Chief Warrant Officer Eric Slover Receives Congressional Medal of Honor at State of the Union for Maduro Raid
In a moment never before seen in American history, President Donald Trump awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor to Chief Warrant Officer 5 Eric Slover live during his 2026 State of the Union address on February 24, 2026. Slover, 45, earned the nation's highest military decoration for his extraordinary valor during Operation Absolute Resolve — the covert January 3 raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas.
Chief Warrant Officer Eric Slover Piloted the Lead Chinook Helicopter Into Caracas
Chief Warrant Officer Eric Slover served with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, flying an MH-47 Chinook helicopter as the lead aircraft of Operation Absolute Resolve. The mission required threading through hostile air defense systems, navigating a dense jungle valley in mountainous terrain, and descending under the cover of darkness into one of the most heavily fortified military compounds in Venezuela.
Slover planned the entire helicopter infiltration component of the mission himself. He served as flight lead, meaning every aircraft behind him in the formation depended on his decisions in real time. There was zero margin for error — the Delta Force operators onboard were the assault team tasked with detaining Maduro.
Enemy Fire Struck the Chinook and Chief Warrant Officer Slover Multiple Times
As his aircraft touched down at the designated landing zone, multiple machine gun positions opened fire at close range. Fifteen armor-piercing rounds entered the cockpit, with four rounds striking Slover's leg. The injuries were severe and life-threatening, described in graphic detail by President Trump before a joint session of Congress.
Despite the wounds, Slover maintained control of the aircraft, executed the insertion, and ensured his crew successfully carried out their objectives. He then piloted the aircraft back to the USS Iwo Jima. His final words before transferring aircraft control were reported as: "I'm about ready to pass out." He held on long enough to complete the mission.
Eric Slover Medal of Honor Presented Live at the 2026 State of the Union
The presentation marked the first time in history that Medals of Honor were presented during a State of the Union address. Army Lt. Gen. Jonathan Braga, commander of Joint Special Operations Command, placed the Congressional Medal of Honor around Slover's neck in the Capitol gallery as the chamber erupted in a standing ovation.
Slover, still recovering from his injuries, appeared in full dress uniform and relied on a walker to steady himself. He was accompanied by his wife, Amy, as chants of "USA, USA, USA" rang out. Trump noted that a separate, formal White House ceremony would be held for Slover and the ten other service members involved in the raid.
Captain Royce Williams Also Receives Congressional Medal of Honor
Slover was not the only hero honored that night. Retired Navy Capt. Royce Williams, now 100 years old, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Korean War in 1952. Captain Royce Williams remains the only living Medal of Honor recipient from the Korean War era.
Trump described Williams' combat actions in Korea: flying through blizzard conditions, his squadron was ambushed by seven Soviet fighter planes in his first aerial combat of the war. Despite being massively outnumbered, Williams led the takedown of four enemy jets while taking 263 bullets to his own plane and sustaining serious injuries. First Lady Melania Trump presented the medal to Capt. Royce Williams personally.
How Old Is President Trump and What the Medal of Honor Means to His Presidency
Trump, 79, used the Congressional Medal of Honor presentations as the emotional centerpiece of a State of the Union address that also touched on the country's approaching 250th anniversary. The awards were framed as proof of a stronger, more capable United States military under his administration.
Trump framed the awards within a broader patriotic theme, stating: "Everything our nation has done, everything we have achieved has been the work of those few great lifetimes." The awards drew a rare bipartisan response in what was otherwise a sharply divided political chamber.
Eric Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients Now Number 3,530
With the awards to Slover and Williams, the total number of Congressional Medal of Honor recipients rises to 3,530, while the number of living recipients rises to 63. Chief Warrant Officer Slover becomes the first Medal of Honor recipient recognized for actions during Operation Absolute Resolve in Venezuela.
Slover enlisted in the U.S. Army in August 2005 and went on to become a decorated Night Stalker with the 160th SOAR. His awards prior to the Medal of Honor include the Distinguished Flying Cross with V Device, the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, and the Combat Action Badge — a career defined entirely by valor under fire.
