It's been almost 63 years since Nicholas Oresko received the Medal of Honor, but he said it was an experience of a lifetime.

In January 1945, Oresko was serving as an Army master sergeant with Company C at the Battle of the Bulge in World War II near Tettington, Germany. Oresko's unit was attacked by enemy fire, but despite being struck by bullets himself, he single-handedly killed 12 Germans with an attack on two enemy bunkers.

"It was in the winter, and it was very cold, and the snow was very deep. Our job was to push the Germans back. After the second machine gun knocked me down, I knew I was going to die, so I was going to go all out," Oresko said.

Oresko lived through the battle, and in October 1945 President Truman honored him with the Medal of Honor for efforts that made it possible for Company C to move on with its objective with minimum casualties.

"After I received the medal, my life was never the same. I've met all the presidents since then," Oresko said.

Oresko was one of 43 Medal of Honor recipients who attended a gala dinner and ceremony Saturday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley. At 91, Oresko was one of the oldest living medal recipients in attendance.

Brian Williams, anchorman for "NBC Nightly News," hosted the event to honor the recipients. More than 1,000 people, including business, government, military, entertainment and philanthropic leaders from throughout the nation, attended.

Some of the guests included former Gov. Pete Wilson, former Vice President Dan Quayle and actor Gary Sinise.

The Congressional Medal of Honor Society and Foundation also presented its Distinguished Citizen Awards to Dr. Bonnie J. Dunbar, a veteran of five NASA space missions, and Gen. James T. Conway, commandant of the Marine Corps.

'A humbling experience'

Col. Robert L. Howard, who served five tours in Vietnam and is one of the most decorated soldiers in the United States, presented the awards to the recipients.

"This is both an honor and a humbling experience to be in the presence of all these great people who served our country," Dunbar said. "My father served in the military, and my 19-year-old brother died in Vietnam. Since then, my life has been about service and preserving the memory of my family."

'For the true heroes'

Jon Voight, who received the Bob Hope Award for Excellence in Entertainment at the event, talked about his visits with wounded soldiers in military hospitals and how his work as an actor pales in comparison to those in service.

"I will treasure this award all my life. I'm not the true hero. This is for the true heroes tonight," Voight said.

Retired Army officer Roger H.C. Donlon, 74, who was the first man to receive the Medal of Honor in Vietnam as well as the first member of the Special Forces to be honored, traveled to the event from Kansas with his wife, Norma.

Before the ceremony, Donlon sat with Oresko and George T. Sakato, a retired U.S. soldier who did not receive the Medal of Honor until 56 years after his service because of his Japanese heritage.

The families of the three Medal of Honor recipients looked for their pictures in the library's Vision of Valor exhibit in the Air Force One Pavilion while the men talked about their history and why they came to the event Saturday.

"This is my first time to the Reagan Library, and this is a beautiful place," Donlon said. "We came here to celebrate freedom, and it's important for us to be here to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for that freedom."