Fort Bragg Green Beret Awarded Medal of Honor

An active duty Green Beret based at Fort Bragg was honored Wednesday at the White House with the nation’s highest military honor for valor in combat.

President Donald Trump presented Master Sgt. Matthew Williams with the Medal of Honor, recognizing his efforts to help save his colleagues during a firefight in Afghanistan.

“Matt’s incredible heroism helped ensure that not a single American soldier died in the Battle of Shok Valley,” the president said.

In 2008, Williams was on a mission in the mountains of Afghanistan in an area called Shok Valley. There, his group came under attack, leaving several soldiers injured, according to the Pentagon. The ground commander was trapped.

“We’ve got four wounded Americans and we need to do whatever possible to get them home safely,” Williams said, recounting his thought process during the firefight for reporters earlier this week.

Williams gathered a group of Afghan commandos and fought back, crossing ice covered terrain and a waist-deep river to reach the injured and help them to safety. He was often under fire.

“His ground commander later wrote, ‘I’ve never seen a troop so poised, focused, and capable during a fight. And Matt is without question and reservation one of the bravest soldiers and people I’ve ever met,’” Trump said during the ceremony.

The Medal of Honor is a rare distinction. Only about 3,500 service members have received the award in American history.

“The medal itself is more of a representation of a story of teamwork, never quitting, trusting in one other and doing what’s right and what needs to be done,” Williams said.

Williams previously received the Silver Star for his actions during the battle.

He has been on several tours of duty since. He lives at Fort Bragg, with his wife and son.

Congressman Richard Hudson, R-8th District, represents the military base and attended the White House ceremony.

He applauded Williams’ bravery.

“He says that one of his lessons that he learned from this experience was, when times are tough, focus on your mission at hand. I think that’s incredible advice,” Hudson said. “I’ve never had a day like he had that day, but when I have a rough day, I can even learn from that.”