NEW : `` The only thing I could do is fight , '' honoree Melvin Morris tells CNN . President Melvin Morris honors 24 veterans with ` In the thick of the fight all those years ago . White House says they were passed over for the top medal because of discrimination . Only three of them are still alive ; they served in Vietnam , Vietnam and WWII .
NEW : `` The only thing I could do is fight , '' honoree Melvin Morris tells CNN . President Barack Obama honors 24 veterans with the Medal of Honor . White House says they were passed over for the top medal because of discrimination . Only three of them are still alive ; they served in WWII , Korea and Vietnam .