President Biden awarded the nation’s highest recognition for valor in combat, the Medal of Honor, to four Vietnam War soldiers on Tuesday, saying it was “finally” possible to “set the record straight” after decades in which their actions were not identified correctly. The men served in the military and had previously received lower-level decorations for bravery on the battlefield. But after years of discussion, senior military officials decided to upgrade each of their awards, and Biden approved. “It’s just amazing when you hear what each of them has done,” the president marveled during a White House ceremony. “They went way above and beyond the call of duty. It’s a phrase that’s used all the time, but it comes to life when you see these men.” Biden To Award Medal Of Honor To Soldiers For Valor In Vietnam War Recipients include Spec. 5 Dwight Birdwell, who led an armored unit into a bloody ambush in 1968. Major John J. Duffy, a Special Forces officer who faced an attack in 1972. Spec. 5 Dennis M. Fujii, who, surviving a helicopter crash, he directed airstrikes on advancing forces while under fire in Laos in 1971. and Staff Sgt. Edward N. Kaneshiro, who cleared a trench of enemy fighters using grenades and a rifle in 1967 and died a few months later later in another battle. Biden said the awards were possible in part because of a congressionally mandated review of the actions of Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders during the Korean and Vietnam wars. A similar review of under-recognized cases of valor during World War II resulted in 22 Medal of Honor commendations, including one for the late Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), Biden said. Birdwell, Duffy and Fujii stood in the spotlight as Biden draped the award around their necks in the East Room of the White House. Kaneshiro’s award was accepted posthumously by his son, John. “It’s been a long journey to this day for these heroes and their families, and it’s been more than 50 years – 50 years – since the jungles of Vietnam, where as young men these soldiers first proved their mettle,” he said. Biden. “Time has not diminished their amazing bravery, their selflessness in putting the lives of others before their own, and the gratitude we owe them as a nation.” Birdwell, from Oklahoma, had previously been recognized with the Silver Star, the military’s third-highest award for valor in combat, for his actions. But years later, his former commander, retired Gen. Glenn Otis, and other combat veterans pushed for more, Biden recalled. Birdwell went into action as North Vietnamese forces launched the opening offensive in what would become known as the Tet Offensive, characterized by coordinated attacks across Vietnam against American troops, South Vietnamese soldiers and their allies. Birdwell’s unit was called upon to repel an attack on a major military installation, Tan Son Nhut Air Base, and was ambushed en route. Biden recalled how Birdwell’s unit bore the brunt of the attack and that Birdwell took charge after the tank commander was seriously wounded, laying down suppressive fire as North Vietnamese soldiers fired on him. “He used the tank cannon, he used the tank machine gun, he used his personal rifle,” Biden said. “He took fire, pushed back the attackers and created a place of relative safety for the wounded behind the tank to take cover.” Birdwell was hit by shrapnel but continued to fight. Eventually, he was ordered into a helicopter to evacuate, but he crawled off the opposite side of the aircraft and returned to the fray. “That’s what you call taking orders and causing trouble,” Biden said. “God loves you.” Birdwell went on to practice law and served on the Cherokee Nation’s supreme court, Biden said. Duffy earned his award during the Battle of Fire Support Charlie, when he was the only American serving on a base with South Vietnamese soldiers. He had been wounded twice in previous battles but refused to be evacuated, Biden said. Working under the call sign “Dusty Cyanide”, Duffy coordinated airstrikes under fire for hours on April 14, 1972, as enemy forces threatened to overrun their base. At one point, Biden recalled, he called in a strike to “shut down the extreme danger” in his own position to push back the advancing forces. Duffy stayed with wounded soldiers at the base until the next day, rallying them to move as they were pursued by Viet Cong fighters. Duffy was the last to board the helicopter and grabbed a Vietnamese ally who fell out of the aircraft after being shot, Biden said. Duffy retired from the Army in 1977 and was later nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for poetry — “the definition of a warrior poet,” Biden said. Fujii received the award for his actions on February 18, 1971, during a rescue operation in Laos that went out of control after his helicopter came under fire and crashed. A second helicopter landed a few minutes later and picked up several more soldiers, but Fujii let it go by hand, fearing it was too dangerous to keep the aircraft in place. Biden recalled that Fuji stayed behind and treated wounded Vietnamese allies in the field. The next night, they were attacked again and Fuji boldly opened fire on the enemy repeatedly to coordinate air strikes for the next 17 hours. “Today, Specialist 5 Fujii, we remember and celebrate how many people you helped,” Biden said. The fourth Medal of Honor recognized Kaneshiro, who was raised in Hawaii by Japanese immigrant parents, Biden said. On December 1, 1966, his infantry platoon was ambushed by North Vietnamese troops holed up in a village protected by fortified bunkers, underground tunnels and a large ditch. Other US soldiers were killed and Kaneshiro attacked the trench while carrying his M16 rifle and six grenades, Biden said. “Lying on the ground, Sergeant Kaneshiro threw his first grenade,” Biden said. “He sailed straight through the hatch opening, taking out the machine gun on the first shot.” Kaneshiro moved along the trench for 35 yards, killing other enemy soldiers as he went and averting what could have been “a disaster for the entire platoon,” Biden recalled. He was killed in action on March 6, 1967, some three months later. “I hope today you feel some pride and comfort in knowing that his bravery is finally receiving the full recognition it always deserved,” Biden told the Kaneshiro family.
