President Joe Biden pays tribute to Dwight Birdwell, a citizen of the Cherokee, during a ceremony at the White House on July 5, 2022.
Biden recognized Birdwell's heroism during the Vietnam War. He said Birdwell went above and beyond the call of duty to save other members of his U.S. Army unit during a particularly violent portion 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 had 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.
The following information was provided by the White House:
Specialist Five Dwight W. Birdwell will receive the Medal of Honor for acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Troop C, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division, in the Republic of Vietnam on January 31, 1968. That day, a large enemy element initiated an assault on the Tan Son Nhut Airbase near Saigon. They disabled or destroyed many of the unit’s vehicles and incapacitated Specialist Five Birdwell's tank commander. Under heavy enemy small-arms fire, Specialist Five Birdwell moved the tank commander to safety and fired the tank's weapons at the enemy force. Afterwards, he dismounted and continued fighting until receiving enemy fire to his face and torso. He refused evacuation and led a small group of defenders to disrupt the enemy assault until reinforcements arrived. He then aided in evacuating the wounded until he was ordered to seek attention for his own wounds. He was honorably discharged on December 29, 1968, and today practices law in Oklahoma City.
Additional information can be found at the U.S. Army website:
https://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/birdwell/?from=hp_spotlight
