Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel

SECRETARY HAGEL: Good Morning.

Secretary McHugh, General Odierno, Mrs. Odierno, Sergeant Major Chandler, Congressman Deutch, Congressman Collins, ladies and gentlemen:

We are here this morning to celebrate the heroism of 24 selfless individuals -- 24 soldiers whose acts of gallantry in battle merit our highest recognition.

We are also here to correct an injustice of history -- to help right 24 wrongs that should never have occurred.

Before we do, I want to recognize another soldier here today, a man who President Obama acknowledged and commended yesterday. His name is Mitch Libman, and he was the driving force behind this effort to award the Medal of Honor to Jewish and Hispanic service members who had earned it, but never received it because of racial or religious discrimination.

When Mitch found out that his childhood friend had been denied the Medal of Honor, he decided to do whatever was necessary to rectify it.

He never gave up. And though it took a long time, too long, he was able to see the record set straight -- not only for his friend, but for 23 other soldiers. Some of these soldiers gave their lives in service to this nation. Others have passed away, but we are honored to have three of the recipients here with us today.

Mitch, on behalf of everyone in this auditorium and in this country, thank you. We are grateful for your hard work and your persistence. We are also grateful for the tireless work of the United States Army, and many others, who helped identify and verify every heroic deed that we honor here today. Thank you all for making this happen.

Today, we not only recognize the heroism of these 24 brave Americans -- we also recognize the significance of the Medal of Honor. Our nation's highest honor presented for valor.

The names that grace the walls of the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes belong to soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines who represent the essence, the finest, the best of military service -- the essence, the willingness to sacrifice your life for the lives of those around you.

Nearly 70 years ago, a Jewish chaplain who had just lived through the carnage at Iwo Jima led his fellow Marines in dedicating a cemetery on that island. They were burying their friends and their comrades -- men of all religions, all races, all creeds. In mourning them, he observed:

"Here lie officers and men [of all colors], rich men and poor [men]… [all] together. Here are Protestants, Catholics, and Jews… together. Here no man prefers another because of his faith, or despises [another] because of [their] color. Here there are no quotas of how many from each group are admitted or allowed. … Thus do we memorialize those who, having ceased living with us, now live within us. Thus do we consecrate ourselves, the living, to carry on the struggle they began. Too much blood has gone into this soil for us to [ever] let it lie barren. Too much pain and heartache have fertilized the earth on which we stand. We here solemnly swear: this shall not be in vain."

Today, on the doorstep of our nation's capital, we honor 24 heroes with the same solemn pledge that was given on the island of Iwo Jima: that their sacrifice shall not be in vain.

Thank you for what you all have done for our country.

Thank you.

Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh

SECRETARY MCHUGH: Secretary Hagel, Sir, thank you obviously for your gracious words and your presence here today, but as well for the tremendous leadership you've brought to these very challenging times.

Chief, Mrs. O, Sergeant Major, Distinguished Members of Congress, all of the Department of Defense Family -- particularly those from the United States Army, but especially, to the Families and the honorees who with us here today: Welcome. It's wonderful to see all of you again.

Since becoming the Secretary of the Army, I've had many occasions to attend some pretty historic events, and it should probably go without saying that today is certainly one of them. As President Obama noted yesterday, this induction serves as the largest single induction of Medal of Honor honorees since World War II: Twenty-four amazing Soldiers who will finally take their rightful place in our Hall of Heroes.

Their stories -- two dozen in total -- are as diverse as was their service. And their hometowns truly spread from sea to shining sea, twelve different states, as well as Puerto Rico and Mexico. They valiantly, they defiantly, in German forests, in Korean hilltops and in Vietnam countryside fought -- fighting always against the tremendous and fierce enemy and equally tremendous odds. Each of their stories when taken alone is truly breathtaking; but taken together, they really form an incredible volume of history -- one that details the service, the sacrifice and, most of all, the courage of the American soldier.

And we are all truly blessed that three of these Medal of Honor recipients are here in this hall this morning. I would like to take just a second, if I may, to introduce them to you: They are Sergeant Santiago Erevia, Sergeant First Class Melvin Morris, and Master Sergeant Jose Rodela. Gentlemen, please rise and be recognized for your incredible achievements.

