The White House and Congress recognize the few remaining World War II veterans.
The Congressional Gold medal was awarded to US Army Rangers who fought in some of the most important battles of the war.
The medals, one of the US's highest civilian awards, "is going to be to US Army Ranger veterans of World War II, who played a crucial role in the D-Day invasion in Normandy," Biden said in a ceremony on June 7
The elite group used to number 7,000, but now is down to 12. There are 12 left. On behalf of our nation, we would like to thank them for their service.
During World War II, the Rangers made their mark on the plains of Europe and in the jungles of Asia, and two operations reflect their contribution to the victory.
The D-Day landings were one of the most daring Ranger operations.
Five beaches were landed on by Allied forces. The US troops were responsible for Omaha and Utah beaches which are separated by a cliff.
Pointe du Hoc was fortified by the Germans with heavy weaponry that could be fatal to US troops on the beaches.
Allied commanders assigned the 2nd Ranger battalion and 200 Rangers to take down the German position before the landings began.
More than 630 tons of weapons were launched against Pointe du Hoc by Allied aircraft and ships on D-Day. The bombardment failed to destroy the German guns and fortifications and tore up the ground and cliffs around the German positions.
The Rangers had to climb 100 foot cliffs to get to the German positions. The US special forces used ropes and ladders to get to the top of the mountain. The Germans attacked and pinned down the Rangers.
By the second day of the invasion, the Rangers had suffered more than 50% casualties and only 90 men were still able to fight. On the third day of the invasion, reinforcements arrived to relieve the Rangers after the Germans tried to throw them back into the water.
The Army Rangers distinguished themselves again a few months later.
The Allies won the war in the Pacific at the end of 1944 Japan's army and navy were on the defensive and Allied forces were on the move. Japanese troops continued to commit war crimes even after they retreated.
Many of the Allied prisoners of war who were killed or burned alive in the Philippines in December 1944 were survivors of the Bataan Death March.
The atrocities were reported to Allied forces by a few Americans. The US commanders realized that other prisoners were about to be executed. The largest POW camp in the region was in the Philippines.
A rescue operation was launched by some 120 Alamo Scouts and Rangers from the 6th Ranger Battalion. The soldiers had to march 30 miles behind enemy lines.
They attacked the camp from the front and flank. All the Allied POWs were rescued after the surprise was complete.
The largest prisoner-of-war rescue in US special-operations history took place in the 1980's.
One of the Rangers present, Maj. Arthur "Bull" Simons, became a legend in the special-operations community and took in the attempt to rescue prisoners from a prison camp in Vietnam. The Bull Simons Award is given by the US Special Operations Command.
The 75th Ranger Regiment is an important part of the US special-operations arsenal. One of the few US military units that has been continuously deployed since the 9/11 attacks is the Rangers.
A Hellenic Army veteran, a defense journalist specializing in special operations, and a graduate of a prestigious university are just some of the things that Stavros Atlamazoglou is.
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