Major James Capers Jr., a legendary figure in Marine Force Recon and the first African American Marine officer designated to receive the Medal of Honor, has officially inducted his oral history into the Library of Congress's Veterans History Project (VHP). The induction ceremony took place in the Great Hall of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., following the March 2026 signing of H.R. 3377 into law, which authorized the nation’s highest military honor for Capers.
During his visit, 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. His oral history will now be permanently archived at the Library of Congress, ensuring future generations can access his experiences. The VHP collects and preserves 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, born to sharecroppers in the Jim Crow South, broke racial barriers by becoming the first African American Marine promoted from enlisted to officer via a battlefield commission. He was a member of the inaugural class of the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Commando Hall of Honor, and his tactics remain foundational to special operations forces today. His personal decorations include the Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star with Combat V, Purple Heart with three Gold Stars, and a Letter of Appreciation from President Richard M. Nixon.
The induction event was captured in high-resolution images available at www.majorcapers.com. The official media kit includes the "Induction" portrait of Capers in full Dress Blue uniform within the Great Hall, as well as images of his family and the inter-agency team that facilitated the VHP induction. Among those present were his daughter, researcher Aneesah Akbar-Uqdah, and his grandson, U.S. Coast Guard OS3 Joden Brunson.
Major Capers currently lives in Jacksonville, North Carolina, where he actively mentors within the Special Operations community. His induction into the Library of Congress underscores the importance of preserving the stories of veterans who have made significant contributions to military history and civil rights.
