5. Ryan Pitts – serving the US in Afghanistan in 2008, Pitts refused to give up his position after an attack from 100 insurgents. Wounded by a grenade, Pitts crawled throughout the observation post he was defending, maintaining the high ground and ultimately saving lives. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
![Ryan Pitts Obama](https://imonkey-blog.imgix.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/09163113/Ryan-Pitts-Obama.jpg?auto=fortmat&fit=clip&expires=1753228800&width=480&height=320)
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza