Retired army medic, 71, who ran through a hail of bullets to save ten comrades is finally awarded the Medal of Honor by President Trump 48 years after serving in Vietnam

  • Private First Class James McCloughan received the Medal of Honor on Monday
  • The 71-year-old served in Vietnam in 1969 when he was a 23-year-old medic
  • He saved ten men in his platoon during the bloody Battle of Nui Yon Hill 
  • President Trump commended his bravery in a White House ceremony Monday 

By Jennifer Smith For Dailymail.com

Published: 19:57 EST, 31 July 2017 | Updated: 10:07 EST, 1 August 2017

An army medic was finally awarded the Medal of Honor on Monday almost 50 years after risking his life in the Vietnam war. 

James McCloughan, 71, received the accolade in a White House ceremony on Monday. 

He was 23 when, as a private first class, he ran in to the line of fire during the Battle of Nui Yon Hill, a bloody, two-day fight, to save 10 other soldiers including one Vietnamese on May 19, 1969.

On Monday, President Trump hailed him as 'a veteran who went above and beyond the call of duty to protect our comrades, our country and our freedom'. 

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James McCloughan was awarded the Medal of Honor on Monday by President Donald Trump 

James McCloughan was awarded the Medal of Honor on Monday by President Donald Trump 

Five of the men McCloughan saved in Vietnam were present for the ceremony on Monday. 

He is the first person to be awarded the medal by President Trump. 

Speaking of his bravery, Trump said: 'Jim did not hesitate. He blazed through 100 meters of enemy fire to carry the wounded... to safety.

'It was as if the strength and the pride of our whole nation were beating inside Jim's heart. He just kept on going.' 

McCloughan, who is from Michigan, was previously awarded several other medals but it took a change in the law by former President Obama for him to finally receive the Medal of Honor. 

Before the change, the relevant act had to have happened within three years of a person being recommended for the medal and the award had to be given within five years of it. 

Congress did away with the time limit before Obama departed the White House.  

The ceremony took place in the East Room on Monday. Five of the people he saved in Vietnam were present 

The ceremony took place in the East Room on Monday. Five of the people he saved in Vietnam were present 

McCloughan was emotional at times and gave a passionate salute for the cameras once the ceremony was over
McCloughan was emotional at times and gave a passionate salute for the cameras once the ceremony was over

McCloughan was emotional at times and gave a passionate salute for the cameras once the ceremony was over 

The 71-year-old is the first person to be given the medal since President Trump took office 

The Michigan native was just 23 when he served as a medic in the war in Vietnam 

On Monday, McLoughan, who became a high school teacher in Michigan after returning from the war, was emotional as President Trump placed the long-awaited medal around his neck. 

Afterwards, he told reporters he was 'humbled' by the experience. 

'My heart goes out to the families of those men and women (who never returned from battle) because they have an empty chair at every holiday and family celebration,' he said.

In an interview in June, when it was announced that he would receive the honor, he said modestly: 'I wasn't counting I was just doing what I had to do. I went out into the kill zone about six times that first night for my men. 

McCloughan ran in to the line of fire to save 10 men in his platoon during a bloody two-day battle
McCloughan ran in to the line of fire to save 10 men in his platoon during a bloody two-day battle

McCloughan (above in Vietnam) ran in to the line of fire to save 10 men in his platoon during a bloody two-day battle

McCloughan, who was affectionately called Doc by his comrades, said he was 'just doing my job' when questioned over his heroism 

McCloughan, who was affectionately called Doc by his comrades, said he was 'just doing my job' when questioned over his heroism 

McLoughan was previously awarded other medals including the Bronze Star (left) but he had to wait for a change in the law which did away with the time restrictions before he could get the Medal of Honor
McLoughan was previously awarded other medals including the Bronze Star (left) but he had to wait for a change in the law which did away with the time restrictions before he could get the Medal of Honor

McLoughan was previously awarded other medals including the Bronze Star (left) but he had to wait for a change in the law which did away with the time restrictions before he could get the Medal of Honor 

'I was hit with an RPG around one of those times that I went out. I feel honored to be able to accept this for the 89 men that fought that battle. 

'I have found 20 of the 32 who walked out alive on May 13. I love those guys and I know they love me and I'm glad that 10 of them got to lead a full life because of Doc McCloughan but I was doing my job. 

'That's the job that was given to me. My father told me at a very young age "if you're given a job son, don't do it halfway."'

After Monday's ceremony, McCloughan was later congratulated by Ivanka Trump. She posed with him for a photo in the Oval Office and shared it with her fans online.

'Today POTUS awarded the Medal of Honor to Private First Class James C. McCloughan for his courage in Vietnam & service to our country,' she said in a tweet. 

Ivanka Trump posed with McCloughan in the Oval Office before the ceremony 

Ivanka Trump posed with McCloughan in the Oval Office before the ceremony 

Several lawmakers celebrated the occasion on Monday. 

Senator Debbie Stabenow tweeted: 'Excited to be on the way to the White House to see Specialist receive the Medal of Honor he deserves!' 

The ceremony was attended by Trump's new Chief of Staff, General John Kelly. 

It also coincided with a busy day of yet more reshuffled in the administration with the firing of communications director Anthony Scaramucci. 

It was decided that McCloughan would be the first recipient of the medal from President Trump back in June.    

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