To these true American heroes, I would simply say it is a deep honor to be in your company, and thank you for your service and your sacrifice. You have just heard [the applause], and I hope you've gotten a flavor for these past few days that you are an inspiration to us all. God Bless You. Please have a seat.

I would tell you, though, Gentlemen, beyond your personal courage, we also look at you at this moment as the embodiment of 21 other heroes, as the Secretary [of Defense] mentioned, we also honor this day, those whom we did not thank, we did not properly recognize either in our time, or more importantly, in theirs.

During a speech in the House of Commons, less than two months before the D-Day invasion, Winston Churchill remarked that while "a medal glitters…it also casts a shadow." The medal each of these heroes has earned, and now wears, symbolizes, obviously, tremendous personal courage and uncommon valor. But at the same time, [this Medal] does cloak the auditorium, cloak it in a shadow cast by the spirit and sacrifice of all those who were honored yesterday at the White House by President Obama. Their memories and their stories preserved and passed on by family members also who were there yesterday and are pleased -- so pleased, who are with us here today. And I would ask those family members representing this tremendous Medal of Honor class to stand for a moment, so that you, too, can be recognized for the sacrifice that your loved ones rendered to this Nation. Please --

My dad, who was wise in many ways, but perhaps genetics and science was not amongst them, he used to say on rare occasions [when he was] proud of my brother or me, "You know, you plant tomatoes, you get tomatoes." Your relatives planted some pretty great tomatoes. It's been wonderful -- wonderful -- getting to know you, and God Bless You for being here. Thank you.

As Secretary Hagel accurately spoke, as proud and as historic as this day may be, it is, frankly, not without some controversy and some lingering concern. This effort, indeed, began as the Secretary [of Defense] noted, because there was a belief -- we now know, justified -- that Jewish and Hispanic Service members who fought in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam may have been unjustly denied the Medal of Honor due to the racial or religious prejudice of those times. We've come far as a nation, we've come far as an Army; but we must never fail to recognize that bias and prejudice and hate have too often played a role in our Nation's history. President Kennedy once observed that "no one has been barred [from the battlefield] on account of his race from fighting or dying for America," there's no distinction between race or religion in "the foxholes or graveyards of battle."

As we continue to ask America's sons and daughters to join and to fight together, as one, to struggle for a better and more secure future, we should not only heed, but truly expand and build upon President Kennedy's wise perspective, never, never separating those who serve by any means -- not by skin color, not by race, not by belief -- and striving, at all times, to ensure tolerance and respect in all things, and especially, all people.

Thanks to the review that led to this day, we did, in fact, as we now all know, identify two dozen soldiers either here or represented, whose courage and valor were indeed worthy of our nation's highest military honor. What began as a review of potential prejudice yielded other awardees, also wholly deserving of the Medal of Honor. For reasons that really had nothing to do with our imperfect history, we can only assume they were overlooked and missed instead through the influence of a longstanding and ongoing evil -- that of the military bureaucracy. At this point in time, we hope, we believe we have at last righted all our wrongs, regardless of the cause or motivations. No matter how this journey began, I do personally take heart in the Army's ensuing effort and pride in those people who poured over the thousands of pages of decades-old records, who pieced together the narratives and stories that had been faded by time, who were able to identify and at last help us properly recognize the individuals we honor at this moment.

If I have one regret, it's that so few are here to receive this honor -- and our thanks -- in person. Many we lost to the passage of time, many, too, were lost on the battlefields of Europe, East and Southeast Asia, after giving their very lives in service to their country.

General Douglas MacArthur believed that "however horrible the incidents of war may be, the soldier who is called upon to offer and to give his life for his country is," what he described, "the noblest development of mankind." Each of these 24 Soldiers offered their very lives in service to our country and something larger than themselves. Their selfless sacrifice saved countless lives, the lives of other Soldiers, of comrades, of buddies in arms, and untold millions who today enjoy the fruits of a freedom they would have never otherwise known. Each has earned this Nation's highest military honor, claiming their rightful place in history for their personal acts of uncommon valor, always above and beyond the call of duty. Today, they are, what they have always been, the noblest development of mankind.

