U.S. soldier is honored by Trump
Medal ceremony at medical center
BETHESDA, Md. — President Donald Trump on Saturday awarded a Purple Heart to an Army sergeant recently wounded in Afghanistan, the first he has awarded during his service as commander in chief of the U.S. military.
“When I heard about this … I wanted to do it myself,” Trump said during a brief ceremony at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., outside Washington. The medal went to Sgt. 1st Class Alvaro Barrientos, who was wounded March 17 in Afghanistan during what is now America’s longest war. The White House did not release Barrientos’ hometown.
“Congratulations on behalf of Melania and myself and the entire nation. Tremendous,” said Trump, mentioning his wife.
It was Trump’s first visit as president to the military hospital.
Barrientos, whose right leg had been amputated below the knee, was transported into a hospital atrium in a wheelchair, accompanied by his wife, Tammy.
Trump kissed Barrientos’ wife before pinning the medal on the sergeant’s left shirt collar, grasping Barrientos by the shoulders and then shaking his hand. The Purple Heart is awarded to service members who are wounded or killed in action.
Besides Barrientos, Trump met privately with about a dozen service members who are receiving care at the medical center.
Before leaving the White House, the president tweeted that he looked forward to “seeing our bravest and greatest Americans.”
Trump’s decision to allow news media coverage of the medal ceremony was in sharp contrast to former President Barack Obama, who awarded Purple Heart medals during his regular visits to Walter Reed but always did so behind closed doors.