James Capers Jr.

Born in South Carolina to a family of sharecroppers, James Capers Jr later moved to Baltimore, Maryland, and upon graduation of high school he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps.

He was sent to Vietnam in August 1966. While serving, Capers was selected to join the elite Force Recon Marine unit where he excelled, breaking training records, participating in 64 long range reconnaissance patrols and five major campaigns in Vietnam. Among his many missions was a POW rescue ordered by President Johnson, amphibious assaults in the DMZ, recovery of a B-57 rumored to have a nuclear bomb, and search and destroy patrols in Phu Loc. In the fall of 1967, still recovering from combat injuries, Major James Capers was selected to represent the U.S. Marines in a national recruiting campaign.  With full integration completed only in 1960, Major Capers’ image became the Marine Corps most popular recruitment campaign. Following Vietnam, Major Capers participated in many Cold War covert operations as a field agent in Eastern Europe and Africa.

Along with his three Purple Hearts, Major Capers was awarded numerous medals and commendations during his service, including the Congressional Medal of Honor, two Bronze Stars and Combat V, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, a Joint Service Commendation Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, three Good Conduct Ribbons, Battle Stars, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, CG Certificate of Merit, multiple letters of Merit, Appreciation, and Commendation.

Married to his wife, Dottie, for more than 50 years before her passing in 2003, Major James Capers Jr. was one of only 14 members inducted into the inaugural class of U.S. Special Operations Command's Commando Hall of Honor at a ceremony in front of USSOCOM headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base. In November 2025, Capers received Fox Nation Patriot Awards’ 'Salute to Service Award' for his courageous service during Vietnam.