--- title: "An Army pilot shot three times during the Maduro Raid just received the Medal of Honor" date: "2026-02-24" modified: "2026-02-24" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/history/eric-slover-medal-of-honor/" categories: - "Army" - "Heroes" - "History" tags: - "Army" - "Medal of Honor" - "Quick Hits" - "Special Operations" - "Venezuela" --- # An Army pilot shot three times during the Maduro Raid just received the Medal of Honor ![Chief Warrant Officer Eric Slover receives the Medal of Honor during the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol on February 24, 2026.]() *Chief Warrant Officer Eric Slover receives the Medal of Honor during the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol on February 24, 2026. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)* Chief Warrant Officer Eric Slover already proved his mettle [in the skies over Afghanistan](), receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross for actions during a rescue mission that [turned into an intense firefight](). In January 2026, his proven abilities were required once again, this time over Caracas, as part of Operation Absolute Resolve, the daring raid to capture dictator Nicolás Maduro. **Also Read: [How the US deleted Venezuela’s air defenses so quickly]()** Slover, then with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, [planned the mission]() and was at the controls of the lead aircraft, an MH-47 Chinook. He was tasked with inserting a Delta Force assault team into the heavily fortified compound where Maduro was believed to be hiding. There was no margin for error, and no room for hesitation. As his helicopter approached the target area, Venezuelan defense systems opened fire, and Slover was struck three times in the leg. The Chinook was also hit, but still flyable. So he kept flying. "The success of the entire mission and the lives of his fellow warriors hinged on Eric's ability to take searing pain," President Donald Trump said during his 2026 State of the Union address. [He then surprised Slover]() and his wife, Amy, with the nation's highest military honor before a joint session of Congress. The chamber erupted in applause. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFtxacUUmZ0 Slover maintained control of the aircraft despite his wounds, executed the insertion, and ensured his crew successfully executed their objectives. He then piloted the aircraft back to the USS Iwo Jima. Within three hours, another team of helicopters would exfiltrate the assault team. Slover is still recovering from his wounds and was standing with the assistance of a walker when he received the award. A total of [seven Americans were wounded]() in the operation. His actions were critical to the success of the raid that would ultimately end in Maduro's capture and incarceration. Trump said other members of the military involved in the mission will be honored at a separate White House ceremony at a later date. ### Don’t Miss the Best of We Are The Mighty **• [An autopsy of Venezuela’s $2 billion Russian S-300VM missile system]()** **• [A guide to CW5s, the military's mythical rank]()** **• [Everything there is to know about Venezuela’s oil]()** ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()