Let us gather in these sacred words no one has greater love than this to lay down one 's life for one 's friends let us pray almighty God we thank you for the gift of this day of this time and for all living lives to voted in service to you into our country our hearts are especially grateful today for the courage honor and an extraordinary extraordinary service service of of specialist specialist James James mcclure mcclure and and who's whose repeated repeated acts acts of of bravery bravery convey convey to to us us a a true true understanding understanding of of the the value value of of life life as his service demonstrates your faithfulness and unconditional love for all humanity we ask you lord continue to inspire and guide others to their own acts of selfless service and Grant us all now hearts either to seek your will in all access serve to preserve life liberty and the pursuit of Thank you very much please be sitting Thank you jacqueline hurley Secretary nation Secretary mathis mattis Secretary Secretary show show can can Center Center just just know know congressman congressman upton upton and and members members of of the the armed armed forces forces thank thank you you for for joining joining us us as as we we award award our our nation's nation's highest highest military military honor honor to to specialist specialist five five James James C C mcclure mcclure and and today today we we pay pay tribute tribute to to a a veteran veteran who who went went above above and and beyond beyond the the call call of of duty duty to to protect protect our our comrades comrades our our country country and and our our freedom freedom joining joining gym gym today today is is his his wife wife sherry sherry his his brothers brothers Mike Mike his his sons sons jamie jamie and and matt matt and and many many other other members members of of his is very very large large and and beautiful beautiful family family we're we're also also gratified gratified to to be be join joined by by a a previous previous medal medal of of honor honor recipients recipients now now jim's jim's name name will will stand stand forever forever alongside alongside there's there's in in our our history history and and in in our our hearts hearts I I wanna wanna take take a a few few minutes minutes to to tell tell you you about about Jim Jim and and how how he he earn earn this this place place a a mom mom allege allege am am Jim Jim was was raised raised in in bangor bangor Michigan Michigan his his father father built built their their House House from from scratch scratch and and work work 40 40 years years at at the a piano piano factory factory gyms jim's dad dad taught taught him him is is simple simple but but powerful powerful lesson lesson never never do do anything anything halfway halfway always always do do your your best best Jim gym took took that that lesson lesson very very much much to to heart heart he he played played for for four four city city sports sports in in high high school school and and three three in in College College in in August August of of 19 68 19 68 Jim Jim was was drafted drafted into into the the army army within within six six months months he he was was trained trained as as a a medic medic and and arrived arrived in in Vietnam Vietnam right right away away Jim Jim port port all all of of himself himself into into his his duties duties treating treating the the sick sick and and the the wounded wounded before before long long all all his his fellow fellow soldiers soldiers called called him him duck duck on on may may thirteenth thirteenth 19 69 19 69 less less than than three three months months after after I I arrived arrived Jim Jim was was one one of of eighty eighty nine nine men men in in charlie charlie company company to to embark embark on on a a mission mission to to secure security a transportation transportation round round near near nine non-union you own as as Jim Jim and and his his men men jumped jumped out out of of the the helicopter helicopter it it quickly quickly became became clear clear that that they they were were surrounded surrounded by by enemy enemy troops troops within within minutes minutes to to choppers choppers was were shot shot down down and and one one of of his his men men was was badly badly wounded wounded in in the the Middle Middle of of an an open open field field gym Jim did did not not hesitate hesitate he he blaze blazed through through 100 100 meters meters of of them them enemy enemy fire fire to to carry carry the the wounded wounded and and the the soldier soldier to to safety safety but but this this was was only only the the first first of of many many heroic heroic deeds deeds Jim Jim perform perform over over the the next next 48 48 hours hours after after tending tending to to the the first first wounded wounded soldier soldier Jim gym joy joy day day mission mission to to advance advance toward toward the the enemy enemy and and advance advance they they did did before before long long they they were were ambush ambush again again he he ran ran into into danger danger to to rescue rescue as as men men as as he he cared cared for for two two soldiers soldiers trap trap of of from from a a rocket rocket propelled propelled grenade grenade slashed slashed open open the the back back of of jim's jim's body body from from head head to to foot foot get get that that terrible terrible won't won't didn't didn't stop stop Jim him from from pulling pulling those those two two men men to to safety safety nor nor did did it it stop stop him him from from answering answering the the plea plea of of another another wounded wounded come com read Red and and caring caring him him to to safety safety top a top his his own own badly badly injured injured body body he he was was badly badly injured injured and and show show it it went went shot shot after after shot shot blast blast upon upon blessed blessed as as one one of of his his comrades comrades recalled recalled whoever whoever called called medic medic could could immediately immediately count count on on blue blue and and he's he's a a brave brave guy guy as as they they turn turn to to dusk dusk nearly nearly all all of of those those who who could could and and really really really really had had to to make make it it back back they they were were finally finally within within