WASHINGTON – U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Eric Slover was officially awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by President Donald Trump during his 2026 State of the Union address, in recognition of extraordinary bravery during a military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro earlier this year.
Slover, the lead pilot of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter involved in the January 3 raid known as Operation Absolute Resolve, was seriously wounded by enemy fire while inserting assault forces into a heavily fortified area in Caracas. Despite suffering multiple gunshot wounds to his leg and hip, he maintained control of the aircraft, protected his crew and helped ensure the success of the mission.
In his speech before a joint session of Congress, Trump described how Slover “absorbed four agonizing shots” during the operation and still flew the helicopter back to safety, helping to secure the overall objective of the mission. Slover, who appeared at the Capitol using a walker as he continues to recover, received a standing ovation as the highest U.S. military honor was presented.
Alongside Slover’s award, Trump announced that additional members of the raid will be recognized in a separate ceremony at the White House. The operation, which involved multiple branches of the U.S. armed forces, was carried out with the stated objective of capturing Maduro and his wife in connection with drug trafficking and other charges, as part of a major intervention in Venezuela earlier this year.
For many observers and supporters, Slover’s distinction represents not only personal valor but a symbolic moment in a controversial and historic military action that has had wide-ranging geopolitical implications.
The award underlines the physical sacrifices made by U.S. service members during the raid, and it has drawn attention throughout the Americas, highlighting both the intensity of the operation and the individual courage displayed under fire.