1 00:00:01,615 --> 00:00:04,198 (somber music) 2 00:00:19,090 --> 00:00:21,730 - His eyes were so captivating. 3 00:00:21,730 --> 00:00:22,890 You could just see down into his soul 4 00:00:22,890 --> 00:00:25,503 that he was a good, decent person. 5 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:28,653 - When he was loyal, 6 00:00:29,774 --> 00:00:32,374 you had his commitment, you knew you had a teammate, 7 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:34,440 a teammate for life. 8 00:00:38,480 --> 00:00:41,260 - John's sacrifice in the line of duty 9 00:00:42,100 --> 00:00:45,310 on March the third and March the fourth of 2002, 10 00:00:45,310 --> 00:00:49,033 was all about putting others ahead of himself. 11 00:00:49,940 --> 00:00:51,840 - [Val] I knew he was as trained as he could be, 12 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:53,620 and if something did happen, 13 00:00:53,620 --> 00:00:56,223 that is just the way it was meant to be. 14 00:00:58,650 --> 00:01:01,780 - After losing one teammate out of the back of a helicopter, 15 00:01:01,780 --> 00:01:03,370 he immediately started working with a gunship 16 00:01:03,370 --> 00:01:05,080 to put eyes on, uh, 17 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:07,090 to recover him to get back home. 18 00:01:07,090 --> 00:01:09,170 - He decided in his own mind 19 00:01:09,170 --> 00:01:12,980 that to safeguard his teammates lives 20 00:01:12,980 --> 00:01:17,270 that he couldn't do that and protect his own life. 21 00:01:17,270 --> 00:01:20,583 John sacrificed himself for others. 22 00:01:26,170 --> 00:01:29,040 When I went to Valerie's doorstep 23 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:31,840 to tell her that John wasn't coming home, 24 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:36,300 and I saw those two, those beautiful little girls, 25 00:01:36,300 --> 00:01:39,827 they were five and three at the time, 26 00:01:39,827 --> 00:01:40,660 and I thought, 27 00:01:41,820 --> 00:01:44,290 you know they're gonna grow up without their daddy. 28 00:01:44,290 --> 00:01:48,020 I just, I think of that every time I 29 00:01:48,020 --> 00:01:49,212 think of John. 30 00:01:49,212 --> 00:01:51,795 (somber music) 31 00:01:55,137 --> 00:01:56,860 - [Soldier] If John was to find out he was receiving 32 00:01:56,860 --> 00:01:59,630 the Medal of Honor he'd be very humbled by it. 33 00:01:59,630 --> 00:02:01,120 He was doing his job, 34 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:02,663 and that's what he would tell you. 35 00:02:04,630 --> 00:02:06,180 - He would probably want to recognize 36 00:02:06,180 --> 00:02:08,163 the other men that lost their lives. 37 00:02:09,370 --> 00:02:11,440 Even though he did something that he will be rewarded 38 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:13,860 the Medal of Honor for, he would not want the other guys 39 00:02:13,860 --> 00:02:15,730 to be forgotten, you know, 40 00:02:15,730 --> 00:02:18,000 they were part of the team together. 41 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:19,290 And I think he would say that 42 00:02:19,290 --> 00:02:21,050 part of this Medal of Honor was not just for him, 43 00:02:21,050 --> 00:02:23,180 but it was for all of the guys who were lost 44 00:02:23,180 --> 00:02:24,030 on that mountain. 45 00:02:25,300 --> 00:02:27,573 - He was an authentic, true hero. 46 00:02:28,420 --> 00:02:32,690 And I'm glad and proud to say that I was 47 00:02:32,690 --> 00:02:33,773 one of his teammates. 48 00:02:38,300 --> 00:02:39,860 - Thank you, 49 00:02:39,860 --> 00:02:41,863 for giving your life to our country. 50 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:45,339 And I'm very proud of you. 51 00:02:45,339 --> 00:02:48,089 (dramatic music)