Remarks on Presenting the Medal of Honor to Staff Sergeant Ronald J. Shurer II

The President. Thank you very much. Please. And thank you Chaplain Hurley. Thank you to Vice President Mike Pence for joining us for today's ceremony.

Today it's my privilege to award the congressional Medal of Honor to an Army Special Forces medic who now serves in the United States Secret Service. Please join me in welcoming Staff Sergeant Ronald Shurer. [Applause] Ronald, thank you. Thank you. I wish I was that popular. I'll tell you. [Laughter]

Today is a truly proud and special day for those of us here in the White House, because Ron works right here alongside of us on the Secret Service Counter Assault Team. These are incredible people.

Several weeks ago, my staff asked Ron and his wife Miranda—thank you, Miranda—to a meeting in the West Wing. They didn't know what it was about. They walked into the Oval Office, and I told Ron that he was going to receive our Nation's highest military honor. It was a moment I will never forget.

Ron and Miranda joined today by their two beautiful sons: Cameron, who is 10, and, Tyler, who is 7. Stand up. Look at these guys. Cameron. Tyler. We stand in awe of your father's courage. We really do. Today, he joins the world's most elite gathering of heroes.

Also with us are his parents: Ronald Sr. and his mom Fabiola, both Air Force Veterans. America is grateful for your service. Thank you very much. Please, stand. Thank you.

I want to thank, also, Secretary Nielsen for joining us—Secretary, thank you very much; along with Secretary of the Army Mark Esper—Mark, thank you very much; Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Paul Selva—thank you, Paul; Army Chief of Staff General Mark Milley—Mark, thank you; Commander of Special Operations Command General Raymond Thomas—thank you, Raymond; and Sergeant Major of the Army Daniel Dailey. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Daniel.

I also want to recognize Representative Gerald Connolly, and Representative Dan Newhouse. Thank you very much for being here. Appreciate it.

We are privileged to have among us five former recipients of the congressional Medal of Honor: Bennie Adkins, Harvey Barnum, Gary Beikirch, Florent Groberg, and Brian Thacker. And thank you all for being here. Thank you. Please stand up. Thank you. Thank you very much for being with us. These are very brave, great people.

Staff Sergeant Ron Shurer was born in Fairbanks, Alaska. He grew up in a military family, moving to four States before middle school. He graduated from Washington State University and applied to join the military, but was rejected due to a medical condition. I can't believe they rejected you. [Laughter] Boy, that was a bad mistake—[laughter]—but they made up for it. Right? [Laughter] They made up for it.

Soon after, America was attacked on September 11, 2001. Determined to serve, Ron reapplied to the military and was accepted into the United States Army. He became a medic, and then he completed the grueling training to join the legendary ranks of the Green Berets. That's a long way from not getting accepted the first time, right? [Laughter] That's fantastic. That's a great story. [Laughter] It was during his special forces training that Ron met Miranda. Just before Ron's first deployment, they were married. Miranda was 6 months pregnant with their first son Cameron when Ron deployed to Afghanistan for the second time. Just a month before he returned home, Ron was called on a special operations mission. The aim was to hunt down a deadly terrorist, a leader in that world. He was in a remote mountain village. Very dangerous territory.

On April 6, 2008, Ron was among the few dozen Special Forces soldiers and 100 Afghan commandos who dropped off by helicopter into Shok Valley—a rocky, barren valley far away from reinforcements. There was nobody close.

Ron was the only medic for the team. While he was still near the base of the mountain, the first team began to scale the cliff toward the village. As they approached the top, roughly 200 well-trained and well-armed terrorists ambushed the American and Afghan forces.

Soon, Ron heard his comrade call his name. Ryan Wallen had been struck by shrapnel at the base of the mountain. He was very, very seriously hurt. But Ron braved enemy fire to rush to his friend and to treat his wounds. Then, he heard over the radio that American fighters near the top of the cliff were pinned down and some were critically injured. There was blood all over the place. It was a tough, tough situation to be in.

