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Medal of Honor. Purple Heart. Milton Lee Olive III (November 7, 1946 – October 22, 1965) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of America's highest military decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his heroic action in the Vietnam War when at the age of 18, Olive sacrificed his life to save others by falling on a grenade.
The Vietnam War saw the highest proportion of African-American soldiers in the US military up to that point. [2] Though comprising 11% of the US population in 1967, African Americans were 16.3% of all draftees. [3] During the period of the Vietnam War, well over half of African American draft registrants were found ineligible for military ...
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. [5] Riley L. Pitts was killed after attacking an enemy force with rifle fire and grenades and was the first African American commissioned officer of the war to receive the medal. [6]
Because of the nature of this medal, it is commonly presented posthumously. [1] Of the 3,525 Medals of Honor awarded as of March 2023, 95 have been awarded to 94 different African-American recipients. [2] Robert Augustus Sweeney is one of 19 men, and the only African American, to have been awarded two Medals of Honor.
As of 2020, there have been more than 3,500 military service members that have earned themselves the Medal of Honor. Of those 3,500 recipients, only 92 have been African-American men. The Medal of Honor has been an award that is able to be dated back to the civil war. [3] Only major acts of heroism are recognized by the Medal of Honor award.
Master Sergeant Raul Perez "Roy" Benavidez (August 5, 1935 – November 29, 1998) was a United States Army soldier who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his valorous actions in combat near Lộc Ninh, South Vietnam on May 2, 1968, while serving as a member of the United States Army Special Forces during the Vietnam War.
Lawrence Joel (February 22, 1928 – February 4, 1984) was a United States Army soldier who served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars.While serving in South Vietnam as a medic with the rank of specialist five assigned to 1st Battalion of the 503rd Infantry in the 173rd Airborne Brigade, Joel received the Silver Star and the Medal of Honor for his heroism in a battle with the Viet Cong that ...
Category. : African Americans in the Vietnam War. This category is for African American civilians and soldiers during the Vietnam War, as well as for battles and events that featured or significantly impacted African Americans, black regiments and military organizations, and similar articles.