US President Barack Obama is set to award the nation's top military award to two soldiers for acts of bravery during the Vietnam War.
Command Sgt Maj Bennie Adkins rescued wounded comrades during a North Vietnamese attack on a US camp.
Specialist Donald Sloat was killed in 1970 when he shielded three soldiers from a grenade with his body.
The men were granted an exemption from a requirement the award be given within three years of the action honoured.
The Medal of Honor is awarded to US military members who have risked their lives in acts "above and beyond the call of duty".
Command Sgt Maj Adkins, 80, who served 22 years in the Army, will attend the White House ceremony. He served three tours of duty in Vietnam.
Sloat's medal will be accepted on his behalf by his brother During his second deployment in 1966, then-Sgt First Class Adkins fought in close combat for 38 hours against a North Vietnamese attack on a US Army camp in A Shau valley.
Early in the battle, he dragged several wounded soldiers to safety through exploding mortar rounds as he himself was injured, according to an Army report.
Sgt Adkins continued fighting to defend the camp with both mortar and rifle fire throughout another day. When the order was given to evacuate, he and others destroyed papers to prevent them being captured, then dug their way out of a back of a bunker.
He and several others could not reach an evacuation helicopter because Sgt Adkins was carrying a wounded soldier, so he led remaining soldiers into the jungle, evading Vietcong forces for 48 more hours before being rescued.
Specialist Four Donald Sloat was born in Oklahoma and was killed in action at the age of 20.
While on patrol near Hawk Hill Fire Base, a soldier in his group triggered an enemy hand grenade booby trap.
Specialist Sloat picked up the grenade to throw it away, but he realised it was about to explode. He drew the grenade into his body before it exploded, saving the lives of three fellow soldiers.
"Sloat's actions define the ultimate sacrifice of laying down his own life in order to save the lives of his comrades," the Army said.
His brother, William, planned to accept the medal from the US president on Monday.
Top US honour for Vietnam soldiers
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