So let us go forth from this moment -- learning and advancing by the painful lessons of days gone by [and] celebrating the sacrifices of those who have gone before and expanding upon the bedrock of freedom that they forged by their valor, so that future generations might know and bask in what these heroes amazingly defended -- the hope and promise of a better tomorrow.

So God bless these 24 heroes, their Families, God bless all of you, the United States of America and this glorious Army that keeps us free. Thank you.

Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Ray Odierno

GEN. ODIERNO: Good morning, everyone. It's an honor for me to stand here today, wearing this uniform representing all soldiers past and present, and honoring our comrades, these 24 great men who gave their lives and sacrificed so much for our country.

Secretary of Defense Hagel, we are grateful for your incredible dedication. Thank you so much for being here. Secretary of the Army McHugh, thank you for your continued leadership and all that you do to ensure that all our Soldiers are properly recognized. Sergeant Major of the Army Chandler, thank you for your leadership of our enlisted force. Deputy Secretary of Defense and Under Secretary of Defense, thank you so much for being here. Other leaders, general officers, Congressmen, Senators, and family members, it's an honor for me to be here today.

In the faces of our recipients and their relatives, we see the faces of 24 heroes. They are the faces of a diverse Army and a diverse America, faces that have shaped our Nation's history, built this Nation's strength, and defended this Nation's security. Our Nation and our Army are strong because in every war, in every generation, men and women, citizens and immigrants, have raised their right hand to defend the Constitution of the United States. In doing so, they committed themselves to a cause greater than themselves, to the ideals of this Nation.

Each of our heroes are different whether it be their rank, age, unit, campaign, geographic, ethnic, or religious diversity. But they are all bound together as Soldiers, ordinary men who, under the most chaotic and difficult conditions, displayed extraordinary courage at the risk of their own lives to protect their fellow Soldiers and accomplish the mission. It is because of men like them, through the generations, that I'm so proud to wear this uniform.

70 years ago, the United States called upon millions of Americans to defend the Nation in World War II. Today, we recognize the actions of seven remarkable Soldiers.

In the closing days of the Anzio Campaign, Private First Class Salvador Lara of the 45th Infantry Division, led a squad assault on multiple enemy strong points with such ferocity that numerous enemy soldiers were killed, surrendered, or abandoned their posts.

Private Joe Gandara, three days after the 82nd Airborne's invasion of Normandy, France, advanced alone while his compatriots were pinned down by enemy fire to destroy three machine-gun nests before he was fatally wounded.

First Lieutenant Donald Schwab, of the 3rd Infantry Division, charged a heavily reinforced German emplacement and by taking an enemy Soldier hostage, caused the enemy unit to withdraw from their superior defensive positions.

Fellow 3rd Infantry Division Soldier, Private First Class William Leonard, led the eight surviving members of his platoon to eliminate two machine guns nests and capture their objective in Saint Die, France.

Ignoring the severity of his wounds, Staff Sergeant Manuel, of the 88th Infantry Division, engaged 200 enemy troops advancing on Mount Battaglia, Italy, killing 30 of them and successfully defending the key terrain.

Sergeant Alfred Nietzel of 1st Infantry Division, gave his life in his efforts to slow the advance of enemy soldiers and cover the retreat of his squad mates during brutal operations in Germany's Hurtgen Forest.

In the same campaign, Private Pedro Cano of the 4th Infantry Division, singlehandedly destroyed eight machine gun emplacements and killed nearly 30 enemy troops.

In the five long months that followed, the actions of these Soldiers contributed immeasurably to the Allied Victory in Europe.

Only five short years later, President Truman again mobilized the country for war, this time to repel the advances of Communist North Korea. Today, we honor the extraordinary actions of nine Korean War Veterans.

Sergeant Eduardo Gomez, of the 1st Cavalry Division, demolished an enemy tank and held his ground in the face of an unyielding enemy force, exacting heavy enemy casualties and delaying the enemy's advance on friendly positions.

Alongside fellow 1st Cavalryman, Master Sergeant Michael Pena, a Veteran of World War II, ordered his unit to retreat in the face of a relentless enemy, and sacrificed himself to cover their safe withdrawal.

Corporal Joe Baldonado of the 187th Airborne Regiment (Rakkasans) repeatedly disrupted wave after wave of enemy assaults until a grenade took his life during the enemy's final withdrawal.

