WEBVTT 00:00.439 --> 00:02.661 Good morning ladies and gentlemen , and 00:02.661 --> 00:04.772 welcome to the Mexican Border Defense 00:04.772 --> 00:07.000 Medal presentation ceremony . Please 00:07.000 --> 00:09.239 rise for the arrival of the official 00:09.239 --> 00:10.239 party . 00:15.829 --> 00:18.389 The host for today's ceremony is the 00:18.389 --> 00:20.989 Secretary of War , the Honorable Pete 00:21.270 --> 00:21.870 Hegseth . 00:29.870 --> 00:32.037 Please remain standing for the singing 00:32.037 --> 00:34.229 of the national anthem , led by Staff 00:34.229 --> 00:36.709 Sergeant Peter Walker , followed by the 00:36.709 --> 00:39.189 invocation delivered by Chaplain David 00:39.189 --> 00:40.189 Wake . 00:44.090 --> 00:47.860 Oh , say , can you 00:47.869 --> 00:51.569 see by the dawn's early 00:52.240 --> 00:55.169 light what so 00:55.169 --> 00:58.840 proudly we . at the 00:58.840 --> 01:02.830 twilight's last gleaming , 01:04.019 --> 01:06.186 whose stripes and bright stars through 01:06.186 --> 01:06.150 the perilous fight 01:12.739 --> 01:16.300 or the ramparts we watched were so 01:16.300 --> 01:18.790 gallantly 01:18.790 --> 01:22.760 streaming . And the 01:22.760 --> 01:26.400 rocket's red glow . The 01:26.400 --> 01:27.919 bombs bursting . 01:30.860 --> 01:34.599 Give proof through the night that 01:34.599 --> 01:38.419 our flag was still there . 01:39.040 --> 01:42.480 Oh say does that star 01:42.480 --> 01:46.139 spangled ban . That 01:49.419 --> 01:52.860 the And of the free . 01:55.680 --> 01:58.769 And of the 02:00.080 --> 02:01.080 B . 02:12.789 --> 02:15.910 Psalm 121 gives an account from David , 02:16.029 --> 02:18.869 the warrior king , who said , I lift my 02:18.869 --> 02:21.036 eyes to the hills . From where does my 02:21.036 --> 02:23.589 help come ? My help comes from the Lord , 02:23.789 --> 02:26.011 who made the heaven and the earth . The 02:26.011 --> 02:28.779 Lord will keep you from all evil . He 02:28.779 --> 02:30.779 will keep your life . The Lord will 02:30.779 --> 02:32.990 keep your going out and your coming in 02:32.990 --> 02:35.229 from this day forth and forevermore . 02:36.000 --> 02:37.889 With this promise , let us pray . 02:39.119 --> 02:41.341 Almighty God , we ask for your presence 02:41.341 --> 02:43.508 at this simple ceremony . We gather to 02:43.508 --> 02:45.341 honor the brave sacrifice of our 02:45.341 --> 02:47.580 citizen warriors as they stood vigil on 02:47.580 --> 02:49.699 the forward edge of freedom . Since 02:49.699 --> 02:52.539 1775 at Lexington and Concord , when 02:52.539 --> 02:54.595 the shot was heard round the world , 02:54.750 --> 02:56.806 Americans have stood their ground to 02:56.806 --> 02:59.470 protect freedom and liberty . Today we 02:59.470 --> 03:01.692 honor these members of Joint Task Force 03:01.692 --> 03:03.914 Southern Border with the Mexican Border 03:03.914 --> 03:06.190 Defense Medal . It is an acknowledgment 03:06.190 --> 03:08.301 of their service providing protection 03:08.301 --> 03:10.523 along our country's border , and as the 03:10.523 --> 03:12.639 scriptures foretold , God is our help 03:12.639 --> 03:14.720 in trouble , and He provided through 03:14.720 --> 03:17.449 these faithful servants . Those who are , 03:17.559 --> 03:20.559 are those who answered the call joined 03:20.559 --> 03:22.726 a distinguished cohort of warriors who 03:22.726 --> 03:25.479 over 100 years ago defeated insurgents 03:25.479 --> 03:27.639 from Mexico and brought peace to the 03:27.639 --> 03:30.460 American Southwest . Truly they embody 03:30.679 --> 03:33.500 the motto This will defend in word 03:33.600 --> 03:35.979 indeed . Lord , we know this mission is 03:35.979 --> 03:37.710 not complete . We ask for your 03:37.710 --> 03:39.654 continued mercy on those who serve 03:39.654 --> 03:41.710 today . Give them strength and 03:41.710 --> 03:43.766 determination to continue to fight . 03:43.766 --> 03:45.543 Give peace and comfort to their 03:45.543 --> 03:47.488 families at home , and through the 03:47.488 --> 03:49.599 clamor of all that assails our nation 03:49.599 --> 03:51.654 and our lives , I pray we listen for 03:51.654 --> 03:53.877 your still small voice that calls out , 03:53.877 --> 03:54.932 Follow me . Amen . 03:59.880 --> 04:02.213 Ladies and gentlemen , please be seated . 04:05.740 --> 04:07.962 Ladies and gentlemen , the acting Chief 04:07.962 --> 04:09.684 of Staff of the Army , General 04:09.684 --> 04:10.907 Christopher Le Neve . 04:18.529 --> 04:21.989 Hello everybody , how you doing ? It's 04:21.989 --> 04:24.799 great to be here . Secretary Hegseth , 04:25.000 --> 04:27.278 Secretary Coy , Undersecretary Obidall , 04:27.390 --> 04:30.380 General Kane , Mr . Miller , Mr . 