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Trump presents Medal of Honor to retired Army medic

President Trump recounted the valor under fire of retired Army Captain Gary M. Rose at a White House ceremony.Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

WASHINGTON — President Trump on Monday turned a Medal of Honor ceremony for a Vietnam-era Army medic who risked his life to help wounded comrades into a mini tutorial for the boy and girl who came to watch their grandfather be enshrined ‘‘into the history of our nation.’’

Every Wednesday, retired Army Captain Gary M. Rose’s grandchildren head to his home for ‘‘homework night’’ with him and their grandmother, Margaret.

‘‘I think that Kaitlyn and Christian will agree this field trip is their best homework assignment yet, right?’’ Trump said.

‘‘It’s the award given to America’s bravest heroes who earn our freedom with their sacrifice,’’ he added. ‘‘Those who receive the Medal of Honor went above and beyond the call of duty to protect their fellow service members and defend our nation.’’

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A military aide read a citation recounting the acts of heroism the now 70-year-old Rose performed on Sept. 11. 1970, as the only medic for 136 men who embarked on a mission designed to keep the North Vietnamese from funneling weapons along the Ho Chi Minh trail.

Throughout the four-day mission as part of the 5th Special Forces Group, Trump said, ‘‘Mike rescued those in distress without any thought for his own safety,’’ in one case using his body to shield a wounded soldier from machine gunfire while treating the man, then carrying him to safety. A helicopter sent to extract the men was downed by enemy fire.

Before the copter crashed, Rose rushed to the aid of a Marine gunner who was shot in the throat. Rose was thrown from the helicopter before it hit ground, but raced to the crash site and pulled one man after another from the smoldering wreckage, Trump said.

After two decades in the Army and a post-military career as an industrial designer, Rose now volunteers with the American Legion and a soup kitchen. He fixes broken appliances for his elderly and disabled neighbors, donates his hair for people with cancer, makes lunches for children who don’t have enough to eat. He also organizes community gatherings ‘‘to bring people together, which is something we need all over the world and certainly in our country,’’ Trump said.

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