Recently, amid a deluge of last-minute political awards issued by the departing Biden administration, there were seven that were not presidential awards, and they stood far “above and beyond” the others. Those seven were Medal of Honor recipients, and it was disgraceful to lump them in with the other awards as if they were commensurate with the 47 “presidential” medals dolled out by Joe Biden.

Today, I am profiling four of those Medal of Honor recipients, all posthumously awarded to Veterans of the Korean War. Profiles of the others will follow.

As I have noted before regarding long delays between service rendered and recognized, to a person, these men are, first and foremost, humble soldiers — warrior bravado over good whiskey and cigars notwithstanding. Inherent in their willingness to “lay down one’s life for his friends” is the ultimate expression of humility, valuing the lives of others above one’s own. Thus, it is not in their nature to advocate for their own recognition. It falls to others, often many decades later, mostly those with whom they served, to advocate for upgrading their fellow warrior’s prior awards to a Medal of Honor.

I invite you to take a moment and honor these four recipients by reading the citations detailing their service and pausing to pray for the families they have left behind.

Bruno R. Orig was from Honolulu, Hawaii — one of eight children raised by their parents, Gregoria and Hilario Orig. His parents had emigrated from the Philippines. Bruno graduated from Farrington High School in 1949 and enlisted in the Army in August 1950.

His citation notes:

Private Bruno R. Orig distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty, while serving with Company G, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division in the vicinity of Chipyong-ni, Korea, on February 15, 1951. While returning from a wire laying mission, Private Orig observed a number of his comrades who had been wounded in a fierce enemy attack that was still in progress. With complete disregard for his own safety, Private Orig went to the aid of these men and remained in an exposed position in order to administer first aid to them. With the assistance of several comrades from the company command post, Private Orig began removing the wounded to a place of safety. While returning from one of these trips, Private Orig noticed that all except one man of a machine-gun crew had been wounded. Without hesitation, he volunteered to man the weapon. Remaining in this position, Private Orig placed such effective fire on the enemy that a withdrawing friendly platoon was able to move back without a single casualty. Private Orig continued to inflict heavy casualties on the enemy until the company positions were overrun. Later that day, when the lost ground was recaptured, Private Orig was found dead beside his weapon and the area in front of his gun was littered with enemy dead. Private Orig’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Wataru Nakamura was from Los Angeles, California, the second of seven children. After his high school graduation, he worked in a relative’s business until 1942, when Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 requiring Japanese Americans to live in internment camps. He and his family were relocated to a camp in Rohwer, Arkansas. In 1944, he enlisted in the Army and initially served with Company K, 442nd Infantry Regiment, in Europe during World War II. He left the Service after being honorably discharged but was recalled to active duty in 1950 at the beginning of the Korean War.

His citation notes:

Private First Class Wataru Nakamura distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty, while serving with Company I, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division in the vicinity of P'ungch'on-ni, Korea on May 18, 1951. At about daybreak of that date, Private First Class Nakamura volunteered to check and repair a communications line between his platoon and the command post. As he made his way along the line in the early morning half-light, he was brought under fire by an enemy force that had surrounded friendly positions and were threatening to break the company defense lines. Immediately, without regard for his own safety and without waiting for help, Private First Class Nakamura rushed the enemy with fixed bayonet engaged. Singlehandedly he attacked and destroyed a hostile machine-gun nest and drove the enemy from several of the bunkers they had captured. When his ammunition was depleted, he withdrew under intense enemy fire. Then he met an ammunition party ascending the hill. Quickly briefing the officer in charge, Private First Class Nakamura rearmed himself and, covered by the fire of the officer and two comrades, returned to the attack. In a fierce charge he killed three of the enemy in one bunker, and killed and seriously wounded another in the last enemy-held bunker. Continuing to press the attack, he fell mortally wounded by an enemy grenade. Private First Class Nakamura’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Fred B. McGee was born in Steubenville, Ohio. He was the sixth of eight children raised by his parents, Spanish and Perrie McGee. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in May 1951.

His citation notes:

Corporal Fred B. McGee distinguished himself by gallantry in action near Tang-Wan-Ni, Korea, on June 16, 1952, in an assault on enemy fortified positions. As gunner on a light machine gun in a weapons squad, Corporal McGee delivered a heavy volume of supporting fire from an exposed position despite intense enemy machine-gun and mortar fire directly on his location. Though forced to move his gun several times, he continued to support the assault and give covering fire to the assault elements of his platoon. When his squad leader was wounded, together with several other members of his squad, he assumed command and moved the squad even farther forward to a more exposed position in order to deliver neutralizing fire on an enemy machine gun sweeping the other assault platoon with deadly flanking fire. When his machine gunner was mortally wounded, he again took over the gun. On order, he directed his squad to withdraw and voluntarily remained behind to help evacuate the wounded and dead. Though wounded in the face, he heroically exposed himself by standing straight up in intense enemy machine-gun and mortar fire while attempting to evacuate the body of the company runner. Forced to abandon the body, he aided a wounded man to be moved to the rear and safely through a huge volume of enemy mortar and artillery fire. The gallantry displayed by Corporal McGee reflects great credit upon himself and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.

Charles R. Johnson was born in Millbrook, New York, to Robert and Pearl Johnson. He was the third of six children, and his nickname was “Buddy.” He was a great athlete and student. He attended Howard University for one semester in 1951 and, in 1952, was drafted into the Army. He deployed to South Korea as a Browning automatic rifleman.

His citation notes:

Private First Class Charles R. Johnson distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity beyond the call of duty while defending Outpost Harry, against overwhelming odds, and making the ultimate sacrifice to save the lives of his comrades in the Republic of Korea during the period of June 11, 1953 to June 12, 1953. Private First Class Johnson was serving as a Browning Automatic Rifleman with Company B, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. Chinese forces attacked his unit during a massive nighttime assault. During the ensuing battle, overwhelming numbers of Chinese troops assaulted the trenches and bunkers defended by Private First Class Johnson and his squad. Private First Class Johnson, wounded from a direct artillery hit on his bunker and subsequently from a hand grenade thrown inside the bunker, at the personal disregard for his injuries, administered first aid to those more seriously injured. Understanding the seriousness of the situation and being under direct fire from the enemy, Private First Class Johnson personally dragged a wounded soldier to the safety of a secure bunker, stopping intermittently to aid injured soldiers and kill several enemy troops in hand-to-hand combat. Departing the safety of the second bunker, he conducted a search for weapons and ammunition then returned to rearm everyone. Recognizing their untenable situation and disregarding his personal safety, he exited the bunker, placing himself between the enemy and his injured comrades, informing them he would hold off the enemy forces as best as he could. His brave and selfless efforts were directly attributed to saving the lives of as many as ten soldiers. Private First Class Johnson’s extraordinary actions in close combat with the enemy, unyielding courage and bravery, and profound concern for his fellow soldiers are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Bruno Orig, Wataru Nakamura, Fred B. McGee, and Charles Johnson: Your examples of valor — humble American Patriots defending Liberty for all above and beyond the call of duty, and in disregard for the peril to your own lives — is eternal.

“Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

Live your life worthy of their sacrifice.

(Read more Profiles of Valor here.)

Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis
Pro Deo et Libertate — 1776

Follow Mark Alexander on X/Twitter.

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Join us in daily prayer for our Patriots in uniform — Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen — standing in harm’s way in defense of American Liberty, honoring their oath “to support and defend” our Constitution. Pray for our Veterans, First Responders, and their families. Please consider a designated gift to support the National Medal of Honor Sustaining Fund through Patriot Foundation Trust, or make a check payable to “NMoH Sustaining Fund” and mail it to:

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