22OCT2015: SFC Thomas Payne and his fellow warriors of the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (Delta Force), were deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve when they were tasked with a hostage rescue mission. An estimated 70+ Kurdish hostages were being held by Islamic State fighters in the town of Hawija, Iraq.
The mission was moved to a top priority after freshly dug graves were identified in the immediate area. Knowing they had to act or all 70 would be executed, SFC Payne and his men linked up with their Kurdish partners and began an assault on the compound.
SFC Payne was leading one of the teams with the responsibility of securing the hostages from one of two target compounds. Quickly moving through intense enemy fire, Payne reached the first compound and cut the locks to the door holding the hostages. As the 40 hostages began movement to the evacuation helicopters waiting, Payne got a call that a man was down and an intense fight was raging next door. Without hesitation, he moved to assist.
Climbing to the roof, Payne and his men engaged multiple enemy fighters before one detonated a suicide vest in an attempt to cave in the building. With the remaining hostages now at risk of being trapped in the burning building, Payne made his move. Despite heavy enemy fire, Payne twice pushed through the smoke and fire to cut the lock and free the remaining hostages. As everyone exited the burning and collapsing building, Payne made multiple trips back inside to ensure that no man was left behind.
For continually risking his own life to save over 70 Kurdish and Iraqi prisoners in one of the largest hostage rescue missions in American history, SFC Thomas Payne would be awarded the Medal of Honor.