Immediately, Ron climbed the rocky mountain, all the while fighting back against the enemy and dodging gunfire left and right. Rockets were shot at him. Everything was shot at him. When he reached the top, one of his close friends, an Afghan interpreter, was already dead. Two Americans had been shot: Dillon Behr and Luis Morales. He treated them both to stabilize them and their condition. Ron threw his body on top of Dillon to protect him from shrapnel.

It was there on that cliff that Ron realized that—I guess, he felt pretty much like that was it. Right, Ron? But Ron realized that this was probably the end. Might be all over. And as he recounts: "I just said a prayer and asked that my wife and son would be okay with what was going to happen. Then, I just went back to work."

One of his teammates, John Walding, was trying to protect the injured when he was shot, almost severing his leg entirely. As Ron was still rendering lifesaving aid to Dillon, he directed another soldier to help stem the bleeding. Then a bullet cut through Master Sergeant Scott Ford's arm and struck Ron's helmet. Ron said it felt like he had been hit on the head with a baseball bat. But he got up, and in pretty bad shape, bandaged Scott's arm.

Soon, Ron and his comrades used nylon webbing to lower the most critically injured down the sides of this really dangerous and very steep cliff. When he reached the base of the mountain, Ron raced to each patient, giving them lifesaving care—they were bleeding profusely—and preparing them to be evacuated by helicopter.

But Ron was not done yet. He charged back to the mountain—all the way up—and then rejoined the fight. For more than 6 hours, Ron bravely faced down the enemy. Not a single American died in that brutal battle, thanks in great measure to Ron's heroic actions.

Many of the warriors who fought in Shok Valley are here today. When I read your name, will you please stand? Staff Sergeant Dillon Behr. Stand up. Stay up, please. Specialist Mike Carter. Thank you. Stay. Thank you. Master Sergeant Scott Ford. Sergeant First Class Seth Howard. Staff Sergeant Luis Morales. Sergeant Major Dan Plants. Lieutenant Colonel Kyle Walton. Sergeant First Class Matt Williams. Sergeant First Class Karl Wurzbach. And two wonderful Afghan translators: Behrouz Mohmand and Zia Ghafoori.

Thank you very much. We really appreciate it. He did a good job. Did he do a good job? Better say "yes," now. Otherwise, it's too late. [Laughter] We can always change our mind. [Laughter] He did a good job. Thank you all for your noble service and for being here to celebrate Ron's historic achievement. It truly is that.

As many of you know, a year and a half ago, Ron was diagnosed with cancer—tough cancer, rough cancer. But he has braved, battled, worked—he has done everything he can. That cancer, he's been fighting it every single day with courage and with strength. And he's a warrior. He's a warrior.

And just like he faced every single battle of his entire life, he's facing a very tough battle right now with cancer. But I will tell you, he's the best dad and role model two boys could ever ask for. Right? Do you agree with that?

Cameron and Tyler Shurer. Yes, yes.

The President. You'd better say yes. [Laughter] I already asked them that question. They needed no prodding. I said, "Is he a good father or a great father?" They said, "Great father." Right? That's good.

Cameron and Tyler Shurer. Yes, the best father ever.

The President. The best father ever? Wow. [Laughter] That's great. Beautiful, beautiful boys.

And, Ron, I just want to say, is an inspiration to everyone in this room and to every citizen all across our great land. Ron, our hearts are filled with gratitude and joy as we prepare to engrave your name alongside of America's greatest heroes.

It is my honor and privilege, along with Mike and all of these incredible warriors in front of me, to present you with the congressional Medal of Honor.

I would like to ask the Military Aide to come forward and read the citation, please. Thank you.

[At this point, Maj. Rogelio Maese, USMC, Marine Corps Aide to the President, read the citation, and the President presented the medal, assisted by Lt. Col. Ricardo A. Turner, USA, Army Aide to the President. Following the presentation of the medal, Maj. Gen. Paul K. Hurley, USA, Army Chief of Chaplains, said a prayer.]