04:30.399 --> 04:33.730 Salisbury , Mr . Weaver . Uh , Chief of 04:33.730 --> 04:36.500 Staff is here , uh , General Smith , 04:36.579 --> 04:38.640 General Gardner . Uh , all 04:38.640 --> 04:40.973 distinguished , uh , guests , thank you . 04:40.973 --> 04:42.751 Thanks for coming and welcome . 04:42.751 --> 04:44.862 Secretary Hegseth . Thank you for the 04:44.862 --> 04:46.918 invitation to participate in today's 04:46.918 --> 04:49.140 Mexican border defense medal ceremony . 04:49.140 --> 04:51.251 For the past 25+ years , our army has 04:51.251 --> 04:54.309 provided near continuous support to 04:54.309 --> 04:56.309 operations on the southern border . 04:56.309 --> 04:58.365 These efforts have spanned from post 04:58.365 --> 05:00.365 9/11 security to today's Joint Task 05:00.365 --> 05:02.531 Force southern border . I'm grateful , 05:02.809 --> 05:04.531 absolutely grateful that we're 05:04.531 --> 05:06.642 recognizing the tremendous importance 05:06.642 --> 05:09.519 of your service during these operations , 05:09.600 --> 05:11.679 and I'm proud that our Army soldiers 05:11.679 --> 05:13.846 are being recognized with this medal . 05:14.029 --> 05:16.119 As we speak , there's over 9000 Army 05:16.119 --> 05:18.880 soldiers . Providing support to the 05:18.880 --> 05:21.047 southern border , and today we're here 05:21.047 --> 05:22.547 to celebrate and recognize 05:22.547 --> 05:24.658 contributions of members of the 101st 05:24.950 --> 05:27.061 Airborne Division and the 1st Armored 05:27.061 --> 05:29.172 Division by awarding them the Mexican 05:29.172 --> 05:31.859 Border Defense Campaign Medal . This 05:31.859 --> 05:34.081 medal that you're about to receive is a 05:34.081 --> 05:36.026 symbol of the United States Army's 05:36.026 --> 05:38.760 commitment to homeland defense . The 05:38.760 --> 05:40.927 Southern Border Mission represents how 05:40.927 --> 05:42.871 the Army integrates with the joint 05:42.871 --> 05:44.593 force through the provision of 05:44.593 --> 05:46.704 intelligence , surveillance , command 05:46.704 --> 05:48.927 and control , and protection . The Army 05:48.927 --> 05:51.260 in conjunction with our sister services , 05:51.260 --> 05:53.482 enhanced operability with Department of 05:53.482 --> 05:55.593 Homeland Security , the United States 05:55.593 --> 05:55.529 Coast Guard , and our partners , 05:56.070 --> 05:58.014 bringing together the power of the 05:58.014 --> 05:59.792 Joint Force , interagency , and 05:59.792 --> 06:01.848 international partners . That's what 06:01.848 --> 06:04.014 the United States military does better 06:04.014 --> 06:06.390 than any military in the world . Couple 06:06.390 --> 06:08.910 of key data points . Joint Task Force 06:08.910 --> 06:12.269 Southern Border executed 99,245 06:12.269 --> 06:14.829 detections and monitoring operations 06:14.829 --> 06:17.880 and 65 named operations . And over the 06:17.880 --> 06:20.102 course of the operation , they achieved 06:20.102 --> 06:23.339 a 97% interdiction effectiveness rate . 06:23.709 --> 06:25.820 Let's give them a round of applause . 06:33.089 --> 06:35.690 These actions were absolutely critical 06:35.690 --> 06:37.850 to our homeland defense . To the 06:37.850 --> 06:40.072 soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division 06:40.072 --> 06:42.072 and the 1st Armored Division , your 06:42.072 --> 06:44.072 army is incredibly proud of you for 06:44.072 --> 06:45.739 approaching this mission with 06:45.739 --> 06:47.929 discipline , grit , and expertise . In 06:47.929 --> 06:49.929 the army , we train and rehearse to 06:49.929 --> 06:51.929 ensure we are ready when the nation 06:51.929 --> 06:53.873 calls , and this medal is a really 06:53.873 --> 06:56.096 powerful symbol that you were ready for 06:56.096 --> 06:58.549 the mission set . Thank you . 231 days 06:58.549 --> 07:00.980 of rigorous high impact real world 07:00.980 --> 07:03.589 operations and that deserves to be 07:03.589 --> 07:05.811 recognized . The army motto , plain and 07:05.811 --> 07:08.589 simple , this will defend . At the 07:08.589 --> 07:10.756 absolute core of the Army's purpose is 07:10.756 --> 07:13.070 the defense of our great nation , and 07:13.070 --> 07:15.181 today you received the Mexican Border 07:15.181 --> 07:17.403 Defense Medal , a medal that represents 07:17.403 --> 07:21.179 a direct contribution to just that . Mr . 