Living Soldier May Receive Medal of Honor

Associated Press

WASHINGTON - U.S. officials say the military has sent the White House a recommendation to award the Medal of Honor to a Soldier for bravery in Afghanistan, which could make him the first living recipient since the Vietnam War.

The military says the Army Soldier ran through a hail of enemy fire to repel Taliban fighters in a 2007 battle, saving the lives of a half dozen other men. Officials spoke on condition of anonymity and declined to name the Soldier because he is still under consideration for the honor.

The nation's highest award for valor has been awarded only six times in the nine years of war in Afghanistan and Iraq - and all were awarded posthumously.