10/28/2025
On this day, 10 years ago, October 22, 2015, 31-year-old Sergeant First Class Thomas P. Payne served as an assistant team leader with a special operations joint task force in Kirkuk Province, Iraq.
He and his team received orders to rescue more than 70 Iraqi hostages being held by ISIS in a prison compound in the town of Hawija.
Arriving under cover of darkness, Payne led his assault team to clear the first of two buildings, moving rapidly and methodically under heavy enemy fire.
He engaged enemy fighters and led the charge, enabling the liberation of 38 hostages from the initial objective.
As gunfire rang out from the second building, which was partially engulfed in flames, Payne heard a call for help from Kurdish partners pinned down by enemy fire and smoke.
Payne moved across open ground exposed to enemy fire, climbed a ladder onto the roof of the burning building, and engaged insurgents below with grenades and rifle fire.
Descending, he breached a locked door from the outside using bolt cutters, while enemy fighters fired at him through shattered windows and smoke filled the rooms.
Payne entered the burning building, under fire and choking heat, to cut locks and lead hostages out.
He re-entered the building multiple times, escorted terrified hostages, and forced a frightened man out as the flames closed in.
Payne exited for the final time, gagging on smoke, just as the building collapsed from the fire and explosives inside.
His actions resulted in the liberation of 75 hostages and the deaths of over 20 enemy fighters, despite heavy resistance throughout the raid.
For his conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his own life above and beyond the call of duty, Thomas P. Payne was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Donald Trump in a White House ceremony on September 11, 2020.
Sergeant Major Thomas P. Payne continues to serve in the United States Army.