07:21.190 --> 07:23.412 Secretary , thank you for acknowledging 07:23.412 --> 07:25.468 the hard work of these soldiers with 07:25.468 --> 07:27.634 the reestablishment of this medal . It 07:27.634 --> 07:29.801 means a lot . And to the soldiers here 07:29.801 --> 07:31.857 today , thank you again for all that 07:31.857 --> 07:34.079 you do each and every day in support of 07:34.079 --> 07:36.246 our nation's defense . This is a medal 07:36.246 --> 07:38.579 well earned , and may God bless you all . 07:38.579 --> 07:37.209 This will defend . 07:46.880 --> 07:48.991 Ladies and gentlemen , the Commandant 07:48.991 --> 07:51.158 of the Marine Corps , General Eric M . 07:51.158 --> 07:52.158 Smith . 07:59.209 --> 08:01.970 How's everybody doing ? Yeah , that 08:01.970 --> 08:04.081 should be louder because you're about 08:04.081 --> 08:06.192 to get a medal that you so rightfully 08:06.192 --> 08:08.470 deserve and have earned . So thank you , 08:08.470 --> 08:10.692 Secretary Hegseth , for your leadership 08:10.692 --> 08:12.859 and for your continued support of your 08:12.859 --> 08:14.748 Marines . And I say they're yours 08:14.748 --> 08:16.803 because they're yours . Thank you to 08:16.803 --> 08:19.026 everyone who made this event possible . 08:19.026 --> 08:21.248 These things don't just happen on their 08:21.248 --> 08:20.730 own , so a lot of people go to work 08:20.730 --> 08:22.730 hard to make sure that these events 08:22.730 --> 08:24.897 happen the way they're gonna happen in 08:24.897 --> 08:27.049 a fitting ceremony like this . To our 08:27.049 --> 08:28.938 distinguished guests , families , 08:28.940 --> 08:31.162 friends , and most importantly , to the 08:31.162 --> 08:33.273 marines and sailors and soldiers that 08:33.273 --> 08:35.384 we're honoring here today , thank you 08:35.384 --> 08:37.440 for being here . Thanks for what you 08:37.440 --> 08:39.662 did and thanks for the way in which you 08:39.662 --> 08:41.829 did it . Today we have the opportunity 08:41.829 --> 08:43.940 to recognize each of you individually 08:43.940 --> 08:46.051 while acknowledging that all of those 08:46.051 --> 08:48.107 who have contributed to this ongoing 08:48.107 --> 08:50.218 mission at our southern border cannot 08:50.218 --> 08:51.773 be here today . So you're a 08:51.773 --> 08:53.996 representative slice . You're having to 08:53.996 --> 08:55.996 take the , take the lion's share of 08:55.996 --> 08:58.218 this , uh , responsibility , and you're 08:58.218 --> 08:58.080 doing that well just by the way you 08:58.080 --> 09:00.302 present yourself , by the way you carry 09:00.302 --> 09:02.580 yourselves in uniform , you look sharp , 09:02.580 --> 09:04.524 you clearly inspected yourselves , 09:04.524 --> 09:06.691 you're doing what marines and soldiers 09:06.691 --> 09:06.349 do . You're doing it right . You're 09:06.349 --> 09:08.571 doing it on behalf of the joint force . 09:09.359 --> 09:11.679 In January 2025 , our nation called 09:11.679 --> 09:13.919 upon its premier expeditionary force in 09:13.919 --> 09:16.252 readiness to support this vital mission . 09:16.500 --> 09:18.333 And our Marines answered without 09:18.333 --> 09:20.789 hesitation . Within a matter of days , 09:20.969 --> 09:22.913 a Marine Corps aviation and ground 09:22.913 --> 09:25.080 forces arrived at the border . Since 09:25.080 --> 09:27.191 then they've proudly served alongside 09:27.191 --> 09:29.309 their joint interagency partners 09:29.599 --> 09:31.543 providing critical operational and 09:31.543 --> 09:33.543 engineering support to the southern 09:33.543 --> 09:35.766 Border mission . To date , Marines have 09:35.766 --> 09:38.520 conducted over 18,000 patrols , have 09:38.520 --> 09:40.719 processed nearly 10,000 individual 09:40.719 --> 09:44.039 detections . At the same time , they've 09:44.039 --> 09:47.159 identified and repaired over 500 border 09:47.159 --> 09:49.690 wall breaches . While completing over 09:49.690 --> 09:53.590 200,000 m of wall reinforcements , 09:54.010 --> 09:55.899 but beyond the numbers , the true 09:55.899 --> 09:57.788 message , the true measure of our 09:57.788 --> 10:00.010 success at the southern border is found 10:00.010 --> 10:01.899 in the individuals we are here to 10:01.899 --> 10:04.400 recognize today , you all . To today's 10:04.400 --> 10:06.479 awardees , you were asked to deploy 10:06.479 --> 10:08.330 into a complex and demanding 10:08.330 --> 10:10.386 environment , and you did so without 10:10.386 --> 10:12.274 hesitation . You were tasked with 10:12.274 --> 10:14.163 executing a mission that requires 10:14.163 --> 10:15.997 seamless integration , technical 10:15.997 --> 10:18.250 proficiency , and unwavering dedication 10:18.250 --> 10:21.049 in the heat , severe heat , whether you 10:21.049 --> 10:23.271 conducted wide area surveillance