their their night night defensive defensive position position accept except for for one one soldier soldier who who's is please please Jim Jim could could not not ignore ignore again again duck duck did did not not hesitate hesitate he he crawl crawl through through a a rice rice paddy paddy thick thick with with steel steel rain rain that that means means bullets bullets all all over over the the place place soldiers soldiers watched watched him him they they were were sure sure that that was was the the last last time time they they would would see see duck duck they they thought thought that that was was the the end end of of their their friend friend gym Jim but but after after several several minutes minutes passed passed gym Jim emerge emerge from from the the smoke smoke and and fire fire carrying carrying yet yet another another soldier soldier he he immediately immediately badgers bad years and and fixed fixed and and work work but but he he got got the the wounds wounds fixed fixed and and lifted lifted the the soldier soldier to to a a medivac medivac helicopter helicopter his his lieutenant lieutenant order order Jim gym to to get get in into to get get any any said said get get in in but but Jim Jim refused refused he he said said you're you're going going to to need need me me here here as as gym gym now now says says I I would would have have rather rather died died on on the the battlefield battlefield then then know know that that men men died died because because they they did did not not have have a a medic medic over over the the next next 24 24 hours hours gym gym fired fired at at enemy enemy soldiers soldiers suffered suffered a a bullet bullet wound wound to to his his arm arm and and continue continue to to raise raise into into gunfire gunfire to to save save more more and and more more lives lives and and yet yet as as night night approached approached again again after after nearly nearly two two days days of of no no food food no no water water and and no no rest rest Gm Gm volunteer volunteer to to hold hold a a blinking blinking light light in in an an open open field field to to signal signal for for a a supply supply drop drop he he would would not not yield yield he he would would not not rest rest he he would would not not stop stop and and he he would would not not flinch flinch in in the the face face of of sure sure death death and and definite definite danger danger though though he he was was thousands thousands of of miles miles from from home home it it was was as as if if the the strength strength and and pride pride of of our our whole whole nation nation was was beating beating inside inside of of jim's jim's heart heart Jim Jim did did what what his his father father taught taught him him he he gave gave it it is is all all and and then then he he just just kept kept giving giving in in those those 48 48 hours hours gym gym rescue rescue 10 10 American American soldiers soldiers and and tended tended to to countless countless others others he he was was one one of of 32 32 men men who who fought fought until until the the end end they they held held their their ground ground against against more more than than two thousand two thousand enemy enemy troops troops gym gym I I know know I I speak speak for for every every person person here here when when I I say say that that we we are are in in all all of of your your actions actions and and your your bravery bravery but but let let me me tell tell you you one one thing thing and and one one more more story story about about Jim Jim on on the the second second day day of of that that bloody bloody fight fight gym gym found found a a few few soldiers soldiers and and a a fellow fellow soldier soldier who who had had been been shot shot badly badly in in the the stomach stomach he he knew knew the the sold sold you you wouldn't wouldn't make make it it if if he he flung flung him him on on the the back back so so he he lifted lifted them them up up and and carried carried him him in in his his arms arms as as Jim Jim was was carry carry the the soldier soldier thought thought flashed flashed through through his his mind mind although although Jim Jim had had always always been been very very close close to to his his father father he he realize realize that that it it was was not not since since he he had had been been a a young young boy boy that that he he had had told told his his dead dead those those three three very very simple simple but but beautiful beautiful words words I I love love you you in in that that moment moment Jim Jim offered offered up up a a prayer prayer he he asked asked God God if if you you get get me me out out of of this this hell hell on on Earth Earth so so I I can can tell tell my my dad dad I I love love them them I'll I'll be be the the best best coach coach and and the the best best father father you you could could ever ever ask ask floor floor as as he he prayed prayed a a great great peace peace came came over over him him and and it it was was god's god's will will for for him him to to live live he he keep keep his his promise promise to to God God as as soon soon as as he he had had the the chance chance Gm Gm made made it it out out of of that that hell hell on on Earth Earth he he made made it it here here is is and and the the first first thing thing he he did did when when he he arrived arrived back back on on American American so so was was to to say say those those beautiful beautiful words words I I love love you you dad dad I I love love you you Jim Jim said said those those words words over over and and over over again again for for the the next next 22 22 years years until until the the last last time time you you saw saw his his father father the the night night before before his his dad dad passed passed on on today today I'd I'd venture venture to to say say his his dad dad is is the the proudest proudest father father in in heaven heaven Jim Jim Fort Fort with with all all of of the the love love and and courage courage and and is is so so he he was was prepared prepared laid laid down down his his life life so so his his brothers brothers in in arms arms could could live live there's there's with with us us today today my my 10 10 of of the the man man who who fought fought alongside alongside Jim Jim and and five five of of those those he he