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Here Are The 24 Heroic Stories Behind Today's Medals Of Honor

Vietnam veterans Melvin Morris (center), Jose Rodela (obscured) and Santiago J. Erevia (left) received the Medal of Honor from President Obama at the White House on Thursday. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption

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Win McNamee/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Here Are The 24 Heroic Stories Behind Today's Medals Of Honor

At the White House, the nation's highest honor for valor in action went to 24 men — three of whom are still alive. Most were Jewish or Hispanic and had been unfairly passed over.

Pain, Loss And Tears Come With Medal Of Honor

U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Ty Michael Carter near Dahla Dam, Afghanistan in July 2012. Ho/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Ho/AFP/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Pain, Loss And Tears Come With Medal Of Honor

Staff Sergeant Ty Michael Carter received the nation's highest military honor. He feels privileged, but says "I would never tell any soldier or service member, 'Hey, go out and get the Medal of Honor', because of the amount of pain and loss and tears that has to be shed in order to receive it."

Pain, Loss And Tears Come With Medal Of Honor

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'He Saved Hundreds': Army Chaplain Gets Medal Of Honor

In this copy of a photograph on display at Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School in Wichita, Kan., a wounded soldier is helped by Army chaplain Emil Kapaun (on the soldier's left) during the Korean War. The Kansas native died a prisoner of war in 1951. Mike Hutmacher/MCT/Landov hide caption

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Mike Hutmacher/MCT/Landov

The Two-Way

'He Saved Hundreds': Army Chaplain Gets Medal Of Honor

Emil Kapaun is being honored for his "extraordinary heroism" during the Korean War. The Catholic priest, who died in a prisoner of war camp in 1951, is also a potential candidate for sainthood.

'He Saved Hundreds': Army Chaplain Gets Medal Of Honor

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Medal Of Honor Recipient Thinks About Men 'He Was Not Able To Save'

Former Army Staff Sgt. Clinton Romesha when he was on duty in Afghanistan. North Dakota National Guard hide caption

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North Dakota National Guard

The Two-Way

Medal Of Honor Recipient Thinks About Men 'He Was Not Able To Save'

During a firefight in Afghanistan, then-Staff Sgt. Clinton Romesha repeatedly put himself in harm's way. At one point, he played peek-a-boo with a sniper. But afterward, he spoke about the soldiers he wasn't able to save. Today at the White House, he got the highest award for valor in action.

From 'Morning Edition': Jake Tapper talks about Staff Sgt. Clinton Romesha

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Offered Special Treatment, Medal Of Honor Winner Dakota Meyer Declines

President Barack Obama applauds former Marine Cpl. Dakota Meyer, 23, on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011, after awarding him the Medal of Honor at the White House. Charles Dharapak/AP hide caption

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Charles Dharapak/AP

The Two-Way

Offered Special Treatment, Medal Of Honor Winner Dakota Meyer Declines

Meyer turned down the opportunity to apply for a job with the New York City Fire Department because others weren't being given the same chance. The opportunity only comes up once every four years.

Humble Medal Of Honor Recipient Felt 'Like A Failure'

At the White House on Wednesday, President Obama and Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer sipped beers and talked. Meyer told CBS News he asked the president for advice on how to be successful. "He said, 'You know, first thing, get an education' and he said 'just take it slow and don't try to make any rash decisions,' " Meyer told CBS. Pete Souza/The White House hide caption

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Pete Souza/The White House

The Two-Way

Humble Medal Of Honor Recipient Felt 'Like A Failure'

Dakota Meyer saved the lives of two dozen Afghan soldiers and more than a dozen of his fellow Marines. For doing so, he's getting the nation's highest honor for valor in action — the Medal of Honor. But he wanted to save even more lives.

Tom Bowman reporting on Medal of Honor winner Sgt. Dakota Meyer

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