in the 10:23.271 --> 10:25.438 dead of night , mained heavy equipment 10:25.438 --> 10:27.716 and triple digit heat , as I just said , 10:27.716 --> 10:29.771 or coordinated the complex logistics 10:29.771 --> 10:31.938 that keep this mission going , you all 10:31.938 --> 10:33.882 performed exceptionally well . You 10:33.882 --> 10:36.049 demonstrated the Marine Corps' ability 10:36.049 --> 10:38.216 to support any mission in any climb in 10:38.216 --> 10:40.789 any place . With the same steadfast 10:40.789 --> 10:42.845 professionalism that has defined our 10:42.845 --> 10:45.659 legacy for more than 250 years . The 10:45.659 --> 10:47.603 medal you're about to receive is a 10:47.603 --> 10:49.381 recognition of your operational 10:49.381 --> 10:51.548 excellence . It is a testament to your 10:51.548 --> 10:53.770 efforts as individuals and to your 10:53.770 --> 10:55.770 contributions to the success of the 10:55.770 --> 10:58.159 team , because no one fights alone . On 10:58.159 --> 11:00.103 behalf of the entire United States 11:00.103 --> 11:02.048 Marine Corps , congratulations . I 11:02.048 --> 11:04.215 could not be more proud of you for the 11:04.215 --> 11:06.048 way that you've accomplished the 11:06.048 --> 11:08.215 mission that you were assigned . Thank 11:08.215 --> 11:10.270 you again , Mr . Secretary , for the 11:10.270 --> 11:12.492 opportunity to speak this morning as we 11:12.492 --> 11:14.492 honor our warfighters . Your Marine 11:14.492 --> 11:16.715 Corps remains semper fidelis . Hoorah . 11:24.659 --> 11:26.881 Ladies and gentlemen , the Secretary of 11:26.881 --> 11:29.059 War , the Honorable Pete Hegseth . 11:37.729 --> 11:39.951 Well , General Smith , General Laneve , 11:39.951 --> 11:42.007 thank you very much for being here . 11:42.007 --> 11:44.173 Your , your presence is a testament to 11:44.173 --> 11:46.396 the importance of this topic , the very 11:46.396 --> 11:48.451 top , the very top of the Navy , the 11:48.451 --> 11:50.562 top of the Army , the Chairman of the 11:50.562 --> 11:50.289 Joint Chiefs of Staff , Homeland 11:50.289 --> 11:52.511 Security Advisor , other members of the 11:52.511 --> 11:54.511 White House , our leadership at OSW 11:54.929 --> 11:57.690 from day one , the defense of the 11:57.690 --> 12:01.130 homeland . And getting 100% operational 12:01.130 --> 12:03.352 control of our southwest border was the 12:03.352 --> 12:05.630 number one priority of this department . 12:05.630 --> 12:07.852 Yes , now it's codified in our national 12:07.852 --> 12:10.074 defense strategy is defend the homeland 12:10.074 --> 12:12.186 and the hemisphere that we eventually 12:12.186 --> 12:14.241 did . But from day one operationally 12:14.241 --> 12:16.463 this department , this building , these 12:16.463 --> 12:18.809 services rushed , surged down to the 12:18.809 --> 12:21.460 border to stop the invasion of our 12:21.460 --> 12:23.630 southern border . Which is truly what 12:23.630 --> 12:25.686 it was . Uh , yes , there , there we 12:25.686 --> 12:27.852 have had troops on our border for 25 , 12:27.852 --> 12:29.686 25 years . You're correct , uh , 12:29.686 --> 12:31.741 general , but in , in many ways they 12:31.741 --> 12:33.797 were down there as window dressing . 12:33.797 --> 12:35.852 They were down there with binoculars 12:35.852 --> 12:37.852 and no authorities . They were down 12:37.852 --> 12:40.074 there as part of just the status quo of 12:40.074 --> 12:40.030 rotation of things , the way we did 12:40.030 --> 12:42.419 business . Uh , and it was , it was 12:42.419 --> 12:44.641 often said , well , we need , we need , 12:44.641 --> 12:46.697 uh , new and different authorities . 12:46.697 --> 12:48.586 Sure , we've , we've inserted new 12:48.586 --> 12:50.808 authorities , but what we really needed 12:50.808 --> 12:53.030 was new leadership and new priorities . 12:53.030 --> 12:55.030 And then putting the best Americans 12:55.030 --> 12:56.975 after that problem set to get 100% 12:56.975 --> 12:59.197 control of the southwest border . So to 12:59.197 --> 13:01.419 this group , I say this group is here , 13:01.770 --> 13:03.992 the highest levels of leadership in our 13:03.992 --> 13:06.289 department , because we recognize how 13:06.289 --> 13:08.456 fundamental and important your mission 13:08.456 --> 13:10.729 is , how difficult it has been , uh , 13:10.770 --> 13:12.992 the challenges you've had to adapt to . 