Army sergeant who held off Taliban attack receives Medal of Honor

On Monday afternoon, President Obama awarded the Medal of Honor to Ryan Pitts, a former Army sergeant who held off Taliban fighters in northeastern Afghanistan.

Pitts held his ground during 2008's Battle of Wanat, even after being hit by grenade shrapnel in one arm and both of his legs. He will be the ninth living recipient of the Medal of Honor, America's highest award for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Pitts has been modest about his award, however. Earlier this month, he told Here and Now that his work in Afghanistan was a "team effort." "It belongs to every man there that day, and I'll accept it on behalf of the team," Pitts told the news program. "It's not mine."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Watch an ABC News report of Obama awarding Pitts the medal below. --Meghan DeMaria