body and carried him back to safety. but this was just the beginning. president trump today awarding the medal of honor to retired u.s. army captain gary mike mike rose for his heroic actions during the vietnam war. it was back in 1970, rose was a medic attached to the 5th special forces group, fighting where u.s. forces weren t supposed to be, in laos. rose was wounded in a firefight, survived a helicopter crash. he ignored his own injuries to pull the chopper crew and members of his unit from the burning crash site. rose now becomes a member of a storied group of veterans, those who ve been awarded their nation s highest military honor. this now makes it 73 men alive today to hold that honor. one of them happens to be here, our friend and colleague jack jacobs. he remains here with us, as does historian and author john meacham. jack, i have to threaten you that we have a photo of you and
we are honored to be in their presence. this afternoon, i want to take a few moments to share with you the incredible story of mike s heroic deeds. raised in watertown, new york, mike s father was a metal worker and a world war ii veteran. he taught his son that we live in the greatest country in the world, and that we must love it, cherish it and always defend it. mike took that very much to heart. after his first year in college he enlisted in the army and by the time he was 22 mike was a medic for the 5th special forces group in the vietnam war. on september 11, 1970, mike was called on his second combat
we are honored to be in their presence. this afternoon i want to take a few moments to share with you the incredible story of mike s heroic deeds. raised in watertown, new york, mike s father was a metal worker and a world war ii veteran. he taught his son that we live in the greatest country in the world, and that we must love it, cherish it and always defend it. mike took that very much to heart. after his first year in college, he enlisted in the army and by the time he was 22, mike was a medic for the 5th special forces group in the vietnam war. on september 11, 1970, mike was