For Maj. James Capers, joining the Marine Corps was never a question, it was a calling.
“We’d just come out of World War II, and most of us patriotic young Americans, we wanted to do something to show that we could also serve our country,” he told We Are The Mighty.
In 1956, just after graduating high school, Capers enlisted. He excelled in boot camp and quickly distinguished himself as a natural leader.
Capers deployed to Vietnam at a time when the fighting was fierce. In 1967, he led a reconnaissance team deep into the jungle, where they were ambushed and severely injured. Despite the chaos, Capers’ leadership saved lives.
“All nine men were hurt, but they all survived,” he said.
Over the course of his service, Capers sustained serious wounds but never faltered in his commitment to his Marines.
“I was shot 19 times, broke both legs, and spent more than a year recovering,” he said.
Capers was awarded three Purple Hearts, the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars with Combat “V”, and numerous other commendations for his valor and sacrifice.
In 2022, filmmakers released a documentary, “Major Capers: The Legend of Team Broadminded,” portraying his life and career. Today, there is an active movement calling for Maj. Capers to be awarded the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary heroism.
While he was recovering at Fort Meade, Md., the Marine Corps asked Capers to become the face of its national recruiting campaign, “Ask a Marine.” With that, he became the first Black Marine featured on an official recruiting poster.
“I was told by a lot of my friends that they saw that poster and it sort of made them think about joining the service and serving their country,” Capers said. “Unfortunately, many of them went overseas and didn’t come home, but at least they served. I’m proud of that.”
The impact of that poster stretched beyond what Capers could have imagined. To this day, retired sergeant majors and even generals credit that campaign with inspiring their decision to join the Marine Corps.
Recently, Maj. Capers was invited to the White House, where he was recognized alongside other Purple Heart recipients. Decades after his service, his bravery and trailblazing legacy continue to be celebrated.
“I was proud to serve the greatest country in the world,” Capers reflected. “I spent 23 years in the service of this country. I have 19 holes that I bled from, and I’m proud of that. But I wish we had more servicemen who would join—and more who came home after the war.”
Though the Marine Corps has since moved on to new recruiting campaigns, Maj. James Capers continues to inspire the next generation. His message is simple but powerful: service matters.
“I encourage this next generation to step up and serve,” he said.
