On Friday, President Joe Biden presented the highest military award for valor to seven U.S. Army soldiers at a ceremony at the White House. It marked the final time that Biden would award the Medal of Honor to a U.S. serviceperson.

Sadly, six of the awards were issued posthumously, for actions taken by the recipients during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. The individuals included Pvt. Bruno R. Orig; Pfc. Wataru Nakamura; Cpl. Fred B. McGee; Pfc. Charles R. Johnson; Gen. Richard E. Cavazos; and Capt. Hugh R. Nelson Jr.

The seventh, Vietnam War veteran then-Private First Class Kenneth J. David, was present at the ceremony.

"I'm deeply privileged to honor seven American heroes," Biden said. "That's not hyperbole. These are genuine, to their core, heroes. Heroes of different ranks, different positions, and even different generations. But heroes who all went above and beyond the call of duty. Heroes who all deserve our nation's highest and oldest military recognition, the Medal of Honor."

The origin of the highest military decoration dates back to the American Civil War when Iowa Senator James W. Crimes introduced a bill to "promote the efficiency of the Navy" by authorizing the production and distribution of "medals of honor." Within months, a similar bill was introduced for an award for privates of the U.S. Army. The wording and nature of the bills changed,........

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