Posted on 09/02/2020 6:11:10 PM PDT by BeauBo
An Army Ranger who helped save 70 hostages during a 2015 raid on an Islamic State group prison compound in Iraq has been approved to receive the Medal of Honor, The Associated Press reported on Wednesday.
Sgt. Maj. Thomas “Patrick” Payne, will receive the nation’s most prestigious military decoration in a White House ceremony on Sept. 11, the 19th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks...
Payne’s actions took place in a predawn raid on Oct. 22nd, 2015, where American and Kurdish commandos flew in Chinook helicopters to a prison compound in the Iraqi town of Huwija in an effort to save 70 Islamic State hostages, including several allied Kurdish Peshmerga fighters...
Payne first joined the Army as an infantryman in 2002, the AP reported. He quickly made his way into the Rangers, deployed several times to combat zones with the 75th Ranger Regiment, received a Purple Heart from a wound he sustained in Afghanistan in 2010, and won the Army’s Best Ranger Competition in 2012, after he had made sergeant first class, the AP said.
Payne is married with three children and is currently stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He is from the South Carolina towns of Batesburg-Leesville and Lugoff
(Excerpt) Read more at taskandpurpose.com ...
Sgt. Major at 36? That’s impressive.
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Glad he’s on our side... he must be one exceptional soldier.
- Won the Army’s Best Ranger Competition in 2012
- Medal of Honor!
Once a soldier, always a soldier, I salute you Sergeant Major Payne!
Guy like this should get a direct commission as a Major.
Thank you. It’s always nice to hear good news.
He’s been in the Army 18 years. He has been what we call a fast burner, done very well along the way. My Retired Army message to him: Thank you Sergeant Major, you are a hero when we need heroes!
Agree!
Thomas “Patrick” Payne. The Payne family name is derived from the French, Payens. Hugues de Payens was founder of the Knights Templar. I guess it runs in the blood.
Congratulations, Ranger! Your country is proud of you!
South Carolina native making us proud to live in the Palmetto State!
How in the world did Obama screw up and allow this mission?
“Sgt. Major at 36? That’s impressive.”
He’s probably already been in for 18 years.
RLTW!
All those missions and accomplishments. His dress uniform must look like a Christmas tree.
South Carolina Ping 
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The article also mentions he is Delta Force, along with the deceased soldier, MSgt. Joshua Wheeler.
It is highly unusual for the Army to admit that a living soldier is a member of “Delta”.
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