WASHINGTON — In a stirring pregame ceremony befitting of its location, 29 Medal of Honor recipients were invited to encircle the pitcher's mound prior to Tuesday's All-Star Game in Washington D.C. FOX broadcaster Joe Buck asked the sellout Nationals Park crowd to remain silent while he introduced each man separately, listing their rank and branch within the military. The Medal of Honor is the country's highest military decoration, bestowed to a service member who commits an act of valor.<doc-sep>Gary Beikirch of Greece shouldn't be here. He should've died 48 years ago in Vietnam, but he didn't. Instead he wears the Medal of Honor around his neck, but says it's not about him. "There's always a certain humility that goes (with it) when you put it around your neck,” 70-year-old Beikirch said of his medal. Beikirch was one of 29 Medal of Honor recipients whom Major League Baseball recognized before Tuesday night's All-Star Game at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. The 29 recipients at Tuesday's ceremony served in the armed forces during conflicts ranging from World War II to Iraq. The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force while serving in the armed services. As Beikirch stood on the field all of the cheering and applause was deafening, he said. "These extraordinary veterans are national treasures and we are honored by their attendance," Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said. "I hope this stage provides an opportunity to recognize their unmistakable commitment to our country and start the 89th MLB All-Star Game in an inspiring and patriotic way." "It was a great time and I enjoyed it, but the overriding emotion that I had there was a humbling experience," Beikirch said. As the recipients walked in the stadium they passed a group of wounded warriors. They embraced each other and as the group saluted, the 29 saluted back, he said. "They were just glad to see us, as we were them," Beikirch said. He was reminded again what the Medal of Honor is really about, he said. “The Medal of Honor is more than just one person who did one thing on one particular day. For me, the Medal of Honor represents every man and woman whose ever put on a uniform and defended our country. That's what I wear the Medal of Honor for. And personally, I wear it to honor God," he said. “Without his grace, I wouldn't have survived Vietnam, I should've died there.” He came pretty close. Special forces Beikirch was a medic in Detachment A-245, Company B . During the defense of Camp Dak Seang there was an attack, according to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. On April 1, 1970, Beikirch ran through enemy fire to aid his comrade's wounds. "When informed that a seriously injured American officer was lying in an exposed position, Sgt. Beikirch ran immediately through the hail of fire," according to the society. Although he himself was seriously wounded, Beikirch carried the officer to an aid station. Ignoring his own wounds, he left the bunker to search for more injured men. "He was again wounded as he dragged a critically injured Vietnamese soldier to the medical bunker while simultaneously applying mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to sustain his life." Medal of Honor recipients will be honored at ASG Beikirch denied treatment for himself and continued to search for others until he collapsed, according to the society. That day greatly shaped his future of working 33 years at Arcadia Middle School as a school counselor. "My Medal of Honor citation says that I did all these things but actually I couldn't have done any of them, except that I had a 15-year-old bodyguard whose name was Deo. He was a Montagnard." The Americans worked with the Montagnard, an indigenous group in the Highlands of Vietnam, in the jungle and they developed friendships and love for one another, he said. Deo and Beikirch, who was 24 at the time, were friends. "When our camps went under siege I was shot right away and Deo picked me up and carried me around and enabled me to do those things that I did. Even after I was shot two more times, he was shot, he still wouldn't put me down. He still kept carrying me and eventually he threw himself on top of me to protect me from an exploding rocket, and he was killed." Beikirch planned to make a career out of the military but his injuries made that impossible. "Looking back on it now, I can see where God had a different plan for me," he said. Years after Deo's death, Beikirch said he was still plagued by guilt because a boy gave his life for him. "I decided I wanted to dedicate my life to working with young people and working with middle school kids." Beikirch worked at Northstar Christian Academy for nine years as a teacher and counselor and for 33 in the Greece Central School District. Working with young teens was one of the most significant and rewarding experiences in his life, he said. At the game, a video commemorating the honorees featured narration by four-time Academy Award nominee Bradley Cooper, who starred in American Sniper. A group of local choirs, led by CEO of NEWorks Productions Nolan Williams Jr., performed the national anthem. Friends and community members filled Beikirch's Facebook timeline with snapshots of their televisions and congratulations. Ten days before Beikirch stood on the field at the All-Star Game, he stood before his church, First Bible Baptist Church in Hilton, and shared details on the battle for his life after being shot three times in Vietnam at the age of 24. He called his efforts that led to his Medal of Honor a "piece of cake" compared to the battle in his hospital bed to stay alive. Beikirch said he prayed for the first time when he was in the hospital. "I learned that when courage fails, faith is born," he preached. MEFINNERTY@Gannett.com Includes reporting from USA TODAY Names of the honored Donald Ballard Harvey Barnum Jr. Gary Beikirch Edward Byers Bruce Crandall Roger Donlon Michael Fitzmaurice Robert Foley Harold Fritz Charles Hagemeister Thomas Kelley Charles Kettles Gary Littrell James Livingston Walter Marm Jr. James McCloughan Melvin Morris Robert Patterson Leroy Petry Alfred Rascon Gordon Roberts Clinton Romesha Gary Rose Ronald Rosser Clarence Sasser Kenneth Stumpf James Taylor Brian Thacker Hershel "Woody" Williams<doc-sep>
Amanda Christovich USA TODAY Sports Major League Baseball and the Washington, D.C., community will recognize 30 Medal of Honor recipients on the field during the 2018 All-Star Game festivities Tuesday night. One of the oldest honorees is Cpl. Hershel Woodrow Williams, 94, who received the Medal of Honor for his brave efforts in Iwo Jima in February 1945. Williams was "instrumental in neutralizing one of the most fanatically defended Japanese strong points encountered by his regiment," according to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society's website. Staff Sgt. Clinton L. Romesha, 36, is one of the youngest honorees. Romesha earned his Medal of Honor after fighting members of the Taliban in October 2009 in Afghanistan. Despite suffering shrapnel wounds, Romesha courageously fought to secure a combat post, according to the website. A video commemorating the honorees will feature narration by four-time Academy Award nominee and Georgetown University graduate Bradley Cooper, who starred in American Sniper. A group of local choirs, led by CEO of NEWorks Productions Nolan Williams Jr., will perform the national anthem. “These extraordinary veterans are national treasures and we are honored by their attendance. I hope this stage provides an opportunity to recognize their unmistakable commitment to our country and start the 89th MLB All-Star Game in an inspiring and patriotic way," Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. The Medal of Honor is the highest and most prestigious decoration awarded by the United States military. It celebrates "valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States." The 30 recipients in Tuesday's ceremony served in the armed forces during conflicts ranging from World War II to Iraq. “Medal of Honor recipients are honored to be included in the All-Star celebration of America’s favorite pastime sport, Baseball,” said Drew Dix, president of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, in a statement. In addition to the pre-game festivities, MLB also honored the U.S. Armed Forces with the inaugural All-Star Armed Services Classic, an exhibition game that took place between members of the Air Force and the Army at Nationals Park on Friday.