13:12.992 --> 13:15.140 Uh , but it , it's taking the skill 13:15.140 --> 13:17.362 sets that our generation of warfighters 13:17.362 --> 13:19.473 have learned overseas for two decades 13:19.473 --> 13:21.640 and applying a defense in depth on our 13:21.640 --> 13:23.696 own southwest border turns out we're 13:23.696 --> 13:25.862 pretty good at it . And when you build 13:25.862 --> 13:28.084 out national defense areas and when you 13:28.084 --> 13:30.251 put , uh , infantrymen and others down 13:30.251 --> 13:32.473 there on the border securing that fence 13:32.473 --> 13:34.809 line . Doing named operations , 13:35.299 --> 13:37.820 operating at night , operating with 13:37.820 --> 13:40.979 drones , counter drones , tunnels , you 13:40.979 --> 13:43.035 name it . I read all the operational 13:43.035 --> 13:45.201 reports of the types of efforts you've 13:45.201 --> 13:47.257 undertaken . You have been dynamic , 13:47.257 --> 13:49.423 you have been creative , you have been 13:49.423 --> 13:51.146 aggressive . You have used the 13:51.146 --> 13:53.146 authorities you've been given . You 13:53.146 --> 13:55.479 work with your law enforcement partners . 13:55.479 --> 13:57.535 Huge shout out to , to Border Patrol 13:57.535 --> 13:59.757 and Homeland Security . I know you work 13:59.757 --> 14:01.979 with them every single day . Uh , their 14:01.979 --> 14:03.979 authorities complement yours . Your 14:03.979 --> 14:05.979 authorities complement ours because 14:05.979 --> 14:08.201 we're all Americans securing our border 14:08.201 --> 14:08.020 and stopping that invasion , and that's 14:08.020 --> 14:09.859 why for over a year there's been 14:09.859 --> 14:12.640 effectively 0 illegals crossing our 14:12.640 --> 14:14.807 border , effectively 0 , especially on 14:14.807 --> 14:17.029 the national defense areas , because we 14:17.029 --> 14:19.299 decided our soil , our homeland will be 14:19.299 --> 14:21.243 defended , and we will utilize our 14:21.243 --> 14:23.243 troops in those places to do it and 14:23.243 --> 14:25.466 give them maximum authorities to ensure 14:25.466 --> 14:27.299 that we stop the invasion of our 14:27.299 --> 14:29.340 southwest border . And like so many 14:29.340 --> 14:31.451 great things like the name Department 14:31.451 --> 14:33.507 of War , uh , it's not a new thing . 14:33.739 --> 14:35.295 It's a restoration . It's a 14:35.295 --> 14:37.295 re-establishment . Uh , we were the 14:37.295 --> 14:39.461 Department of war all the way up until 14:39.461 --> 14:41.461 World War II , and we , uh , we are 14:41.461 --> 14:43.517 again . Well , this Southwest Border 14:43.517 --> 14:45.461 Medal , the Mexican Border Defense 14:45.461 --> 14:47.683 Medal , was established in 1918 to stop 14:47.683 --> 14:49.906 other incursions and invasions , and so 14:49.906 --> 14:52.017 we're not creating something new . We 14:52.017 --> 14:54.128 actually revived the exact same medal 14:54.128 --> 14:56.295 from 1918 to be given , uh , to all of 14:56.295 --> 14:58.406 you today as a reflection . That this 14:58.406 --> 15:01.039 service is an extension . We stand on 15:01.039 --> 15:03.206 the shoulders of other great Americans 15:03.270 --> 15:05.159 who defended this nation , and it 15:05.159 --> 15:08.039 always requires the real 1% to do 15:08.039 --> 15:10.206 difficult things in difficult places , 15:10.320 --> 15:12.479 uh , without enough recognition . And 15:12.479 --> 15:14.646 the reason we're bringing you all here 15:14.646 --> 15:16.535 is because every single soldier , 15:16.535 --> 15:18.646 marine , and one sailor , uh , seated 15:18.646 --> 15:21.250 here represents thousands , thousands 15:21.250 --> 15:23.417 of others who have done this mission . 15:23.417 --> 15:25.528 On our southwest border and are doing 15:25.528 --> 15:27.472 it right now and we're getting the 15:27.472 --> 15:29.417 reports about it right now and the 15:29.417 --> 15:31.417 cartels are having to deal with the 15:31.417 --> 15:31.280 realities that they can't cross our 15:31.280 --> 15:33.599 border and can't bring the drugs and 15:33.599 --> 15:35.859 the death and the human trafficking 15:35.960 --> 15:38.182 that they brought for far too long that 15:38.182 --> 15:40.070 killed way too many Americans so 15:40.070 --> 15:42.292 President Trump made this a priority on 15:42.292 --> 15:45.030 day one . This department made it a 15:45.030 --> 15:47.252 priority on day one . We had incredible 15:47.252 --> 15:49.363 partners across the interagency , and 15:49.363 --> 15:51.586 then it took Americans to deliver . And 15:51.586 --> 15:51.409 the reason we're here in the middle of 15:51.409 --> 15:53.409 the Pentagon , you probably thought 15:53.409 --> 15:55.465 maybe you could go your whole career 15:55.465 --> 15:57.687 and not , not show up at the Pentagon . 