The pilot who helped capture Maduro was honored by Trump in a camera-friendly moment

WASHINGTON — Less than two months ago, Eric Slover was a member of the US special forces whose name was protected from the public eye as he secretly prepared a raid to capture the president of Venezuela.

On Tuesday night, he appeared in the House gallery during President Donald Trump’s nationally televised State of the Union address to receive the medal of honor. The 45-year-old military pilot suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the leg during the raid in Caracas just after the New Year.

“The success of the entire mission and the lives of his fellow soldiers depend on Eric’s ability to deal with excruciating pain,” Trump said. “Chief Warrant Officer Slover is still recovering from his serious injury, but I’m happy to say he’s here tonight with his wife, Amy.”

That evening Trump also awarded the Medal of Honor to a 100-year-old retired Navy pilot for his service in the Korean War. “He was a legend before tonight,” Trump said of Royce Williams, who served in World War II and Vietnam.

Both of these men were recognized for their bravery and skill in the wars that took place across generations.

Trump’s decision to award Williams and Slover with the Medal of Honor during his State of the Union address, rather than at the usual White House ceremony for recipients, was unusual, and highlighted their service to a wider audience. It also allowed him to show the American military the kind of camera-friendly moments he wrote throughout his speech on Tuesday.

Trump surprised a Venezuelan woman in the audience when he announced that her uncle, who had been held as a political prisoner by the government of Nicolás Maduro, had been released and was there. Law enforcement applauded when he and his uncle hugged. Trump also arranged for the US hockey team to enter the House chamber, as lawmakers chanted “USA, USA.” The president also awarded the team’s goalkeeper with the highest honor of all—the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

“I’ve never seen a goaltender play with Connor Hellebuyck,” Trump said. “What a special job you have done. What special champions you are. Thank you very much.”

Slover’s award was notable in part for how fresh the war he fought was for him, still recovering from his wounds, and for the Americans who watched as Lt. Gen. Jonathan Braga placed the medal around his neck.

While Williams waited more than 73 years to receive the Medal of Honor for his battles, Slover was nominated and received the award seven weeks after the service earned it.

On Jan. 3, Slover flew a helicopter on a high-risk mission to take Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, to Caracas. He was shot by the Venezuelan security forces while trying to land the Army Chinook helicopter he was flying to send American commandos to the operation.

“Eric directed his helicopter with all those lives and souls to engage the enemy, and he allowed his guns to eliminate the threat, turn the helicopter around so the guns could take care of business, to save the lives of his fellow soldiers in what could have been a major disaster in enemy territory,” Trump said, detailing Slover’s injuries and his injuries.

Slover enlisted in the Army in August 2005, according to a spokesman for the US Army Special Operations Command. The spokesperson said that after completing initial training, he attended Warrant Officer Candidate School and flight school where he became a CH-47, or Chinook, pilot.

Most recently, Slover served in a special unit known as the Night Stalkers. Soldiers working in highly sensitive roles often do not disclose their activities or identities publicly because that could make them targets for retaliation from the groups they target.

The fact that Slover served as a helicopter pilot supporting the commandos, rather than being on the ground himself during the attack on Caracas, likely mitigated any personal risk to him or his family by having his name and face so publicly displayed in the president’s speech, former officials said.

Slover is the only member of his unit expected to be publicly honored for their role in the Venezuela mission. Trump said Tuesday night that “Eric’s 10 heroes from that incredible night of victory will also receive awards at a private ceremony at the White House soon.”

The Medal of Honor is awarded to a service member who “conspicuously distinguishes himself through bravery and fearlessness by risking his life beyond what is expected,” according to the Medal of Honor Society website.

Criteria for receiving the medal include action against an enemy of the United States, military operations involving conflict with a hostile foreign force or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in a war against an armed opposition in which the United States is not a combatant, according to the website.

Only one woman has received the Medal of Honor, an Army surgeon in 1865.

The process of awarding the Medal of Honor can be lengthy and sometimes takes years, depending on when the combat actions took place. The more time that has passed, the more likely witnesses and other members of staff who need to be interviewed have retired, died or are difficult to find, according to defense officials.

Normally, once a recommendation for a service member to receive an award is approved by the military chain of command, each department within the Pentagon then signs off on the package before it goes to the president for final approval.