OAN Staff Katherine Mosack
8:12 AM – Wednesday, February 25, 2026
President Donald Trump honored a helicopter pilot who was wounded in the raid to capture former Venezuelan socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro with the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest military award, during his State of the Union address.
Trump explained that Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Eric Slover was the pilot of the lead CH-47 Chinook helicopter that descended on the “heavily protected military fortress” that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, attempted to escape to during “Operation Absolute Resolve.”
“While preparing to land, enemy machine guns fired from every angle, and Eric was hit very badly in the leg and hip, one bullet after another,” Trump said on Tuesday. He added that Slover “absorbed four agonizing shots, shredding his leg into numerous pieces.”
Slover entered the House chamber using a walker, with his wife Amy by his side. Trump jokingly remarked that Amy had blessed the dog tags Slover was wearing with holy water before he departed for his mission.
“The deeds of one warrior that night will live forever in the eternal chronicles of military valor,” Trump added, telling the tale of Slover’s bravery in vivid detail, including the “gushing blood” from his several bullet wounds as he landed the helicopter at a steep angle.
He further detailed how Slover waited until the helicopter had safely landed and all military personnel were properly positioned before asking his co-pilot to take the controls of the large aircraft. Only then did he say, “I’m about ready to pass out.”
Slover’s co-pilot was also wounded, though less severely. The raid succeeded, and fortunately no U.S. service members were killed. However, seven sustained gunshot wounds and shrapnel injuries.
“The success of the entire mission and the lives of his fellow warriors hinge on Eric’s ability to take searing pain,” Trump remarked, “It was unbelievable what’s happened to his legs.”
“Chief Warrant Officer Slover is still recovering from his serious wounds, but I’m thrilled to say that he is here tonight with his wife, Amy,” Trump added, inviting the couple to enter the gallery looking over the Congressional chamber.
Lieutenant General Jonathan Braga, Commander of Joint Special Operations Command, presented Slover with the medal as he stood in his dress uniform with his left leg encased in a brace. This prompted the crowd to chant, “USA! USA! USA!”
A private ceremony will later be held at the White House for 10 other service members who played a part in the operation to receive medals, the president confirmed.
During the event, Trump also presented a Medal of Honor to retired Captain E. Royce Williams, a Navy pilot who shot down Soviet jets during the Korean War. As he upgraded his existing Navy Cross award, he called the 100-year-old former pilot “one of the last living legends.”
President Trump took a moment to honor CW5 Eric Slover, who was injured during Absolute Operation Resolve.
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) February 25, 2026
Eric is a HERO🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/QaRpeV0xK5
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