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July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
People File • Other

Eric Slover

Eric A.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Eric A. Slover is a United States Army chief warrant officer 5 and helicopter pilot. He is reported to have received the Medal of Honor for actions during Operation Absolute Resolve.

Military career

Slover is a long-serving U.S. Army aviator who joined the service in 2005 and rose to chief warrant officer 5. He served in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, flying MH-47 Chinook helicopters on special operations missions.

Medal of Honor

According to reports, Slover received the Medal of Honor from President Donald Trump during the 2026 State of the Union address. The award was for his conduct in Operation Absolute Resolve, where he was wounded while completing the mission.

Operation Absolute Resolve

Operation Absolute Resolve is described as a U.S. special operations mission in Venezuela connected to the capture of Nicolás Maduro. Slover flew the lead helicopter and continued operating under fire after being wounded.

In short

  • Slover served as a pilot in the U.S. Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
  • He was identified as a Chief Warrant Officer 5 and MH-47 Chinook pilot.
  • He received the Medal of Honor during the 2026 State of the Union address.
  • He is the first and only CW5 in history to receive the Medal of Honor.

Quick questions

Who is Eric Slover?
Eric A. Slover is a U.S. Army chief warrant officer 5 and helicopter pilot reported to have received the Medal of Honor for actions during Operation Absolute Resolve.
What is he known for?
He is known for receiving the Medal of Honor and for being described as the first and only CW5 to receive it.
What unit did he serve in?
He served in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), commonly called the Night Stalkers.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Slover
    Supports: Service branch, rank, unit, service years, Medal of Honor claim, and other listed awards.
  2. Military Times — https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/02/25/army-helicopter-pilot-wounded-during-maduro-raid-receives-medal-of-honor-during-state-of-the-union/
    Supports: Medal of Honor presentation, rank, mission context, and award list.
  3. Bloomberg — https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-01/medal-of-honor-pilot-took-4-armor-piercing-rounds-in-maduro-raid
    Supports: Mission context, injury details, and Medal of Honor presentation.
  4. NBC News — https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/pilot-helped-capture-maduro-honored-trump-camera-ready-moment-rcna260669
    Supports: Role in the Venezuela operation, injury details, and presentation at the State of the Union.
  5. Norwich University — https://www.norwich.edu/news/warrior-scholar-cw5-eric-slovers-medal-honor-embodies-norwich-spirit
    Supports: University affiliation and mention of Medal of Honor recognition.
  6. Military Officers Association of America — https://www.moaa.org/content/publications-and-media/news-articles/2026-news-articles/spotlight/moaa-life-member-awarded-medal-of-honor-during-state-of-the-union-address/
    Supports: Medal of Honor presentation and note that he received the award while recovering from injuries.