Trump awards Medal of Honor to retired Navy SEAL

President Trump on Thursday awarded a retired Navy SEAL with the Medal of Honor, praising him for his bravery during a 2002 mission in Afghanistan that had gone awry.

Retired Master Chief Petty Officer Britt Slabinski was honored for leading a team of U.S. forces on a rescue mission through enemy fire after their helicopter crash-landed.

Trump lauded Slabinski as a “special man” and a “truly brave person” during a ceremony at the White House.

Retired Navy Seal Britt Slabinski receives Medal of Honor after leading team up a mountain to rescue a stranded teammate in Afghanistan. https://t.co/SJkECEOpS0 pic.twitter.com/y8vFCD7pla

— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 24, 2018

{mosads}

In March 2002, Slabinski led a team toward the peak of Takur Ghar, a 10,000-foot mountain in Afghanistan.

The team’s helicopter was struck by enemy machine gun fire, knocking Petty Officer 1st Class Neil Roberts out of the aircraft. After the helicopter crash-landed, Slabinski led his team on a rescue mission in search of Roberts.

The group endured heavy enemy fire as it moved through waist-deep snow toward enemy targets.

Slabinski “repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire” as he led the charge, the White House said.

Over the course of the next several hours, he treated casualties and called in airstrikes on enemy forces until American forces could be extracted, the White House said.

Trump recounted the story at Thursday’s ceremony, and recognized seven other service members involved in the mission who attended the event.

“You waged a fierce fight against the enemies, and these really have become the enemies of America and the enemies of all civilization,” Trump said.

“Through your actions you demonstrated there is no love more pure, and no courage more great than the love and courage that burns in the hearts of American patriots,” he added.

Seven Americans, including Roberts, were killed in the operation. The mission came under scrutiny for a lack of planning and communication at senior levels, The Washington Post reported.

Slabinski, who retired in 2014, is the 12th living service member to receive the Medal of Honor for actions in Afghanistan.

The Medal of Honor is considered the country’s highest military honor, and is awarded for bravery in combat.