And, 2. 5 million women honored for their service and a singular surprise. Soledad the only woman ever to receive the medal of honor, Mary Edwards Walker. Find out what this Civil War Veteran did to earn the honor. Soledad im soledad obrien. Welcome to matter of fact. Its memorial day weekend, a time when we pause to remember and honor those who died while serving in the u. S. Armed forces. Today, our salute is a look back on the service of some of the bravest among us. The medal of honor is the highest award that can be given to a military hero in this country. It is bestowed by the president on behalf of Congress Following an extraordinary act of bravery. An honor reserved for those who risk their own lives, above and beyond the call of duty, in action against an enemy. More than just another accolade, it advances careers, provides a lifetime stipend, and allows the children of honorees a smooth path into the military academies. For those honored, it makes a world of difference. Today, the stories of two heroes, colonel harvey barnum, whose career skyrocketed after he received his medal, and Staff SergeantMelvin Morris, a hero whose honor was delayed for decades. At Seymour Middle School in knoxville, tennessee, they are greeted like heroes come home from the war. 50 years and 10,000 miles from vietnam, two of americas bravest soldiers are making one of their many stops to speak about the value of education, service, and patriotism. These two war heroes had lived vastly different lives. Both are veterans of the war in vietnam. Harvey Barney Barnum received the medal of honor, back in 1967 at the age of 26, and it transformed his life. Barney it would be naive to believe it didnt. Youre in the spotlight, 24 7, so after i got decorated, it wasnt captain barnum, it was captain barnum, that guys got the medal, major barnum, lieutenant colonel, colonel, so youre on a pedestal and youre in view. Soledad ky phu, republic of vietnam, december 18, 1965. In the midst of the enemys heavy onslaught, lieutenant barnum reorganized his troops and led a counterattack. He directed rescue helicopters to evacuate the dead and wounded. Barney i told every were going to go out squad at a time, 13 men at a time, and when i say go, you run as fast as you can towards the village, and you dont stop. The only time you stop is if a marine gets shot and falls down. You stop and you pick him up cause you dont leave anybody on the battlefield. Well, we made it out, and i was the last one out, and, uh, the greatest thing i ever heard is the gunner, he says, all accounted for. Soledad and what went through your mind when you heard that all accounted for . How many people did you get out . Barney well, i saved about 130, and thats more reward than this. The president of the United States in the name of Congress Takes pleasure in presenting the medal of honor to first lieutenant, now captain harvey c. Barnum, jr. Soledad for saving the lives of many on that december day in 1965, barnum received the medal of honor in february 1967. In his case, it took just 14 months. When you look back at your career and all the tremendous opportunities youve had, how do you feel about it . Barney i feel blessed, i really do. Soledad why do you think some people did not get their medal, who we look back at now and think they clearly deserved it . Barney i can see that bias, personal bias, and you know, when were dealing with individuals who make decisions, were dealing with imperfection, and as a result, the right thing sometimes is not done. Soledad do you think it matters to set history straight . Barney without our history, what are we . I mean, we are what those that have gone before us have done. As they say, if you dont recognize the heroes whove kept freedom free, then shame on you. Sergeant Melvin Morris, a story next on matter of fact. Sergeant Melvin Morris, a story of recognition denied. The actions that morris took there was little doubt in my mind they needed to be recognized. And later, he set a record biking coast to coast rob and rode my bike 5,200 and running a month of marathons. A double amputee describes his marathons. A double amputee describes his journey of endurance. The new house is amazing. So much character. Original crown molding, walk in closets. We do have a ratt problem. Round and round with love well find a way, just give it time. At least geico makes bundling our home and Car Insurance easy. It does help us save. Round and round with love well find a way, just give it time. Round and round what comes around, goes around. For bundling made easy, go to geico. Com when your vneck looks more like a uneck. Thats when you know, its halfwashed. Downy helps prevent stretching by conditioning fibers, so clothes look newer, longer. Downy and its done. Feel like getting back out there . Nissan is ready to help you with a bold, awardwinning lineup. And great offers. Kick off summer. With no payments for 3 months. Plus, well cover your payments for up to 2 more months. Or get 0 financing on 13 models for up to 84 months. Of fact. More than 3500 veterans have received the medal of honor. Each has a remarkable story of bravery. Each recipient is bestowed with a lifetime of benefits. Yet, for some, it has been a case of honor delayed. There are some heroes who were denied the medal for decades because of their race, ethnicity, or religion. Consider the story of Staff SergeantMelvin Morris, who enlisted in the army at age 17 and served two tours in vietnam as a green beret. What year were you given this . Melvin that was in october 1961. When president kennedy authorized the