--- title: "Soldier to receive posthumous Medal of Honor for tackling a suicide bomber in Iraq" date: "2019-03-12" modified: "2019-03-12" authors: - name: "Haley Britzky" job_title: "Former Army Reporter" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/haley-britzky.md" url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/medal-of-honor/" categories: - "Army" - "History" - "Iraq War" - "Military Branches" - "News" - "Past Conflicts" tags: - "central command" - "Terrorism" --- # Soldier to receive posthumous Medal of Honor for tackling a suicide bomber in Iraq ![]() President Donald Trump will posthumously award the Medal of Honor to Army Staff Sgt. Travis Atkins at the end of March for his "conspicuous gallantry" in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom by using his own body to protect others from a suicide bomber, the White House [announced on Tuesday](). On June 1, 2007, Atkins and his unit were conducting route clearance, [the Army said in a release](), when they saw "suspected insurgents crossing an intersection" in Abu Samak. Atkins ordered the driver of his Humvee to pull over so he could "interdict the suspected insurgents." He went to one of the men to search him for weapons, which the man resisted. Atkins and the man then engaged "in hand-to-hand combat," as the insurgent went to detonate a suicide vest under his clothing. Per the Army, Atkins "grabbed the suicide bomber from behind with a bear hug and slammed him onto the ground," ultimately being killed when the bomb detonated. He saved the other soldiers in his unit, who were "only feet away," according to the Army. He was previously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. He was serving with D Company, 2d Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2d Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. He enlisted in November 2000, deployed to Iraq in 2003 and then was honorably discharged. He became a student at the University of Montana, and then re-enlisted in 2005 and was again deployed to Iraq in August 2006, according to the White House. His mother, Elaine Atkins, [told the Associated Press]() that Atkins "loved the Army. ... When he joined the Army, that's when he found his niche." Per the AP, he had "already survived two roadside bombs" during his time in Iraq. President Trump will be joined by Atkins' parents and son, Trevor Oliver, who [Army Times reports]() will accept the Medal of Honor on behalf of his father. ### SEE NEXT: Netflix Just Announced A 'Medal Of Honor' Series That Recreates Some Of The Most Incredible Acts Of Valor From WWII To Post-9/11 ### WATCH ALSO: President Trump Presents the Medal of Honor ## Author Haley Britzky was the Task & Purpose Army reporter from 2019 to 2022. She previously worked at Axios covering breaking news. She reports on important developments within the service, from new uniforms to new policies; the realities of military life facing soldiers and their families; and broader cultural issues that expand outside of the Army, touching each of the military services. ### Author social links [LinkedIn]() [Twitter]() ## More - [Alwyn Cashe to finally receive posthumous Medal of Honor for Iraq War heroism]() - [Soldier who tackled a man in a suicide vest to have award upgraded to Distinguished Service Cross]() - [‘He loved us’ — fellow soldiers reflect on Staff Sgt. Travis Atkins, the Army’s latest Medal of Honor hero]() - [‘He rose to the highest calling’ — President Trump presents Medal of Honor to fallen Army hero’s son]() - [Soldier who died saving Polish officer in Afghanistan to receive Medal of Honor, family says]() - [UNSUNG HEROES: The Soldier Who Sacrificed Himself To Save A Stranger From A Suicide Bomber]() - [It’s official: David Bellavia to be the first living Iraq War veteran to receive the Medal of Honor]() - [These 3 soldiers will be awarded Medals of Honor]()