Staff Sgt. Ryan Pitts Medal of Honor multimedia

By U.S. ArmyJuly 29, 2014

2nd Platoon, Chosen Company at Forward Operating Base Blessing — 1 / 38 Picture here is 2nd Platoon, Chosen Company, at Forward Operating Base Blessing, Afghanistan. Pictured are: (left to right/back row) Staff Sgt. Sam Miller, Pfc. Nick Murray, Cpl. Pruitt Rainey, Spc. Laquan Borden, Sgt. Mike Santiago, Spc. Ryan Schwar... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Sgt. Ryan Pitts, Cpl. Matthew Phillips and Cpl. Gunnar Zwilling at Observation Post Topside — 2 / 38 Pictured here is the northern fighting position of Observation Post Topside at Vehicle Patrol Base Kahler, July 2008. Sgt. Ryan Pitts, Cpl. Matthew Phillips and Cpl. Gunnar Zwilling were in charge of manning the Long-Range Advanced Scout Surveillance... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Commemorative bracelets for Kahler, Ferrara, Lancour, Roque, Langevin and Mersman — 3 / 38 Sgt. Ryan Pitts holds a bracelet he wears that commemorates the late Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Kahler, former platoon sergeant of 2nd platoon, which is taped over another bracelet (not visible) the commemorates the fallen of 1st Platoon, Chosen Company,... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Mortar troops firing at COP Bella — 4 / 38 (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Pitts family photo — 5 / 38 (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

2nd Platoon, Chosen Company unpacking supplies at COP Bella — 6 / 38 (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Cpl. Jason M. Bogar with Afghan children — 7 / 38 (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Spc. Laquan Borden and Cpl. Jason D. Hovater take break — 8 / 38 (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

2nd platoon, Chosen Company paratroopers arrive at Wanat — 9 / 38 (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Kahler memorial ceremony — 10 / 38 Staff Sgt. Lucas Gonzalez and Sgt. Ryan Pitts pay their respects to former platoon sergeant Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Kahler, during a memorial ceremony at Combat Outpost Bella, Afghanistan, January 2008. Kahler was killed during a patrol to visit guard... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

First Lt. Jonathan Brostrom on patrol — 11 / 38 (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Sgt. Ryan Pitts and Sgt. Israel Garcia near Rechalam, Afghanistan — 12 / 38 (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Cpl. Pruitt Rainey mans the turret — 13 / 38 (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Village of Wanat, Afghanistan — 14 / 38 (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Troops in contact with the enemy at COP Bella — 15 / 38 (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Soldier's Update: Medal of Honor nominee Ryan Pitts — 16 / 38 (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Ryan Pitts Medal of Honor Press Conference — 17 / 38 (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Soldier to Receive the Medal of Honor — 18 / 38 (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Soldiers Update: Medal of Honor Ryan Pitts — 19 / 38 (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Ryan Pitts Medal of Honor ceremony — 20 / 38 (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Staff Sgt. Ryan Pitts speaks to the media — 21 / 38 Former Staff Sgt. Ryan Pitts speaks to the media after he received the Medal of Honor, Washington, D.C., July 21, 2014. Pitts received the nation's highest military honor for his actions in 2008 in Wanat, Afghanistan, with 2nd Platoon, Chosen Company... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Staff Sgt. Ryan Pitts speaks to the media — 22 / 38 Former Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Pitts speaks to the media after he received the Medal of Honor, Washington, D.C., July 21, 2014. Pitts received the nation's highest military honor for his actions in 2008 in Wanat, Afghanistan, with 2nd Platoon, Chosen Co... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

President Barack Obama and Staff Sgt. Ryan Pitts enter the East Room — 23 / 38 President Barack Obama and former Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Pitts enter the East Room of the White House for a Medal of Honor ceremony Washington, D.C., July 21, 2014. Pitts became the 9th living recipient of the Medal of Honor from the wars in Iraq and A... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Gold Medal Families stand — 24 / 38 (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Medal of Honor ceremony — 25 / 38 (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Medal of Honor ceremony — 26 / 38 President Barack Obama awards the Medal of Honor to former Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Pitts, the White House, Washington, D.C., July 21, 2014. Pitts received the nation's highest military honor for his actions in 2008 in Wanat, Afghanistan, with 2nd Platoo... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Second Anniversary — 27 / 38 (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

"Valor was Everywhere that Day" — 28 / 38 (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Pitts Remembers "Brothers" While Receiving MOH — 29 / 38 (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Pitts Talks About Valor of "Brothers" — 30 / 38 (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Hall of Heroes Induction Ceremony — 31 / 38 The Secretary of the Army John McHugh presents a photo and citation to Medal of Honor recipient former U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Pitts, as the Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert O. Work, the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, an... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Hall of Heroes Induction Ceremony — 32 / 38 (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Staff Sgt. Ryan Pitts plays with his son — 33 / 38 (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Hall of Heroes Induction Ceremony — 34 / 38 (left to right) Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert O. Work, Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh, (right to left) Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III and U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno, watch as former U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ryan P... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Medal of Honor Flag — 35 / 38 (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Hall of Heroes Induction Ceremony — 36 / 38 Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert O. Work, Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh, former U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Pitts, wife Amy Pitts, U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III, listen to the readi... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Staff Sgt. Ryan Pitts remarks — 37 / 38 (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

Hall of Heroes Induction Ceremony — 38 / 38 The U.S. Army inducted former Staff Sgt. Ryan M. Pitts, into the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes in a July 22, 2014 ceremony. The Pentagon ceremony added Pitts's name to the distinguished roster in the Hall of Heroes, the Defense Department's permanent dis... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) View original

355125:KcgjpZKst5g

355065:Yd8vAqeVwJ8

354935:IslvVnev0cM

354981:XZS59Oz2RXM

354831:yB2t-vqku2Y

354150:aJ-aUNb-ZKc

354151:i6Rd1_QlrGo

354153:XTsc-HxTdpk

354153:XTsc-HxTdpk

354152:ItPMJVZtiEc

TOP STORIES

November 5, 20263rd ID Soldiers receive the Soldier’s Medal
November 1, 2026Tropic Lightning, joint partners set the theater for JPMRC 27-01
November 4, 2026From the foxhole to flight: Armaments Center’s MALET turns standard rounds into drone munitions
November 4, 2026US, Colombia launch joint exercise to strengthen readiness, regional security
November 4, 2026Fighting, Enduring, Surviving: Inside Mountain Peak
October 30, 202610th Mountain Division takes on Jungle Operations Training Course - Panama
October 30, 2026Idaho Army National Guard conducts remote search and rescue mission
November 2, 2026Soldiers from across 11th Airborne Division shine at Angel Ascent innovation competition