Medal of Honor Designee Major James Capers Jr. Preserves Legacy Through Library of Congress Veterans History Project

Major James Capers Jr., a pioneer of Marine Force Recon and legend of the elite ‘Team Broadminded,’ has become the first Black Marine officer in United States history designated to receive the Medal of Honor. During a recent visit to the Library of Congress, Major Capers provided a firsthand account of his 64 long-range reconnaissance patrols in Vietnam and his role as the face of the Marine Corps’ first fully integrated national recruitment campaign in 1967, permanently archiving his experiences through the Veterans History Project (VHP).

The induction ceremony followed the March 2026 signing of H.R. 3377 into law, which officially authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to James Capers Jr. for acts of valor as a member of the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. Major Capers, standing in full Dress Blue uniform within the Great Hall of the Library of Congress, was surrounded by an inter-agency team including family members, Library of Congress staff, and VHP leadership who coordinated the archival recording of his legendary career.

Born to sharecroppers in the Jim Crow South, James Capers Jr. broke racial barriers to become the first African American Marine promoted from enlisted to officer via a battlefield commission. As a member of the inaugural class of the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Commando Hall of Honor, his tactics remain foundational to special operations forces today. His personal decorations include the Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star with two Gold Star and Combat V, Purple Heart with three Gold Stars, and numerous other honors.

The Library of Congress Veterans History Project collects, preserves, and makes accessible the firsthand recollections of U.S. military veterans so that future generations may hear directly from them and better understand the realities of war. Major Capers’ oral history now joins this permanent collection, with media able to access high-resolution images of the historic induction at www.majorcapers.com.

During the visit, researcher Aneesah Akbar-Uqdah, a Capers daughter, discussed the history of the Main Reading Room with Major Capers as he was escorted by his grandson, U.S. Coast Guard OS3 Joden Brunson. Akbar-Uqdah is currently conducting research on Maritime Law and Port Health & Security within the same iconic Reading Room where Major Capers’ oral history will now be permanently archived. This preservation effort ensures that the story of a man who served as both a combat pioneer and a symbol of integration during a turbulent period in American history will be available for study and inspiration for years to come.

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