President Donald Trump presents the Medal of Honor to retired Army medic James McCloughan during a ceremony at the White House Monday. McCloughan is credited with saving the lives of members of his platoon nearly 50 years ago in the Battle of Nui Yon Hill in Vietnam.
President Trump draped the military’s highest award around the Vietnam combat medic’s neck Monday in a ceremony at the White House.
“For over two centuries, our brave men and women in uniform have overcome tyranny, fascism, communism, and every single threat – they’ve overcome,” Trump said. ”And we’ve overcome these threats because of titans like Jim, whose spirit could never be conquered.”
McCloughan, 71, was joined by 10 battle buddies from C Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry, 196th Light Infantry Brigade, Americal Division, whom Trump asked to stand and be recognized with a round of applause.
The ceremony was attended by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, Sergeant Major of the Army Dan Dailey and Defense Secretary James Mattis, as well as Army Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Nadja West and the White House chief of staff, retired Marine Gen. John Kelly.