15:57.687 --> 15:59.631 The reason you're here today is to 15:59.631 --> 16:01.853 demonstrate to this building . To the , 16:01.853 --> 16:03.965 to the media , to the world that this 16:03.965 --> 16:06.131 has been , continues to be and will be 16:06.131 --> 16:07.576 through the entire of the 16:07.576 --> 16:09.576 administration , our main effort to 16:09.576 --> 16:11.798 secure that southwest border . It's not 16:11.798 --> 16:11.039 inevitable that it would have happened . 16:11.590 --> 16:13.534 It only happens when you make it a 16:13.534 --> 16:15.146 priority and give people the 16:15.146 --> 16:17.257 authorities necessary to execute it , 16:17.257 --> 16:19.201 and you have operational control . 16:19.201 --> 16:21.368 We're going to continue to refine that 16:21.368 --> 16:23.423 more and more so that we've got more 16:23.423 --> 16:25.534 infrastructure and less people at the 16:25.534 --> 16:25.299 border , ensuring that no one's 16:25.299 --> 16:27.132 crossing . So thank you for your 16:27.132 --> 16:29.188 commitment to improving the position 16:29.188 --> 16:31.460 time and time again . But I want to 16:31.460 --> 16:33.516 take one interlude here for a moment 16:33.516 --> 16:35.627 and hand the podium to a , a , a dear 16:35.627 --> 16:37.793 friend of mine who we wouldn't be here 16:37.793 --> 16:40.071 without him , uh , and his focus . Yes , 16:40.071 --> 16:42.238 President Trump sets the tone and he's 16:42.238 --> 16:44.349 talked about the border in a way that 16:44.349 --> 16:44.080 others have not for a very long time , 16:44.729 --> 16:46.840 uh , but without Stephen Miller , our 16:46.840 --> 16:48.673 Homeland Security advisor , this 16:48.673 --> 16:50.618 mission doesn't happen , certainly 16:50.618 --> 16:50.419 doesn't happen with the speed and 16:50.419 --> 16:52.308 urgency that has happened , and I 16:52.308 --> 16:54.475 wanted to give him a moment to address 16:54.475 --> 16:56.252 this group because he's been so 16:56.252 --> 16:58.141 fundamental to making it happen . 16:58.141 --> 17:00.197 Ladies and gentlemen , give it up to 17:00.197 --> 16:59.020 Stephen Miller . 17:09.119 --> 17:11.286 It's an honor to be here today , and I 17:11.286 --> 17:13.508 want to pick up on what Pete said about 17:14.079 --> 17:15.890 Some of the dignitaries and 17:15.890 --> 17:18.057 distinguished leaders that are in this 17:18.057 --> 17:20.168 room and what it reflects in terms of 17:20.168 --> 17:22.279 how important this mission is to this 17:22.279 --> 17:24.223 administration and this Pentagon . 17:24.223 --> 17:26.390 Obviously you heard from the Secretary 17:26.390 --> 17:28.390 of War , but again you have General 17:28.390 --> 17:31.170 Kane , the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs , 17:31.209 --> 17:33.153 you have General Laneve , you have 17:33.153 --> 17:35.265 General Smith , and so many others at 17:35.265 --> 17:37.209 the highest levels of our nation's 17:37.209 --> 17:39.920 national security and defense apparatus 17:40.369 --> 17:43.359 because as Pete said . This from the 17:43.359 --> 17:45.540 very minute the president put his hand 17:45.540 --> 17:47.510 on the Bible has been the highest 17:47.510 --> 17:49.732 priority of this administration . And I 17:49.732 --> 17:52.040 remember distinctly in the hours after 17:52.040 --> 17:54.280 the inauguration , the airlift had 17:54.280 --> 17:56.224 already begun . Massive assets are 17:56.224 --> 17:58.336 being mobilized and moved down to the 17:58.336 --> 18:00.502 southern border . There has never been 18:00.502 --> 18:02.280 in history , to my knowledge or 18:02.280 --> 18:04.224 awareness , a more radical day and 18:04.224 --> 18:06.391 night shift in the security posture of 18:06.391 --> 18:08.447 a country than what happened to that 18:08.447 --> 18:11.119 border between January 20th and January 18:11.119 --> 18:14.689 21st . Never in history has a 18:14.689 --> 18:16.569 nation achieved such a complete 18:16.569 --> 18:18.680 turnaround in its security posture in 18:18.680 --> 18:21.250 so short a time , and that was led and 18:21.250 --> 18:24.349 driven out of the Department of War 18:24.729 --> 18:27.729 with an urgency and a speed and a 18:27.729 --> 18:30.250 ferocity that I've never witnessed 18:30.250 --> 18:32.306 before in any other policy area that 18:32.306 --> 18:34.790 I've ever worked on . And when you talk 18:34.790 --> 18:37.729 about bringing back a medal from 1818 , 18:37.969 --> 18:40.459 it is so important to mention how 18:40.459 --> 18:43.630 interwoven the history of the US armed 18:43.630 --> 18:46.439 forces are with the defense of our 18:46.439 --> 18:49.339 southern border . The US southern 18:49.339 --> 18:51.900 border has been the scene of some of 18:51.900 --> 18:54.339 the most important military fights in 18:54.339 --> 18:56.300 the history of this country . The 18:56.300 --> 18:58.244 nation that we live in today , the 18:58.244 --> 19:00.540 territory that we occupy today , the 19:00.540 --> 19:02.500 security that we have today was 19:02.500 --> 19:04.619 achieved by prior generations who are 19:04.619 --> 19:07.020 fighting out on that frontier to secure 19:07.020 --> 19:09.131 a homeland for their people . That is 19:09.131 --> 19:11.339 the legacy that you inherit and that . 