green berets, we had a ceremony, and we had these tucked away. And once he authorized, you know, we got rid of the hat and put on our green berets. And the battle was on. Soledad chi lang, south vietnam, september 17, 1969. Staff Sergeant Morris was leading one of three groups of south vietnamese fighters into a littleknown hamlet near chi lang. They were supposed to inspect, then clear the area. Melvin we moved on out of the village into the tree line. And time we got out of the tree line, the whole world opened up. Richard hundreds of people firing thousands of rounds. Soledad captain Tommy Daniels and Team Sergeant ronald hagen were ambushed by vietcong who had been hiding in bunkers. Richad i got a call telling me that the Team Sergeant was dead and i asked morris, do you know where hagen is . He said, yes, i do. Ill lead us in there. Soledad morris took two volunteers and crossed enemy lines to get sergeant hagens body. Pushed back by a barrage of enemy fire, he was shot. Melvin i had to get to the body. So i said i was going in. Soledad what morris did next is not just a heroic war story. It was a moment of valor defined. Morris singlehandedly destroyed the enemy force that had his battalion pinned down. In the fog of gunfire, hed been shot two more times. He didnt stop. Melvin you take every effort you can to recover this body. You dont surrender a body to no one. Thats just, youre doing what you got to do. Thats it. Soledad is that your motto . Melvin that is my motto, do what you got to do. Soledad what he did was make sure the body of Sergeant First Class ronald hagen got home to his wife and four children in milwaukee. Morriss wounds were painful. His fingers had to be reattached. The brothers who fought with morris that day returned to fighting. They feared they might not survive the war so they hurried to get recognition for morriss heroism. Richard the, uh, actions that morris took were truly remarkable, and, uh, there was little doubt in my mind that they needed to be recognized with a very serious valor award. Soledad recommendations for valor awards come from commanders in the field. The medal of honor requires eyewitness accounts and approval goes all the way up to the so, why not the medal of honor . Melvin yeah, i wish i can answer that. You know, when i first come in, in 1959, the army was supposed to be integrated, but it was still integrated, but segregated. I always felt that, sometime, they looked down on you that you are not as good a soldier as they are. Soledad do you think that kind of stuff played a role in being overlooked for the highest possible honor . Melvin yeah. You got people that still, uh, think that way. Soledad did that bias deny Staff Sergeant morris a medal that could have transformed his life . Melvin if i was awarded the medal of honor back in 1969, it would have made a big difference. Soledad Staff Sergeant morris served in vietnam, the first war where troop units were fully integrated. If he had been awarded the medal of honor when he was first recognized for valor, it could have changed his life. His two sons, who pursued military careers, would have been admitted to a u. S. Military academy. He would have received monthly stipends and extra retirement money that could have helped him fund his daughters education. And his career would have been fast tracked because of the prestige of the medal. Morris is one of 92 African Americans who has received the medal of honor. When we come back, setting the record right. President obama when i called Melvin Morris, his first reaction was, oh, my god, what have i done . [laughter] melvin he say, i want to apologize to you for not receiving the medal of honor 44 years ago. Could this moment make up for the pain of honor delayed . Plus, Mary Edwards Walker served in the civil war. How her story proves this is what bravery looks like. Do you have concerns about mild memory loss related to aging . Prevagen is the number one pharmacistrecommended memory support brand. You can find it in the vitamin aisle in stores everywhere. Prevagen. Healthier brain. Better life. Us for matter of fact. The story of Staff SergeantMelvin Morris raises a question. Were there other heroes overlooked because of race, religion, or ethnicity . Imagine the emotion of Staff Sergeant morris, 40 some years removed from his days in vietnam, when he got a call from president obama, saying he had something that belonged to him, something he wanted him to have. It was time, the president said, to right that wrong and bestow an honor too long delayed. At the vietnam war memorial, the silence is almost deafening. Melvin can you imagine that this many men died in vietnam . Thats mindboggling. Soledad why is this the first time youre visiting . I was surprised to hear that. Melvin i never wanted to face up to it. See, this is, this brings home to see that many people like that gave the ultimate sacrifice. Soledad more than 58,000 names of american lives lost and families heartbroken are engraved on this wall. The medal of honor went to 246 of these soldiers. Well more than half died in their act of valor. 