2 Vietnam soldiers awarded Medal of Honor

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  • A shadow of President Barack Obama as he presents the Medal of Honor for Army Spc. Donald P. Sloat to his brother William Sloat, is cast on the Medal of Honor Flag in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Sept., 15, 2014. Donald P. Sloat, of Coweta, Oklahoma, was killed in action on Jan. 17, 1970, at age 20. While on patrol, a soldier in his squad triggered a hand grenade trap that had been placed in their path by enemy forces. According to the White House, Sloat picked up the live grenade, initially to throw it away. When he realized it was about to detonate, he shielded the blast with his own body in order to save the lives of his fellow soldiers. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
  • President Barack Obama applauds at right after presenting the Medal of Honor for Army Spc. Donald P. Sloat to his brother William Sloat, left, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Sept., 15, 2014. Donald P. Sloat of Coweta, Okla., was killed in action on Jan. 17, 1970, at age 20. While on patrol, a soldier in his squad triggered a hand grenade trap that had been placed in their path by enemy forces. According to the White House, Sloat picked up the live grenade, initially to throw it away. When he realized it was about to detonate, he shielded the blast with his own body in order to save the lives of his fellow soldiers. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
  • President Barack Obama, left, escorts retired Army Command Sgt. Maj. Bennie G. Adkins before presenting him with the Medal of Honor, in the East Room of the White House, on Monday, Sept. 15, 2014, in Washington. Adkins was deployed three times to Vietnam with the Special Forces and is being recognized for actions during his second combat tour, in 1966, when he ran wounded through enemy fire to drag injured comrades to safety. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
  • WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 15: U.S. President Barack Obama (R) presents the Medal of Honor to Army Command Sergeant Major Bennie G. Adkins (L) during an East Room ceremony at the White House September 15, 2014 in Washington, DC. Then-Sergeant First Class Adkins was awarded with the Medal of Honor for his actions during combat operations at Camp A Shau, Republic of Vietnam, on March 9 through March 12, 1966 while serving as an Intelligence Sergeant assigned to Detachment A-102, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
  • WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 15: U.S. President Barack Obama presents retired U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Bennie G. Adkins with the Medal of Honor during a ceremony in the East Room at the White House, September 15, 2014 in Washington, DC. Mr. Adkins served three tours in Vietnam with the Special Forces and is being recognized for actions during his second combat tour, in 1966, when he ran wounded through enemy fire to drag injured comrades to safety. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
  • WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 15: Army Command Sergeant Major Bennie G. Adkins (L) salutes after he was presented with the Medal of Honor by U.S. President Barack Obama (R) during an East Room ceremony at the White House September 15, 2014 in Washington, DC. Then-Sergeant First Class Adkins was awarded with the Medal of Honor for his actions during combat operations at Camp A Shau, Republic of Vietnam, on March 9 through March 12, 1966 while serving as an Intelligence Sergeant assigned to Detachment A-102, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
  • US President Barack Obama (R) shakes hands after awarding the Medal of Honor to US Army Command Sergeant Major Bennie Adkins during a ceremony at the White House in Washington, DC, September 15, 2014. Adkins, 80, was a sergeant first class when he survived an intense four days at Camp A Shau, fighting off waves of North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces, rescuing fellow soldiers and evading the enemy in the jungle until a helicopter evacuation. President Obama is bestowing the Medal of Honor on Adkins and Army Spc. Donald P. Sloat, nearly half a century after they fought in Vietnam. AFP PHOTO / Jim WATSON