If not for the hue of their skin or their ethnicity , 24 soldiers who faced death in service to their nation would have received the most prestigious medals for their valor long ago . NEW : `` The only thing I could do is fight for my life and try to get out of the car. 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 .
NEW : `` The only thing I could do is fight for my life and try to get out of the car. 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 .