44 years after Melvin Morriss courageous act, the white house would finally give him his due, atoning for a pattern of racial bias. By then, morris was 72. Soledad what was it like, the day that president obama said you were going to get the medal of honor . Melvin proudest moment in my life. Because i didnt have a clue that this was going to happen. President obama when i called Melvin Morris, his first reaction was, oh, my god, what have i done . [laughter] when i told him it was all good, the medal of honor, i could hear it through the phone, he almost passed out. [laughter] melvin he say, i want to apologize to you for not receiving the medal of honor 44 years ago. President obama no nation is perfect, but here in america we confront our imperfections and face a sometimes painful past, including the truth that some of these soldiers fought, and died, for a country that did not always see them as equal. Soledad in 2014, president obama corrected prejudice that had spanned three wars. He awarded 24 Army Veterans the medal of honor. Just three had lived to see the day. Melvin morriss family watched as he finally got what was due him. He had dragged sergeant hagens body to safe territory in september of 1969. It was now march 2014, 44 years after his heroism in vietnam. [applause] melvin finally, that day came and it was a great honor and, you know, it took a long while for it to sink in and i dont think its fully sunk in yet. President obama please give them a big round of applause. [applause] soledad Staff Sergeant morris tells me he was never bitter. Since being honored, he has spoken to many audiences, medals or other accolades, the bravery of all Service Members is worthy of rec sharing his story d has many faces. We honor all those who fought and are fighting today with respect and thanks. Coming up next, marathon man. A story of service and sacrifice. Why this marine kept running after losing both legs. Youre still alive. You have to move on and get back on your feet. And later, remembering the sor of fact. Now, a story of one marines crosscontinental mission, raising awareness for wounded warriors. Rob jones lost both legs in 2010, in an ied explosion in afghanistan, but that didnt stop him from running. Diane roberts shares his story. Diane hope should not have come easily to rob jones. But the marine corps veteran found courage following surgery to amputate both of his legs above the knee. His hope rob yeah, survive, recover, live is something i came up with in the first week after my injury. Diane jones persevered through over a year of therapy and recovery following his surgeries, testing several prosthetic legs, and in the process, became the first double abovetheknee amputee to bike from maine to california, raising 126,000 for three nonprofits that help wounded veterans and him. Rob when you wake up after your injury or whatever your tragedy, youre still alive and so you got to move on from that you got that and you got to get back on your feet. Diane his prosthetic legs are a mix of carbon and titanium, designed specifically for running. But his stamina is his own. Starting in london, crisscrossing america, 31 marathons in 31 cities in 31 days. For those same veterans charities, his energy on full throttle. Rob i get it from the other veterans that have come before me and going to come after me and im doing it for them so thats all the energy i need. Diane veterans like louisville businessman neil quinlan. To see rob and what hes doing and the spotlight on some of these wounded warriors, when you see that, you just got to support. Diane robs support Team Includes his wife, a dietitian, his mom, a massage therapist, and a friend who drives the rv so rob can rest and retool between races. A testament to endurance, his sights set on completing his mission. In washington, for matter of fact, im im diane roberts. When we return, since the american revolution, more than 2. 5 million woman have served in our armed forces. Where youll find their stories and their place among americas brave. soft music [female vo] restaurants are facing a crisis. And theyre counting on your takeout and delivery orders to make it through. Grubhub. Together we can help save the restaurants we love. When your vneck looks more like a uneck. Thats when you know, its halfwashed. Downy helps prevent stretching by conditioning fibers, so clothes look newer, longer. Downy and its done. Feel like getting back out there . Nissan is ready to help you with a bold, awardwinning lineup. And great offers. Kick off summer. With no payments for 3 months. Plus, well cover your payments for up to 2 more months. Or get 0 financing on 13 models for up to 84 months. Chance for people across the country to pause and remember those whove given their lives in service to the nation. The women in military service for america memorial is the only Major National memorial honoring all women who have defended america. Starting with the american revolution, more than 2. 5 million women have served or are serving in the u. S. Armed forces. The memorial features an Upper Terrace with views of Arlington National cemetery and the familiar surrounding monuments. An arc of glass panels is etched with quotations honors the women whove served through our history. A display honors the only woman ever to receive the medal of honor. Mary Edwards Walker was awarded hers for valor during the civil war, risking her life to serve troops as a surgeon. So, as we leave you today, we say thank you to all the men and women who have served our nation. Thats it for this edition of matter of fact. Im so without obrien. Im soledad obrien. Well see you back here next week. Hello and welcome to Asian Pacific america. Im robert handa. Your host for our virtual show. We start with the Asian Pacific fund, executive director and president will be here to talk about how the organization is helping nonprofits and businesses while hosting a very important api summit. Then we highlight one of our winners in the growing up asian in america contest who is the winner in our art category. Then we spotlight one of o