walks beside President Joe Biden upon arriving for a White House ceremony in which Biden presented Davis the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in Vietnam nearly 58 years ago. There are also many actual award presentations online. President Joe Biden fastens a Medal of Honor on Retired Army Col. Paris Davis during a ceremony at the White House on Friday March 3, 2023. [68] On December 16, 2021, Sergeant First Class Alwyn Cashe was awarded the medal, posthumously, for his heroism in the Iraq conflict. Early in the Civil War, a medal for individual valor was proposed to General-in-Chief of the Army Winfield Scott. We have linked to these under the alphabetical listings. [25], Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels ordered that 56 Medals of Honor be awarded to participants in the occupation of Veracruz, the most for any single action before or since. The only female Medal of Honor recipient is Mary Edwards Walker, a Civil War surgeon. The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States. Loading results. Leroy Petry; Army Sgt. For other medals, see, United States occupation of Veracruz, 1914, near Constancia, near Coco River, northern, The PhilippineAmerican War is usually known as the, Official military histories in Commonwealth nations refer to the conflict as the Second World War, while the United States' official histories refer to the conflict as World War II. For his unwavering courage and leadership in the face of near-certain death, Davis was awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart. One recipient, Adolphus W. Greely, received his for a lifetime of military service. Gordon, the sniper team leader, requested that they be inserted at the 2nd crash site. For taking a match-lock from the hands of the enemy while advancing to the parapet, Merton was severely wounded in the arm while trying to force his way into the fort, Fighting courageously in hand-to-hand combat, Owens was badly wounded by the enemy during this action, Braving the enemy fire, Purvis was the first to scale the walls of the fort and capture their flag, Fighting courageously at the side of Lt. McKee during this action, Rogers was wounded by the enemy, Fighting at the side of Lt. McKee, by whom he was especially commended, Troy was badly wounded by the enemy, For distinguishing himself by his conduct in the presence of the enemy. They are parents and siblings, colleagues and friends. [39] Additionally, the only Medal of Honor ever presented to a member of the United States Coast Guard (Douglas Albert Munro) was received for actions during this war.[24]. Then-Capt. There were no citations issued for the Medal of Honor during the 1991 Persian Gulf War by any service. Use the search bar to filter and sort the database by first name, last name, service branch, and conflict. from around the world. For a list of recipients born in, accredited to and Medals earned in New Jersey, click here: New Jersey (updated 25 May 2021) 1870 Orion P. Howe 1875 Frank F. Fletcher 1877 William R. Rush 1878 The first Medal of Honor was awarded to Army Pvt. Casualties mounted on both sides. "He's an incredible man.". Jos B. Nsperos, a member of the Philippine Scouts who was honored for continuing to fight after being wounded, was the first Asian recipient of the Medal of Honor. Davis had managed to save two of his men who had been wounded in a rice paddy, he recalled. Davis rallied his team to fight back getting so close to the enemy, he was battling them hand-to-hand.. Vietnam veteran and retired Army Col. Paris Davis looks out and thanks the audience as he is applauded moments after receiving the Medal of Honor from President Joe Biden during a ceremony at the White House on Friday, March 3, 2023. I have to say at the outset and I've had the great honor and we have other Medal of Honor recipients here . John Allan Chapman (July 14, 1965 March 4, 2002) was a Combat Controller in the United States Air Force who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on August 22, 2018 for his actions in the Battle of Takur Ghar. For the Medal of Honor pension, we're required by law to match the percentage of cost-of-living adjustments made to Social Security benefits. [44] The first African American recipient of the war was Milton L. Olive, III who sacrificed himself to save others by smothering a grenade with his body. "Sir, I'm just not going to leave. MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C., March 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Congressional Medal of Honor Society welcomes Medal of Honor Recipient Paris Davis as its newest member. The situation deteriorated as the morning became the afternoon. The first living recipient since the Vietnam War and the fourth Afghanistan recipient, Salvatore Giunta, received his for his actions in 2007 when he risked his life to save a wounded comrade. He eventually was awarded a Silver Star Medal, the militarys third-highest combat medal, as an interim honor, but members of Davis team have argued that his skin color was a factor in the disappearance of his