19:11.444 --> 19:13.666 You continue , and when you think about 19:13.666 --> 19:15.722 threats to the lives and security of 19:15.722 --> 19:17.888 the American people , there's a reason 19:17.888 --> 19:19.833 why President Trump designated the 19:19.833 --> 19:22.000 cartels operating just meters from you 19:22.000 --> 19:24.000 on the other side of that border as 19:24.000 --> 19:26.166 foreign terrorist organizations . This 19:26.166 --> 19:28.500 is a very important point to underscore . 19:28.500 --> 19:30.611 As a foreign terrorist organization , 19:30.611 --> 19:32.611 the Mexican drug cartels sit in the 19:32.611 --> 19:35.925 exact same legal position as ISIS or Al 19:35.925 --> 19:38.964 Qaeda , except unlike ISIS or Al Qaeda , 19:39.244 --> 19:41.630 they're not operating . Thousands of 19:41.630 --> 19:44.189 miles away , again , they're operating 19:44.189 --> 19:46.390 meters from where you show up to 19:46.390 --> 19:48.969 perform your duties every single day . 19:49.349 --> 19:52.449 Those organizations . Not only 19:52.680 --> 19:55.160 export massive death in the form of 19:55.160 --> 19:57.410 narcotics to our country . But they 19:57.410 --> 20:00.890 also export sophisticated criminal 20:00.890 --> 20:04.410 enterprises whose objective is to 20:04.410 --> 20:06.979 destabilize our democracy and to end 20:06.979 --> 20:08.812 the rule of law in our country . 20:08.812 --> 20:11.010 There's a reason why in Mexico the 20:11.010 --> 20:12.969 justice system doesn't work , the 20:12.969 --> 20:14.969 political system doesn't work , the 20:14.969 --> 20:16.930 legal system doesn't work . It's 20:16.930 --> 20:19.041 because you have territory controlled 20:19.209 --> 20:21.949 and occupied by terrorist organizations 20:22.130 --> 20:24.810 who kill , extort , kidnap or murder 20:24.810 --> 20:26.921 anybody who gets in the way . And the 20:26.921 --> 20:30.119 line that is keeping that reality from 20:30.119 --> 20:31.841 existing in our country is the 20:31.841 --> 20:34.079 borderline that you are defending each 20:34.079 --> 20:36.839 and every day . The lives that you have 20:36.839 --> 20:38.880 saved already , think about this , 20:39.199 --> 20:42.910 number in the 10s of thousands . Can 20:42.910 --> 20:45.750 anybody else ask to have a more noble 20:45.750 --> 20:47.972 cause in their life than to get to wake 20:47.972 --> 20:49.750 up in the morning and know that 20:49.750 --> 20:51.972 thousands of people that you will never 20:51.972 --> 20:54.194 meet or interact with are alive today , 20:54.194 --> 20:56.194 are with their families today , are 20:56.194 --> 20:58.361 going to be at Christmas in December , 20:58.361 --> 21:00.583 and are going to be able to enjoy their 21:00.583 --> 21:02.694 kids' graduation or wedding and every 21:02.694 --> 21:04.694 other life milestone because of the 21:04.694 --> 21:06.806 service and sacrifice that you made . 21:06.806 --> 21:09.020 This is not abstract . This is not the 21:09.020 --> 21:11.131 abstractions are important , saying , 21:11.131 --> 21:13.353 well , you engage in a mission here and 21:13.353 --> 21:15.409 that will support this and this will 21:15.409 --> 21:15.280 support that and then eventually it'll , 21:15.540 --> 21:17.780 this is as direct as it gets . The 21:17.780 --> 21:21.199 enemy is mere feet from where you work , 21:21.619 --> 21:23.859 and your job is to prevent them from 21:23.859 --> 21:26.140 gaining a foothold of any kind in our 21:26.140 --> 21:28.770 country , and you have succeeded . But 21:28.770 --> 21:30.992 we don't rest on our laurels because as 21:30.992 --> 21:33.170 the Secretary said , we are going to 21:33.170 --> 21:35.599 advance and progress every day , set a 21:35.599 --> 21:37.969 higher mission , a higher standard , a 21:37.969 --> 21:39.800 higher objective to achieve the 21:39.800 --> 21:42.609 ultimate degradation and eventual 21:42.609 --> 21:45.209 defeat of the enemy . So I congratulate 21:45.209 --> 21:47.265 each and every one of you . I salute 21:47.265 --> 21:49.209 each and every one of you . You've 21:49.209 --> 21:51.265 earned the everlasting gratitude not 21:51.265 --> 21:53.376 only of this department , not only of 21:53.376 --> 21:55.598 this White House , but of the president 21:55.598 --> 21:55.010 and of the entire nation . Thank you 21:55.010 --> 21:58.489 and God bless . Thank you , thank you . 