The Library of Congress Veterans History Project has permanently archived the oral history of Medal of Honor Designee Major James Capers Jr., a pioneering Marine Force Recon officer and the first African American Marine officer in United States history designated to receive the nation's highest military honor. This induction preserves Major Capers' 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, ensuring future generations can access this significant personal narrative directly from the veteran.
The archival event 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, who was born to sharecroppers in the Jim Crow South and broke racial barriers to become the first African American Marine promoted from enlisted to officer via a battlefield commission, visited the Library of Congress to contribute his story to the Veterans History Project. The 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.
This induction carries substantial historical weight, documenting not only exceptional military service but also a critical moment in the integration of the United States Armed Forces. As a member of the elite "Team Broadminded" and the inaugural class of the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Commando Hall of Honor, Major Capers' 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, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, Joint Service Commendation Medal, and numerous other honors, underscoring a career defined by repeated valor.
The preservation of this history through the Library of Congress ensures that Major Capers' legacy as a trailblazer will be accessible for academic research, public education, and personal inspiration. Media resources from the event, including high-resolution images, are available at www.majorcapers.com. The induction ceremony itself was a multi-generational affair, with Major Capers escorted by his grandson, U.S. Coast Guard OS3 Joden Brunson, and joined by researcher Aneesah Akbar-Uqdah, a Capers daughter, who was conducting research on Maritime Law and Port Health & Security within the Library's Main Reading Room where the oral history will now reside.
For historians, educators, and the public, this addition to the Veterans History Project provides an irreplaceable primary source from a figure who operated at the intersection of military excellence and social progress. It captures the experiences of a Marine who conducted high-risk reconnaissance missions while also serving as a visible symbol of change during a turbulent period in American history. The archive will serve as a permanent testament to individual courage and institutional evolution, offering nuanced insights into warfare, leadership, and the ongoing journey toward equality within the United States military.