Medal of Honor recommendation. Each of the countries reciprocally awarded medals to the U.S. I try not to let that weigh me down and make me lose the thrill and excitement of the moment, Hopper said. The Purple Heart Was One of the First Military Medals Given to All Ranks. Clinton awards Medal of Honor to 2 killed in Somalia, List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients, List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Indian Wars, List of Medal of Honor recipients for the SpanishAmerican War, List of PhilippineAmerican War Medal of Honor recipients, List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Boxer Rebellion, List of Medal of Honor recipients (Veracruz), United States occupation of the Mexican port of Veracruz, List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War I, assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II, List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Battle of Iwo Jima, List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Attack on Pearl Harbor, List of Korean War Medal of Honor recipients, List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War, List of post-Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipients, List of Medal of Honor recipients in non-combat incidents, United States Army Center of Military History, "Medal of Honor Medal of Honor Historical Society of the United States", "Canada honours winners of top U.S. medal", "Thousands of Canadians, including a Medal of Honor recipient, served with the U.S. military in Vietnam", "Winning the west the Army in the Indian Wars, 18651890", "Marine Amphibious Landing in Korea, 1871", "The Price of Freedom: Americans at WarSpanish American War", "The United States Armed Forces and the Mexican Punitive Expedition: Part 1", "The Treaty of Versailles and its Consequences", "The President's News Conference of June 29, 1950 - Teaching American History", "Remembering the Forgotten War: Korea, 19501953", "War to Resist US Aggression And Aid Korea Marked in DPRK", "From the Vietnam War to an Indochina War", "Rebuilding the Army Vietnam to Desert Storm", "The Coming American Retreat from Global Military Interventions", "President Obama to Award Medal of Honor", White House Office of the Press Secretary, "Army Ranger to be awarded Medal of Honor", "Soldiers' selfless acts should inspire at holidays", "Obama OKs Medal of Honor for living Marine", "Rescue Operations in the Second Gulf War", "Operations in Iraq: History of the military campaign in Iraq", "After extraordinary sacrifice - and years of delay", "Pinoy WWII vets still top Fil-Am concern", "Lieutenant William Halford, USN, (18411919)", "List of living Medal of Honor recipients", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Medal_of_Honor_recipients&oldid=1138038602, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the United States Army Center of Military History, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. Colonel Davis was one of the first Black officers in the U.S. Armys Special Forces. Recipient . [71] Three explorers were also presented with the medal by special acts of Congress. You know what it looks like, what it smells like. There have been twelve awards to the U.S. Army, three to the U.S. Navy, two to the U.S. Marine Corps and one to the U.S. Air Force. Notably, Charles Lindbergh, while a reserve member of the U.S. Army Air Corps, received his Medal of Honor as a civilian pilot. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images, U.S. Army Fort Benning and The Maneuver Center of Excellence, Woody Williams, the last surviving WWII Medal of Honor recipient dies at 98, Biden awards Medals of Honor to 3 soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Riots in Havana by pro-Spanish "Voluntarios" gave the United States reason to send in the warship USSMaine. In early 2021, Christopher Miller, then the acting defense secretary, ordered an expedited review of Davis case. When asked in 1969 about the racial aspect of military service in the 1960s, Davis recalled, In the dark, brown is just as black or white as anyone else.. Entered service at: Newark, N.J. 2. . hide caption. Birth: New York, N.Y. G.O. Medal of Honor Recipients are a part of something greater. [24] The first medal of the war was presented to Roger Donlon for rescuing and administering first aid to several wounded soldiers and leading a group against an enemy force. MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C.