Medal of Honor David Bellavia "Remember the Ramrods"

The Iraq War’s only living Medal of Honor recipient tells the story behind one of the Iraq War’s legendary acts of valor; the men he fought with and the healing of reunion.

In 2004, David Bellavia’s U.S. Army unit, an infantry bat­talion known as the Ramrods—2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division—fought and helped win the Battle of Fallujah, the bloodiest episode of the Iraq War. On November 10, 2004, Bellavia single-handedly cleared a forti­fied enemy position that had pinned down a squad from his platoon. Fourteen years later, Bellavia got a call from the pres­ident of the United States: he had been awarded a Medal of Honor for his actions in Fallujah and would receive America’s highest award for bravery in combat during a ceremony at the White House.

Bellavia was a reluctant recipient and talks with host Jim Fausone about reuniting with the guys, behind the scenes of the Medal of Honor ceremony and his interactions with President Donald J. Trump.