Trump to award Medal of Honor to Iraq War hero's family
Source: PBS
Nation Mar 27, 2019 8:58 AM EDT
WASHINGTON An Army staff sergeant who saved three soldiers from the blast of an Iraqi suicide bomber by turning himself into a human shield will be memorialized when President Donald Trump presents the service members family with the Medal of Honor, the nations highest military award for bravery against an enemy.
Wednesday will be the eighth time Trump presents the honor. Its one of the few he regularly gives out.
Staff Sgt. Travis Atkins, 31, of Bozeman, Montana , was trying to subdue the suspected insurgent in June 2007 when he realized the man was attempting to detonate a bomb strapped to his body. Atkins then covered the bombers body with his in a selfless act that officials said spared three soldiers. He was on his second tour of duty in Iraq and overseeing a 15-soldier squad at the time of his death, one month after he was promoted to staff sergeant.
Atkins initial award, the Distinguished Service Cross, was upgraded to the Medal of Honor after a Defense Department review. His son, Trevor, and parents will represent him at a White House ceremony Wednesday afternoon.
Read more: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/trump-to-award-medal-of-honor-to-iraq-war-heros-family
Roy Rolling
(6,941 posts)A true war hero. I mean, walking on stage to hand out this award while he suffers from those crippling bone spurs? Our president, ladies and gentlemen.
Botany
(70,592 posts)He ran out and gave himself up to stop a car bomb and saved many many
lives of his men.