Army soldier rescued 75 hostages from Iraqi prison.
Last Friday, President Trump awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor to Sgt. Major Thomas “Patrick” Payne for the heroism he displayed in a daring 2016 raid that rescued 75 hostages from a prison in northern Iraq. The president hailed him as “one of the bravest men anywhere in the world.”
The president said Payne’s heroic selfless action led to 20 ISIS terrorists being killed and the lives of 75 captives being saved.
“Today he joins the immortal company of our most revered American heroes,” President Trump said in the White House ceremony. “Pat, you personify the motto: ‘Rangers lead the way.'”
The Medal of Honor is the highest decoration a member of the military can receive, and Payne, age 36, is the first living member of the Delta Force to have it hung on a ribbon around his neck.
“My team was responsible for one of the buildings that the hostages were being held in,” Payne said. “What was significant is that there were freshly dug graves, if we didn’t action this target then the hostages will probably be executed.”
Working with Kurdish forces, Payne’s team pressed on and helped secure one of the largest hostage rescues in history.
“He ran right back into that raging blaze,” Trump said of the dangerous rescue. “He sliced the final lock and released the rest of the hostages. As the building began to collapse, he received orders to evacuate but he refused to do so. He didn’t want to leave anyone behind.
“Pat ran back into the burning building that was collapsing,” the president continued. “Two more times. He saved multiple hostages and he was the last man to leave.”
The ceremony took place on the 19th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- With gratitude for the selfless men and women who serve America is the armed forces.
- With gratitude for the heroics of the young Medal of Honor recipient.
Sources: White House, Fox News
