President bestows Medal of Honor awards

WASHINGTON, May 2 (UPI) -- President Obama bestowed posthumous Medals of Honor on two Army privates killed in the Korean War at a White House ceremony attended by family members.

In the White House East Room Monday, the president bestowed the nation's highest honor for conspicuous gallantry on Anthony T. Kaho'ohanohano of Pukalani, Hawaii, and Henry Svehla of Belleville, N.J., a White House release said.

"Today, we are joined by two American families who six decades ago gave our nation one of their own," the president said.

Kaho'ohanohano was in charge of a machine-gun squad on Sept. 1, 1951, when enemy forces overran them. He ordered the squad to fall back and seek cover while staying at the gun to give covering fire. He fought the enemy alone until his ammunition ran out, then in hand-to-hand until he was killed.

Svehla, a rifleman in 7th Infantry Division, charged enemy positions when his platoon came under heavy fire on June 12, 1952. After destroying enemy positions and inflicting heavy casualties, he threw himself on a grenade that landed among his fellow soldiers and was mortally wounded.

Family members accepted the medals on behalf of their deceased loved ones, the White House said.

"We are grateful for their sacrifice. We are grateful for your sacrifice. You have made this country safer. Tony and Henry stand as a model of courage and patriotism," the president said.