Throughout his State of the Union handle Tuesday evening, President Trump honored a number of U.S. service members and one Olympic athlete with awards that included the Purple Coronary heart, the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Legion of Benefit and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Purple Hearts awarded to Andrew Wolfe, household of Sarah Beckstrom
In November of final yr, Air Drive Workers Sgt. Andrew Wolfe and Military Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, members of the West Virginia Nationwide Guard, had been ambushed and shot whereas on patrol in Washington, D.C., close to the White Home.
Beckstrom, 20, died within the capturing, whereas Wolfe, 24, was critically injured, however survived. An Afghan nationwide arrested in reference to the capturing pleaded not responsible earlier this month to federal fees.
“With God’s assist, Andrew has battled again from the sting of demise,” the president mentioned Tuesday.
Brendan SMIALOWSKI /AFP through Getty Photographs
Wolfe and Beckstrom’s households had been in attendance for the handle Tuesday evening and had been acknowledged by the president. Wolfe was awarded the Purple Coronary heart within the Home Chamber, which was pinned to his lapel. Beckstrom’s household was awarded a posthumous Purple Coronary heart on their daughter’s behalf.
“After a four-month deployment, she voluntarily prolonged her service and her rank was going to be lifted,” the president mentioned of Beckstrom. “She was doing so nicely, they had been so pleased with her. However the very subsequent day, she was on patrol close to the White Home when she was ambushed and shot within the head by a terrorist monster from Afghanistan. Should not have been in our nation. And all as a result of she wore the uniform of our nation, she was shot.”
U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck to obtain Medal of Freedom
Connor Hellebuyck, goalie for the U.S. males’s hockey workforce, will likely be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, Mr. Trump mentioned Tuesday.
It was Hellebuyck’s extraordinary goalkeeping that helped the U.S. defeat Canada 2-1 within the gold-medal sport of the Winter Olympics on Sunday and gave the U.S. its first males’s hockey gold because the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” workforce.
ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS /AFP through Getty Photographs 
Hellebuyck and his teammates met with Mr. Trump on the White Home earlier Tuesday earlier than attending the State of the Union, the place they obtained a roaring ovation from lawmakers on either side of the aisle.
“I’ve by no means seen a goalie play in addition to Connor Hellebuyck,” Mr. Trump mentioned.
100-year-old Korean Battle vet awarded Medal of Honor for long-secret aerial battle with Soviets
Navy Capt. E. Royce Williams, age 100, was in attendance Tuesday evening to obtain the Medal of Honor — the U.S. army’s highest honor for valor in fight — for his heroics throughout an aerial confrontation that remained secret for a few half-century.
Andrew Harnik / Getty Photographs 
Through the Korean Battle in 1952, Williams shot down 4 Soviet MiG-15 jets throughout a 35-minute dogfight with seven Soviet jets whereas flying off the coast of the Korean Peninsula. It is thought of one of many longest aerial engagements in U.S. Navy historical past.
“Tonight, at 100 years outdated, this courageous Navy captain is lastly getting the popularity he deserves. He was a legend lengthy earlier than this night,” Mr. Trump mentioned.
Williams obtained a several-minute standing ovation whereas first woman Melania Trump offered Williams with the award.
Soldier wounded in seize of Maduro awarded Medal of Honor
Chief Warrant Officer Eric Slover, who was wounded throughout the operation in Venezuela that resulted within the seize of former President Nicolás Maduro, was offered with the Medal of Honor.
Mr. Trump mentioned Slover was the pilot within the first Chinook helicopter that descended on Maduro’s army compound in the course of the evening. The president mentioned Slover was “hit very badly within the leg and hip” whereas getting ready to land.
Kenny Holston-Pool / Getty Photographs / Kenny Holston/The New York Instances 
“But, even if using his legs was important to profitable helicopter flight, to ship the various commandos who would seize and detain Maduro was the one factor Eric was excited about,” Mr. Trump mentioned.
Coast Guard officer who responded to Texas flooding receives Legion of Benefit
Petty Officer 2nd Class Scott Ruskan was awarded the Legion of Benefit “for extraordinary heroism” by Mr. Trump for his rescue efforts throughout the lethal Texas floods in July 2025, which claimed the lives of greater than 130 individuals, together with a number of dozen at Camp Mystic, a summer time camp for women.
Kenny Holston-Pool / Getty Photographs / Kenny Holston/The New York Instances 
Ruskan was credited by Mr. Trump for rescuing 11-year-old Milly Cate McClymond, one of many camp’s attendees, and dozens of others.
“Because the waters threatened to brush her away, 11-year-old Millie Cate McClymond closed her eyes and prayed to God,” Mr. Trump mentioned. “She thought she was going to die. These prayers had been answered when Coast Guard rescue swimmer Scott Ruskan descended from a helicopter above. No person knew the place he got here from. It was Scott’s first ever rescue mission. Younger man, very courageous…at all times high in his class, and he lifted not simply Millie Cate, however 164 others to security.”