-The Congressional Medal of Honor Society (the Society) welcomes Medal of Honor Recipient Paris Davis as its newest member. Reinforcements eventually arrived, allowing Davis, the three Americans and the surviving South Vietnamese soldiers to escape to safety. Among other privileges, Medal of Honor recipients receive invitations to attend presidential inaugurations and accompanying festivities. In South Korea, the war is often called "625", or the 625 War (Korean: 625 ), from the date of the start of the conflict or, more formally, Hanguk Jeonjaeng literally "Korean War". It took several attempts for Davis to reach the wounded troops, constantly dodging enemy fire. ( MENAFN - PR Newswire) MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C., March 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Congressional Medal of Honor Society welcomes Medal of Honor Recipient paris davis as its . But with all the decorations and accomplishments, Davis is also known for his humility. [7], The term Indian Wars is the name generally used in the United States to describe a series of conflicts between colonial or federal governments and the American Indian population resident in North America before the arrival of settlers. One of those is the Unknown Soldier who rests in the Tomb of the Unknown at Arlington Cemetery. 235 They were discarded because he was Black, and thats the only conclusion that I can come to.. During the hours-long engagement, Davis constantly fought enemy troops while encouraging those around him. The Samoan Civil War(s) occurred in the Samoa Islands of the South Pacific in the late 19th century. [62][63] An additional eleven living recipients have been awarded the Medal of Honor since Meyer. The uprising began as a xenophobic, anti-foreign, nationalist peasant-based movement in northern China. As he ducked in and out of cover, Davis was shot in the arm and leg but his wounds didnt deter him. Once Davis managed to get the wounded men to the rescue helicopter, his colonel ordered him to get on the chopper. The highest and most prestigious military decoration Awarded by the President, in the name of Congress, the Medal of Honor commemorates those who have shaped our nation's history and continue to inspire its future with their acts of valor, humanity, patriotism, and sacrifice. 6241), beginning in 1918, explicitly states that recipients must be serving in the U.S. Armed Forces at the time of performing a valorous act that warrants the award, exceptions have been made. But by time the sun came up, they found themselves under full enemy attack and were trying to evade a constant barrage of bullets and artillery. I still have an American out there., Then-Capt. On March 3, 2023, President Joe Biden will awarded Colonel Paris Davis (retired), with the Med of Honor at the White House. This includes headstone, six military pallbearers, a bugler,. Davis said in a statement that Biden's call "prompted a wave of memories of the men and women I served with in Vietnam from the members of 5th Special Forces Group and other U.S. military units to the doctors and nurses who cared for our wounded.". | U.S. Army March to Service Campaign December 6, 2017 New Civilian Aides to the . It wasnt until 2016 half a century after Davis risked his life to save some of his men by fighting off the North Vietnamese that a volunteer group of advocates painstakingly recreated and resubmitted the paperwork. Found 3,515 result s . [12] During this conflict the Medal of Honor was presented to 426 soldiers, 13 posthumously for acts of bravery and gallantry in combat. President Joe Biden awards the Medal of Honor to Vietnam War veteran Retired Army Col. Paris Davis at a White House ceremony on Friday morning. This drew criticism from many Chinese, including Chinese Christian Sun Yat-Sen (later to help overthrow the Manchu dynasty in 1911 and become first president of the Republic of China). The complete list of Silver Star recipients in the Vietnam War, WW2, and other U.S. conflicts. [22], The Boxer Movement or Boxer Rebellion, which occurred in China from November 1899 to September 7, 1901, was an uprising by members of the Chinese Society of Right and Harmonious Fists against foreign influence in areas such as trade, politics, religion and technology that occurred in China during the final years of the Manchu rule (Qing Dynasty). I have to say at the outset -- and I've had the great honor -- and we have other Medal of Honor recipients here -- and that I've been able to give one of those medals. In addition to his two Medals of Honor, he is one of only three Marines to also receive the Marine Corps, Brevet Medal. Its just the antithesis of that, he said. The US Army also did not issue citations for the Distinguished Service Cross, its second highest award for valo. William D. Swenson; Army Master Sgt. This article is about the recipients of the U.S. medal. To date, there have been 3,473 Medals of Honor awarded. (Carlos Bongioanni/Stars and Stripes), President Joe Biden congratulates retired Army Col. Paris Davis during a ceremony at the White House on Friday, March 3, 2023, moments after Biden presented Davis the Medal of Honor for his gallantry and heroic battle actions in Vietnam in 1965. Earl D. Plumlee; and former Army Sgt. Today, there are 103 living recipients of the Medal of Honor. Assisted in capturing the Korean flag from the citadel of the fort, For hand-to-hand combat and saving the life of Alexander McKenzie, Returned to duty after being wounded several times, Carrying out his duties with coolness, Grace set forth gallant and meritorious conduct throughout this action, Serving as color bearer of the battalion, Hayden planted his flag and protected it under