President Trump Awards Medal Of Honor To Upstate Native

President Donald Trump presented the Medal Of Honor to a former Upstate New York Native Gary Michael Rose.

According to ABC News, Rose received the Medal of Honor on October 23rd for his heroism as a combat medic during a secret mission into Laos in 1970. This was during the Vietnam War. Rose is credited with saving the lives of 60 wounded personnel during four days of intense combat.

“My job was to focus on the individuals that were hurt,” Rose said at a Pentagon news briefing last Friday. “You don't concern yourself about getting hurt or killed.”

Trump praised Rose during the ceremony, and explained his story:

"He crawled from one soldier to the next, offering words of encouragement as he tended to their wounds. On the second day, one of the Allied soldiers was shot outside their company perimeter. Again, Mike raced to the side of the soldier, exposing himself to constant fire. Mike fired with one arm while dragging the injured soldier back to the perimeter."

"For the next 48 excruciating hours, he used a branch as a crutch and went on rescuing the wounded. Mike did not stop to eat, to sleep or even care for his own serious injury as he saved the lives of his fellow soldiers. On the second and final night of the mission, the enemy surrounded the company.

"All night long, Mike treated the wounded and dug trenches to protect them from blazing rockets and grenades. After four days of constant engagement with the enemy and successfully destroying an enemy base camp, Mike's unit prepared to depart."

Rose went on to serve 20 years in the Army, achieving the rank of captain. Rose was a native to Watertown, and currently lives in Huntsville Alabama.

BONUS VIDEO