President Trump awarded the Medal of Honor to Army Capt. Gary Michael Rose, 71, for saving the lives of dozens of soldiers during the Vietnam War. Capt. Rose was honored for risking his own life while saving others during Operation Tailwind in 1970. Capt. Rose was a medic in the 5th Special Forces Group and ran into enemy fire on the battlefield to save soldiers using his own body and giving critical medical care to those in need.

President Trump during the ceremony said, " Rose's family and brothers in arms that this award will enshrine him into the history of our nation," Trumps said

Trump also said, "Your will to endure, your love for your fellow soldiers, your devotion to inspires us all.

I have to tell you, that is something. Nations are formed out of the strength and patriotism that lives in the hearts of our heroes," via NBC News.

Operation Tailwind

Operation Tailwind was a covert mission in Laos. The mission occurred between September 11- 14, 1970, during the Vietnam War. The operation was to divert the attention of the North Vietnamese away from Operation Gauntlet. The idea of the mission was to stop weapons from being transported along the Ho Chi Minh trail which was a major route.

The Studies and Operation Group was sent in and before being able to be dropped off while still in the helicopters they were fired upon by the enemy. That began the four-day battle.

Capt. Rose without hesitation started working on wounded soldiers while under enemy fire. Capt. Rose never focused on himself possibly being hurt himself, his main concern was keeping our soldiers safe and giving medical treatment.

Capt. Rose stated," my job was to focus on the individuals that were hurt."

Rose continued to state, "when you focus on those kinds of circumstances, you don't concern yourself about being hurt or killed, because if you dwell on that or think about that, you are not going to be able to focus on what you're supposed to be doing and you're probably going to be hurt or killed," reported by WBUR.

Four days after the covert mission began, Marine helicopters came to evacuate the soldiers out of Laos. Capt. Rose got in the last helicopter when it arrived, The helicopter he was on was hit and crashed, He began working on injured Marines who had been shot when the helicopter went down and saved their lives. No lives were lost during the mission because of Capt. Rose's actions.

Capt. Gary Michael Rose

Capt. Gary Michael Rose enlisted in the U.S Army in 1967. He did his basic training at Fort Ord in California before being sent to Fort Benning in Georgia, At Fort Benning, he went to Airborne School. Rose and began training at Fort Bragg for Special Forces where he graduated and became a Special Forces medic.

In 1970 Rose was sent to the Studies and Observations Group, 5th Special Forces Group stationed in Vietnam.

Rose's military career continued in 1973 he attended officer school at Fort Benning and became a second lieutenant in Field Artillery. He then went to Fort Sills in Oklahoma attended Field Artillery Officer School. he retired from military service in 1987. During his career, Rose received many awards, medals, and ribbons. He received the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, National Defense Medal, the Palm Combat Medical Badge, the Good Conduct Medal and much more.

Capt. Rose married in 1971 and has three children and is a grandfather.
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