Army Rifleman Receives Posthumous Medal of Honor

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President Obama on Wednesday awarded Army Spc. 4 Leslie H. Sabo Jr. a posthumous Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration, during a ceremony in the White House’s East Room. Obama presented the medal to Sabo’s widow Rose Mary Brown; Sabo’s brother George was also in attendance. The President honored Sabo, a 101st Airborne Division rifleman, for his conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty that cost him his life during a reconnaissance patrol in Se San, Cambodia, on May 10, 1970. When a large enemy force ambushed Sabo’s platoon, Sabo charged forward, killing several enemy fighters and thwarting a flanking force. When an enemy grenade landed near a wounded comrade, Sabo shielded his comrade’s body with his own and threw the grenade back, receiving serious wounds from the grenade’s blast. Despite that, “Leslie did something extraordinary” by crawling toward an enemy bunker, said Obama. Now mortally wounded by enemy weapons fire, Sabo threw a grenade into the bunker, silencing it, but also costing him his life. “He saved his comrades, who meant more to him than life,” stated Obama. (Obama’s remarks) (White House blog entry) (Army webpage honoring Sabo)

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org