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Adapted from the commemorative booklet 'In Honor of Master Chief Britt K Slabinski, United States Navy, Retired - Medal of Honor - Hall of Heroes Induction Ceremony ' in the Modern Biographical Files of the Navy Department Library, 2018 

Topic
  • Ceremonies. Celebrations, Commemorations
  • Medal of Honor
Document Type
  • Manuscript
Wars & Conflicts
  • Operation Enduring Freedom
File Formats
  • Image (gif, jpg, tiff)
Location of Archival Materials
  • NHHC-Library

In Honor of Master Chief Britt K. Slabinski, United States Navy, Retired 

MEDAL OF HONOR

HALL OF HEROES INDUCTION CEREMONY

THE PENTAGON AUDITORIUM

25 MAY 2018 

*PHOTOGRAPH OF ACTUAL MEDAL OF HONOR PRESENTED BY THE PRESIDENT [shown on the cover page below]

PDF Version  [3.12MB]


Jpeg version of the cover page of the  commemorative program that was presented to the audience at the Hall of Heroes Induction Ceremony upon the awarding of the Medal of Honor to Master Chief Britt K Slabinski on 25 May 2018 at the Pentagon Audi...


Jpeg version of Page 2 of the Medal of Honor commemorative booklet presented at the Hall of Heroes Induction ceremony for Britt K. Slabinksi. The page includes a picture of the Navy Seal insignia, 3 photographs of Master Chief Britt K Slabinski d...

Sequence of Events

Arrival of the Official Party

National Anthem

Invocation

Remarks
The Honorable Patrick M. Shanahan
Deputy Secretary of Defense

The Honorable Thomas B. Moldy
Under Secretary of the Navy

Admiral Jon M. Richardson, USN
Chief of Naval Operations

Presentation of Picture and Citation

Unveiling of Hall of Heroes Plaque

Medal of Honor Flag Presentation

Remarks
Master Chief Britt K. Slabinski, USN, Retired
        Medal of Honor Recipient

Benediction

Anchors Aweigh

Master Chief Britt K. Slabinski

United States Navy, Retired  


Jpeg of page 4 from the commemorative booklet:' In Honor of Master Chief Britt K Slabinski, United States Navy, Retired: MEDAL OF HONOR - HALL OF HEROES INDUCTION CEREMONY - THE PENTAGON AUDITORIUM- 25 MAY 2018' It shows a photograph of Master Ch...


Jpeg of a graphic depicting the Medal of Honor

                Britt Slabinski is from Northampton, MA. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout at age 14 and upon graduation from high school in 1988 enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Slabinski attended boot camp in Orlando, FL. Upon completion, he received orders to attend Radioman Class “A” School in Sand Diego, CA. There, he trained on the basics of naval communications graduating in spring 1989. Fulfilling a life-long dream to be a U.S. Navy SEAL, he qualified and was accepted into Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training (BUD/S) at Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado CA. He graduated in January 1990 with BUD/S Class 164.

                Slabinski’s operational assignments include SEAL Team FOUR, 1990 to 1993; Naval Special Warfare Development Group (NSWDG), 1993 to 2006; and Command Master Chief of Naval Special Warfare Tactical Development and Evaluation Squadron TWO, 2006 to 2008. He was the Senior Enlisted Advisor of the Joint Special Operations Command, Washington, DC Office, 2008 to 2010 and Command Master Chief, Naval Special Warfare Group TWO, 2010 to 2012. Slabinski retired after serving as Director of Naval Special Warfare Safety Assurance and Analysis Program. He has completed 9 overseas deployments and 15 combat deployments in support of the Global War on Terrorism, including Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM.

                Slabinski has various military and civilian qualifications including Naval Special Warfare Scout Sniper, Military Free Fall Parachute Jump Master, and has an Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic National Certification. He is a graduate of the U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy and Command Leadership School.

                Slabinski’s military decorations include the Navy Cross, Navy/Marine Corps Medal; Bronze Star with Valor (five awards), Combat Action Ribbon (two awards), Defense Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal (two awards), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards), Good Conduct Medal (eight awards), and numerous other personal and unit awards and decorations.

                Slabinski retired in June 2014 after 25 years of service and is self-employed as a corporate consultant. He has one son who is also an Eagle Scout.

The President of the United States in the name of

The Congress takes pleasure in

Presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to

Senior CHIEF SPECIAL

WARFARE OPERATOR (SEA, AIR, AND LAND)

BRITT K. SLABINSKI

UNITED STATES NAVY

For service as set forth in the Following

CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while assigned to a Joint Task Force in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. In the early morning of 4 March 2002, Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator Slabinski led a reconnaissance team to its assigned area atop a 10,000-foot snow-covered mountain. Their insertion helicopter was suddenly riddled with rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire from previously undetected enemy positions. The crippled helicopter lurched violently and ejected one teammate onto the mountain before the pilots were forced to crash land in the valley far below. Senior Chief Slabinski boldly rallied his five remaining team members and marshalled supporting assets for an assault to rescue their stranded teammate. During reinsertion the team came under fire from three directions, and one teammate started moving uphill toward an enemy strongpoint. Without regard for his own safety, Senior Chief Slabinski charged directly toward the enemy fire to join his teammate. Together, they fearlessly assaulted and cleared the first bunker they encountered. The enemy then unleashed a hail of machine gun fire from a second hardened position only twenty meters away. Senior Chief Slabinski repeatedly exposed himself to deadly fire to personally engage the second enemy bunker and orient his team’s fire in the furious, close-quarters firefight. Proximity made air support impossible, and after several teammates became casualties, the situation became untenable. Senior Chief Slabinski maneuvered his team to a more defensible position, directed air strikes in very close proximity to his team’s position, and requested reinforcements. As daylight approached, accurate enemy mortar fire forced the team further down the sheer mountainside. Senior Chief Slabinski carried a seriously wounded teammate through deep snow and led a difficult trek across precipitous terrain while calling in fire on the enemy, which was engaging the team from the surrounding ridges. Throughout the next 14 hours, Senior Chief Slabinski stabilized the casualties and continued the fight against the enemy until the hill was secured and his team was extracted. By his undaunted courage, bold initiative, leadership, and devotion to duty, Senior Chief Slabinski reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.


Jpeg version of page 7 of the commemorative booklet that was presented at the Hall of Heroes Induction ceremony upon the awarding of the Medal of Honor to Master Chief Britt K. Slabinski, Navy Seal on 25 May 2018


Jpeg version Special Warfare Insignia or Navy Trident

Anchors Aweigh

Stand Navy out to sea,

Fight our battle cry;

We’ll never change our course,

So vicious foe steer shy-y-y-y.

Roll out the TNT,

Anchors Aweigh.

Sail on to victory

Ans sink their bones to Davy Jones, hooray!

 

Anchors Aweigh, my boys,

Anchors Aweigh.

Farewell to foreign shores,

We sail at the break of day-ay-ay-ay.

Through our last night ashore,

Drink to the foam,

Until we meet once more.

Here’s wishing you a happy voyage home.

 

Blue of the mighty deep:

Gold of God’s great sun.

Let these our colors be

Till all of time be done, done, done, done.

On seven seas we learn

Navy’s stern call:

Faith, courage, service true,

With honor, over honor, over all.

[END]

Published: Thu Jun 27 15:49:29 EDT 2019