Army Staff Sgt. David G. Bellavia is the first living Medal of Honor recipient for the Iraq War. 'It is my privilege to award the highest military honor to an American soldier who demonstrated exceptional courage to protect his men,' Pres. Trump says.
Army Staff Sgt. David G. Bellavia became the first living Medal of Honor recipient for the Iraq War when President Donald Trump presented the award at a White House ceremony on Tuesday, saluting the Army veteran's"extraordinary courage" fifteen years after his acts of heroism in the city of Fallujah in 2004.Bellavia, now 43, was honored for his heroism on Nov.
"He quickly exchanged an M16 rifle for an M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, entered the house where his squad was trapped, and engaged insurgents, providing cover fire so that he and his fellow soldiers could exit safely," according to a White House statement announcing his award earlier this month. When an armored Bradley Fighting Vehicle could not fire directly into the house, Bellavia re-entered the house -- armed only with an M16 -- and attacked the insurgents who had been firing rocket-propelled grenades.
His award is an upgrade from the Silver Star he had previously received for these same actions. A few years ago, the Pentagon began a blanket review of all valor awards to see if they should be upgraded. Bellavia was unaware that his Silver Star had been chosen for the Medal of Honor until he received a phone call from the president, he said.
Bellavia grew up as the youngest of four boys in Lyndonville, New York. He enlisted in the Army as an infantryman in 1999 and would deploy to Kosovo and then Iraq just four years later in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trump refers to wrong ayatollah when announcing Iran sanctions
Read more »
U.S. prods Iran for talks to ease Gulf tensions; Tehran dismisses sanctions threatU.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday he was not seeking war with Tehran af...
Read more »
Trump says war with Iran would be 'obliteration like you've never seen before''I'm not looking for war,' the president insisted, calling on Iranian leaders to talk with 'no preconditions.'
Read more »
President Trump disagrees with Megan Rapinoe's protest during anthemPresident Trump does not support Megan Rapinoe's protests during the national anthem at the World Cup.
Read more »