Major James Capers Jr. (USMC, Ret.), the first African American Marine officer in United States history authorized to receive the Medal of Honor, visited the Library of Congress in March 2026 to induct his oral history into the Veterans History Project (VHP). During his visit, 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.
The induction took place following the March 2026 signing of H.R. 3377 into law, which officially authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to Capers for acts of valor during the Vietnam War. Capers, a pioneer of Marine Force Recon and a legend of the elite "Team Broadminded," is designated to become the first Black Marine officer in U.S. history to receive the nation's highest military honor.
As a member of the inaugural class of the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Commando Hall of Honor, Capers' tactics remain foundational to special operations forces today. His personal decorations include the Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star with two Gold Stars and Combat V, Purple Heart with three Gold Stars, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, and a Letter of Appreciation from President Richard M. Nixon. Born to sharecroppers in the Jim Crow South, Capers broke racial barriers to become the first African American Marine promoted from enlisted to officer via a battlefield commission.
The Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress 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. Capers' oral history will be permanently archived in the Library's collections, ensuring his legacy endures. High-resolution images of the historic induction are available at www.majorcapers.com (Photo Credit: Matthew Denny).
Capers lives in Jacksonville, North Carolina, actively mentoring within the Special Operations community. His induction into the VHP not only preserves his personal narrative but also highlights the contributions of African American servicemembers in the nation's military history.