heavy fire, Fighting the enemy inside the fort, Lukes received a severe cut over the head. Nicaragua assumed a quasi-protectorate status under the 1916 Chamorro-Bryan Treaty. Sir, Im just not going to leave, was Davis response, Biden said. In North Korea, while commonly known as the Korean War, it is formally called the Fatherland Liberation War. (Ron Deis), Davis got back to the wounded medic, and the frightened soldier asked Davis if he was going to die. Learn about what this day means to Medal of Honor Recipients here. The isolationist nature of the Joseon Dynasty government and the assertiveness of the Americans led to an armed conflict between the two parties. Awards Conflicts. After the Mexican-American War, the award was discontinued, which meant there was no military award with which to recognize the nation's fighting men. [30] Over 60 million European soldiers were mobilized from 1914 to 1918. [n 2] This global conflict split the majority of the world's nations into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis powers. ", The president called Davis earlier this month to notify the former colonel of his award, the nation's highest military award for valor. Thank you, President Biden. [28], World War I, also known as the First World War and the Great War, was a global military conflict which took place primarily in Europe from 1914 to 1918. During this conflict 471 United States military personnel received the Medal of Honor, 273 of them posthumously. In the ensuing battle, two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters were shot down. But this, Mr. Secretary, may be the most consequential day since I've been President. And we have five here. Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets Established in 1918 as the Citation . The Medal of Honor was established by a joint resolution of Congress in July 1862, and was first issued during the Civil War. This medal reflects what teamwork, service and dedication can achieve, Davis said, wearing the Medal of Honor and a green Army service uniform covered with medals and ribbons. Davis, a native of Cleveland, retired in 1985 at the rank of colonel and now lives in Alexandria, Virginia, just outside Washington. World War II, or the Second World War, was a global military conflict. The conflicts joined from two separate conflicts. (Carlos Bongioanni/Stars and Stripes), Within minutes, the jungle lit up with enemy fire, Biden said in his remarks at Fridays ceremony, with Davis seated to his right. Floyd Bennett and Richard Evelyn Byrd received it for their participation in what was thought to be the first successful heavier-than-air flight to the North Pole and back. [48], The USS Liberty incident was an attack, reportedly due to misidentification, on a neutral United States Navy technical research ship, USS Liberty, by Israeli jet fighter planes and motor torpedo boats on June 8, 1967, during the Six-Day War. Davis daughter, Regan Davis Hopper, a mom of two teenage sons, told the AP that she only learned of her dads heroism in 2019. Waugh recovered from his wounds and continued in the U.S. Special Forces. Nosotros, Yahoo, somos parte de la familia de marcas de Yahoo. Second award previously awarded a Medal of Honor for action in the Boxer Rebellion. These three powers valued Samoa as a refueling station for coal fired shipping. The first African American recipient for this award was Robert Blake, who manned his post during a naval engagement against infantry while under heavy fire (William Harvey Carney is commonly and erroneously cited as the first African-American to receive a medal because his actions in combat did precede those of the other African-American recipients, although his physical medal was not presented until 1900). The idea of Davis getting the Medal of Honor was first mentioned by his comrades on the battlefield that day in 1965. Public domain photo via Wikipedia. The History of Medal of Honor Recipient, Michael A. Monsoor (infographic) Medal of Honor Recipients. Within a month, much of Europe was in a state of open warfare. Gordon and Shughart were part of a sniper team for Delta Force that was assigned to watch over the operation, engaging targets from their position in the Blackhawk. The stated purpose of the invasion was to capture Osama bin Laden, destroy al-Qaeda and remove the Taliban regime which had provided support and safe harbor to al-Qaeda. But the Medal of Honor that Davis received on Friday has been decades in the making. Davis was among the first Black Special Forces officers, despite efforts to dissuade his service, Biden said at the ceremony. He was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame in 2019. However, the Medal of Honor has been presented to five First World War unknown soldiers of allied countries: the British Unknown Warrior in the United Kingdom by General Pershing on October 17, 1921; the Romanian Unknown Soldier, the French Unknown Soldier (entombed under the Arc de Triomphe), the Belgian Unknown Soldier, and the Italian Unknown Soldier (entombed in the Monument of Vittorio Emanuele II).