Britt K. Slabinski

Returned into enemy fire to rescue a stranded teammate

Britt K. Slabinski earned the Medal of Honor for leading a rescue attempt and protecting wounded teammates during the Battle of Takur Ghar in Afghanistan on 4 March 2002. Then a senior chief petty officer in the Navy’s SEAL community, he led a reconnaissance team onto the snow-covered mountain during Operation Anaconda.

As the team’s helicopter approached the summit, enemy rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire struck the aircraft. Petty Officer First Class Neil Roberts fell onto the mountain as the damaged helicopter pulled away, forcing the remaining team to crash-land in the valley below. Slabinski rallied his men and organized an immediate return to recover their stranded teammate.

The rescue force landed under fire from several directions. Slabinski advanced uphill with Air Force combat controller John Chapman, engaging enemy positions at close range. His Medal of Honor citation credits him with repeatedly exposing himself to machine-gun fire while directing his team’s response.

With several men wounded, Slabinski moved the team to a more defensible position and coordinated airstrikes. Enemy mortar fire subsequently forced a difficult descent. He carried a seriously wounded teammate through deep snow, directed supporting fire and helped sustain the survivors until extraction.

Slabinski continued serving in Naval Special Warfare after Afghanistan, with a career that included deployments supporting operations in Iraq. He rose to Master Chief Special Warfare Operator and held senior leadership appointments, including command master chief of Naval Special Warfare Group Two. His final assignment was director of the Naval Special Warfare Safety Assurance and Analysis Program.

He retired in June 2014 after more than 25 years of Navy service. On 24 May 2018, President Donald J. Trump presented him with the Medal of Honor at the White House, upgrading the Navy Cross previously awarded for the same battle. The award recognized his courage, initiative and leadership under fire.