24th Infantry Division Soldier, Private First Class Leonard Kravitz covered the retreat of his squad mates, successfully halting the enemy's advance until he was killed by enemy fire.

As enemy forces counterattacked his platoon's position, Sergeant Jack Weinstein, also of 24th Infantry Division, refused orders to withdraw and inflicted multiple casualties on the enemy until another platoon arrived to drive back the enemy's forces.

3rd Infantry Division Soldier, Master Sergeant Juan Negron, similarly refused to abandon his position under heavy enemy fire, attacking the enemy at close range with small weapons fire and hand grenades until friendly forces arrived the next morning.

Private Demensio Rivera, also of the 3rd Infantry Division, took extraordinary measures to repulse enemy forces with every means available, including the use of his last hand grenade to kill enemy soldiers in close proximity to himself.

Corporal Victor Espinoza, of the 2nd Infantry Division, destroyed four enemy strong points and an enemy tunnel system in the Chorwan Valley, killing 14 and wounding 11.

Despite suffering wounds from a previous battle, fellow 2nd Infantry Division Soldier, Private Miguel Vera, fighting in the same valley, attacked a critical enemy emplacement, and later lost his life when covering the withdrawal of his squad.

In three years of fierce fighting, these nine Soldiers, alongside hundreds of thousands of other Americans, turned back the tide of the Communist advance against South Korea. And all you have to do today is visit South Korea today, to understand the difference these men made in the lives of millions of people.

In 1965, the American ground war in Vietnam began. Today, we reflect upon the commensurate service and sacrifice of our Vietnam Veterans and their families who bore a heavy burden during and following a divisive war, teaching our Nation an invaluable lesson about honoring one's service regardless of politics. We pay tribute to the exceptional heroism of eight Soldiers.

1st Infantry Division Soldier, Sergeant Candelario Garcia, destroyed two bunkers and rescued several wounded comrades before rejoining his platoon to overrun the remaining enemy positions.

Staff Sergeant Felix Conde-Falcon of the 82nd Airborne Division, led his platoon on an assault on an enemy command post, and personally eliminated four bunkers before he was fatally wounded.

Specialist Four Jesus Duran, of the 1st Calvary Division, thwarted an enemy attack on the unit's command post by assaulting multiple enemy positions, killing four and forcing the enemy's hasty withdrawal.

When his unit was pinned down attempting to rescue another platoon, fellow 1st Cav Soldier, Specialist Four Leonard Alvarado maneuvered forward alone to destroy multiple enemy emplacements before he was struck down by enemy fire.

25th Infantry Division Soldier, Specialist Four Ardie Copas, was mortally wounded while safeguarding the evacuation of fellow Soldiers during an attack by superior forces in Cambodia.

While administering first aid, Specialist Four Santiago Erevia of the 101st Airborne Division, came under heavy fire and took immediate action to silence four enemy bunkers and their occupants, preventing his company from being overrun.

Staff Sergeant Melvin Morris, of the 5th Special Forces Group, acted decisively during a fierce enemy attack, to retrieve the body of his team commander and other wounded Soldiers, and launch a counterattack that destroyed four enemy bunkers.

As a company commander in the 5th Special Forces Group, Sergeant First Class Jose Rodela advanced alone under intense enemy fire to destroy a B-40 rocket position and reorganize the company's defensive perimeter, preventing the enemy from overrunning the battalion.

Every one of these stories is awe-inspiring. Taken together, the actions of these 24 Soldiers are an incredible illustration of the competence, commitment, and character resident in our Soldiers, in our Veterans, and in our Army.

In closing, let us pause to remember the sacrifices of every Soldier who gave their last full measure on a distant battlefield. As Sergeant First Class (Retired) Melvin Morris reminds us, it is "those that aren't even here to receive their medals - those are my heroes. They gave their whole life. They gave everything. They gave it all."

We are a Nation that stands for liberty and freedom and we believe that all should be given the opportunity to fulfill their dreams. We have taken too long to recognize these men. But they represent the soul and fabric of this great Nation for which they so nobly served. We not only honor their courage and service but we recognize the everlasting impact they have had on this great Nation.

The strength of our Nation is our Army. The strength of our Army is our Soldiers. The strength of our Soldiers is our Families. And this is what makes us Army Strong. (Applause)