On June 18, 2026, President Donald Trump awarded the Medal of Honor to three U.S. military veterans during a ceremony at the White House. The recipients included Marine Corps Maj. James Capers Jr. and Marine Corps Col. John Ripley, both of whom served in Vietnam, and Army Maj. Nicholas Dockery, who served in Afghanistan.
Capers was recognized for his actions in 1967, where he helped rescue wounded soldiers during an ambush, despite sustaining serious injuries. Ripley received his award posthumously for his efforts in 1972 to destroy a key bridge used by North Vietnamese forces, a mission that lasted five hours. Dockery was honored for rescuing wounded soldiers in 2012 while coordinating a rescue operation against Taliban forces.
During the ceremony, Trump praised the veterans, stating, "These are great men, great people. We thank you and we will never, ever forget you." He also made a light-hearted remark about wanting a Medal of Honor for himself, despite not having served in the military.