06/16/2026
Major James Capers Jr. will be awarded the Medal of Honor.
A life defined by leadership, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to others is being formally recognized for actions taken during a reconnaissance mission in Vietnam.
As a second lieutenant leading a nine-man Force Reconnaissance patrol near Phu Loc in April 1967, Capers and his team repeatedly encountered larger enemy forces while operating deep in contested territory. On the patrol’s final day, an ambush left him severely wounded by gunfire and fragmentation wounds.
Despite significant blood loss and extensive injuries, Capers continued directing supporting fires, coordinating his team’s movements, and overseeing the evacuation. Refusing to leave before his Marines, he remained in command until every member of the patrol was safely aboard the extraction helicopter.
Over a 22-year Marine Corps career, Capers broke barriers and opened doors for future generations of Marines, becoming the first Black Marine to join Force Reconnaissance, receive a battlefield commission in Marine special operations, and command a Reconnaissance company.
As his story joins those preserved at the National Medal of Honor Museum, his legacy will continue to connect future generations with the values the Medal of Honor represents.
