Retired Marine Corps Maj. James Capers Jr. received the Medal of Honor from President Donald Trump on Thursday, nearly six decades after his extraordinary actions during a brutal Vietnam War ambush.
Capers, 88, is widely regarded as the “father of Marine Corps Special Operations” and was recognized for his leadership and heroism during a 1967 battle deep in the Vietnamese jungle.
Despite finally receiving the nation’s highest military decoration, Capers said the honor belongs to the men who never made it home.
“I can’t say I’m happy to be here, because this award belongs to a lot of young men who followed me and died in battlefields around this world for a country that we honor this flag,” Capers said Friday during an appearance on the Fox News program Fox & Friends.
During Thursday’s White House ceremony, Trump awarded the Medal of Honor to three veterans. Alongside Capers, retired Army Maj. Nicholas Dockery received the honor, while Marine Col. John W. Ripley was recognized posthumously. Ripley died in 2008.
Capers earned the distinction for his actions during a fierce engagement in Vietnam in 1967. His reconnaissance team was ambushed by enemy forces, leaving multiple Marines wounded and pinned down.
Capers was among the injured, suffering a severe stomach wound, a broken leg and significant blood loss. Yet he refused to abandon his men.
According to accounts of the battle, Capers continued directing his Marines and fighting back against enemy forces despite his injuries. He maintained command of the unit and helped hold off the attackers until a medical evacuation helicopter was finally able to reach the team.
When asked what kept him going through the ordeal, Capers pointed to the Marines fighting beside him.
His actions that day saved lives and cemented a legacy that has inspired generations of Marines, particularly within the special operations community.
Thursday’s ceremony marked the culmination of a decades-long effort by supporters and military leaders who argued Capers’ battlefield heroism merited the Medal of Honor.
For Capers, however, the recognition remains focused on those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Watch the clips below:
🚨 JUST IN: President Trump personally supports retired US Marine James Capers Jr., 88, and awards him the MEDAL OF HONOR
Incredible moment ❤️🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/epajKLzK6w
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) June 18, 2026
“There’s no real satisfaction in getting a medal when I've lost so much.”
Major James Capers Jr. shares his complex emotions about receiving the Medal of Honor from President Trump.
He reflects on fallen comrades and personal tragedies, including the loss of his son and wife,… pic.twitter.com/y2rBNoWU08
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 19, 2026
