Dwight Birdwell, Veteran from Cherokee Nation, receives Medal of Honor
Channel: indianz
Date: 2022-07-05

Dwight Birdwell, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, receives the Medal of Honor during a ceremony at the White House on July 5, 2022.

Birdwell was recognized for his heroism during the Vietnam War. President Joe Biden said the Cherokee soldier went above and beyond the call of duty to save other members of his U.S. Army unit during a particularly violent period of the military conflict.

"When he was ordered to load onto the medevac helicopter, he complied -- this I find amazing -- only to crawl right back off the other side and to keep on fighting," Biden said, noting that Birdwell sustained serious injuries of his own.

Biden also pointed out that American Indians and Alaska Natives serve in the military at the highest per capita rates of any racial or ethnic group in the United States.

At the end of the ceremony, Biden awarded Birdwell the Medal of Honor, the highest and most prestigious U.S. military decoration.

Three other soldiers also received a Medal of Honor during the ceremony.

Video provided by White House
Thumbnail incorporates graphic created by Army News Service

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