Soldier to Receive Medal of Honor for Iraq Hostage Rescue – By James LaPorta (The Associated Press) / Sept 2 2020
DELRAY BEACH, FL — An American soldier who helped rescue about 70 hostages set to be executed by Islamic State militants in Iraq has been approved to receive the Medal of Honor for actions during a daring 2015 raid, The Associated Press has learned.
Sgt. Maj. Thomas “Patrick” Payne, a Ranger assigned to the U.S. Army’s Special Operations Command, will receive the U.S. military’s highest honor for valor in combat in a White House ceremony set to be held on the 19th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
The medal approval was confirmed by two Defense Department officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak on the record.
Contacted by the AP on Monday, the Pentagon would not comment. The White House did not respond to an email inquiry.
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