saved saved to to bill bill randy randy Mike Mike Joe Joe can't can't Robert Robert John John Charles Charles Michael Michael Moore Moore rest rest is is thank thank you you for for your your service service and and your your sacrifice sacrifice stand stand up up wherever wherever you you may may be be where where I I am am hello hello thank thank you you for for those those it's it's great great for for over over two two centuries centuries our our brave brave men men and and women women in in uniform uniform have have overcome overcome tyranny tyranny fascism fascism communism communism and and everything everything to to afraid afraid of of every every single single threat threat they they have have overcome overcome and and we've we've overcome overcome these these threats threats because because of of titans titans like like Jim Jim who who spirit spirit could could never never be be conquered conquered that's that's what what this this award award is is an an jim's jim's life life represents represents so so well well america's america's unbreakable unbreakable spirit spirit it's it's been been 48 48 years years since since James James battle battle in in Vietnam Vietnam he he is is now now a a husband husband a a father father and and a a grandfather grandfather he he coach coach high high school school football football wrestling wrestling and and baseball baseball for for 38 38 years years just just like like he he said said he he would would any any brought brought together together every every member member he he could could find find of of his his beloved beloved charlie charlie company company to to many many people people in in this this room room specialist specialist five five mcclellan mcclellan has has always always been been their their friend friend Jim Jim to to others others he's he's been been coach coach to to those those who who bravely bravely served served with with him him in in Vietnam Vietnam he he still still called called their their duck duck to to his his parents parents scotty scotty and and margaret margaret both both watching watching from from heaven heaven he he will will always always be be there there son son but but today today 300 300 and and 20 million 20 million grateful grateful American American hearts hearts private private carries carries one one immortal immortal title title and and that that title title is is hero hero specialist specialist five five min min flu flu and and we we honor honor you you we we salute salute you you and and with with God God as as your your witness witness we we thank thank you for what you did for all of us now I would like the military aid to come forward and read the citation The President of the United States of America authorized by act of Congress March third eighteen 63 has awarded in the name of Congress the medal of honor to private first class James clue in United States are me for conspicuous gallantry and interactivity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty private first class C including distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and interactivity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty for may thirteenth through fifteenth 19 69 while serving as a combat netted with charlie company third battalion 20 first infantry one 90 sixth light infantry brigade America America division the company resulted into an area near tampa and new yon Hill on may thirteenth with complete disregard for his life here in 100 meters in an open field through heavy fire to rescue conrad to injured to move and carried him to safety that same day second platoon was order to search the area near new yon Hill when the platoon was ambushed by a large North vietnamese army force and sustain heavy casualties with complete disregard for his life personal safety private first class mcclure in like two Americans into the safety of the trench while being wounded by shrapnel from a rocket propelled grenade hidden or direct order to stay back and brave than any assault while moving into the kill zone on for more it occasions to attract wounded comrades he treated the injured prepared the evacuation and the bleeding heavily from shrapnel wounds on his head and entire body refused evacuation to safety in order to remain at the battle site with his fellow soldiers who are heavily out numbered by the North vietnamese army forces on may fourteenth the platoon was again order to move out towards new yarn Hill private first class and was wounded a second time by small arms fire and shrapnel from a rocket propelled grenade while rendering a to to soldiers and an open rice patty in the final phases of the attack to companies from second North vietnamese army division an element of 700 soldiers from a viet cong regiment descended upon charlie company's position on three sides private first class and again with complete disregard for his life when into the crossfire numerous times throughout the battle to extract the wounded soldiers while also fighting the enemy his relentless and courageous actions inspired and motivated his comrades to fight for their survival bid when supplies ran low private first class and volunteer to hold a blinking strobe light in an open area as a marker for a night time re supply drop he remain steadfast while bullets landed all around him and rocket propelled grenades flew over his prone expose body during the morning darkness of may fifteenth private first class and knocked out a rocket propelled grenade position with the grenade fought and eliminated enemy soldiers treated numerous casualties get to critically wounded soldiers alive through the night and organize the dead and wounded for evacuation at daylight his timely and courageous actions were instrumental in saving the lives of his fellow soldiers private first class personal heroism professional competence and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself the America division and the United States army Let's us know lord as we depart our separate ways may the memory of this occasion may our participation here unite us all and compassion for service to all the members of our families our military our country strengthen us in faith every new us in spirit and send us forth with your peace amen Jim thank you God bless you God bless your family God bless the United States of America thank you Jim parties for Go