22:05.400 --> 22:07.750 Well , I could not say it any better 22:07.750 --> 22:09.917 myself . That's why I see the podium . 22:09.917 --> 22:12.028 Uh , his passion drove this mission , 22:12.239 --> 22:14.350 but the dedication of this department 22:14.350 --> 22:16.517 made it happen . Uh , and so I want to 22:16.517 --> 22:18.739 thank all the senior leaders here again 22:18.739 --> 22:20.961 for your commitment to this cause . And 22:20.961 --> 22:22.906 wherever Border Bob is , he gets a 22:22.906 --> 22:24.906 shout out because he was the acting 22:24.906 --> 22:26.795 secretary for 4 days before I was 22:26.795 --> 22:26.560 confirmed , and he drove the speed for 22:26.560 --> 22:28.838 4 days and then handed the baton to me , 22:28.838 --> 22:31.116 and we've been running ever since . Uh , 22:31.116 --> 22:33.393 but I also want to mention , pass your , 22:33.393 --> 22:35.449 pass my gratitude to your families . 22:36.109 --> 22:38.220 Wives , husbands , sons , daughters , 22:38.220 --> 22:40.469 mothers , fathers , uh , as well as the 22:40.469 --> 22:42.900 remainder of your units , uh , and , uh , 22:42.949 --> 22:44.949 that we know , we know this is time 22:44.949 --> 22:46.838 away , just like any other , uh , 22:46.838 --> 22:49.171 deployment , just like any other action , 22:49.171 --> 22:51.393 but that what you've done is incredibly 22:51.393 --> 22:53.616 meaningful to the soul of this nation , 22:53.616 --> 22:55.838 and we're grateful for the service that 22:55.838 --> 22:57.949 you've given and we bring you here to 22:57.949 --> 22:57.170 this department to showcase it to the 22:57.170 --> 22:59.337 world . The media doesn't want to talk 22:59.337 --> 23:01.448 about things that about problems that 23:01.448 --> 23:03.670 go away or why they went away . Uh , so 23:03.670 --> 23:05.726 it's our job to continue to tell the 23:05.726 --> 23:07.670 story of the incredible success of 23:07.670 --> 23:09.670 great Americans not serving for the 23:09.670 --> 23:11.892 spotlight but who deserve the spotlight 23:11.892 --> 23:14.114 and so that's why we're here today . So 23:14.114 --> 23:16.281 on behalf of your commander in chief , 23:16.281 --> 23:18.226 on behalf of the nation , it is my 23:18.226 --> 23:20.392 honor to give you these Mexican border 23:20.392 --> 23:22.503 defense medals and thank you for your 23:22.503 --> 23:24.670 service to this great republic . So at 23:24.670 --> 23:27.003 this time , let's give out those medals . 23:27.003 --> 23:26.239 Thank you very much . 23:34.729 --> 23:36.849 At this time we welcome General Eric 23:36.849 --> 23:38.960 Smith , Major General David Gardner , 23:38.960 --> 23:41.180 and Mr . Patrick Weaver to join 23:41.180 --> 23:43.339 Secretary Hegseth on stage for the 23:43.339 --> 23:45.739 presentation of the Mexican Border 23:45.739 --> 23:47.880 Defense Medal to the Marine Corps 23:48.060 --> 23:49.060 element . 23:52.910 --> 23:55.050 Lance Corporal Sophia Arrizmendi . 23:56.329 --> 23:58.729 Lance Corporal Anthony Felipe . 23:59.839 --> 24:01.939 Corporal Johnny Garcia . 24:22.839 --> 24:25.359 Corpsman , First Class , Troy Holton . 24:26.300 --> 24:29.339 Sergeant James Mayfield , Lance 24:29.339 --> 24:31.500 Corporal Dakota McDown . 24:50.790 --> 24:53.430 Sergeant Roland Nambo , First 24:53.430 --> 24:57.089 Lieutenant Sofia Padilla . Corporal 24:57.280 --> 24:59.540 Mary Ellis Perez Orego . 25:16.849 --> 25:20.589 Captain Marley Ragney . Sergeant 25:20.589 --> 25:23.739 Kevin Ramirez Bonilla . And Gunnery 25:23.739 --> 25:25.689 Sergeant Juan Rodriguez . 25:47.920 --> 25:50.520 Private First Class Jimena Roman . 25:51.729 --> 25:55.640 First Sergeant Cindy Torado . And Staff 25:55.640 --> 25:57.920 Sergeant William Austin . 26:18.699 --> 26:20.699 Thank you , General Smith . At this 26:20.699 --> 26:23.349 time , General Christopher Le Neve will 26:23.349 --> 26:25.829 join Secretary Hegseth and Mr . Weaver 26:25.829 --> 26:27.885 on stage for the presentation of the 26:27.885 --> 26:29.949 Mexican Border Defense Medal to the 26:29.949 --> 26:30.849 Army element . 26:36.810 --> 26:39.300 Private First Class Nehemiah Abraham . 26:40.199 --> 26:43.500 Warrant Officer One Firas Abu Adra . 26:44.459 --> 26:46.560 Sergeant Major Cody Anderson . 27:01.050 --> 27:04.119 Sergeant Orley Arellano Pagan . 27:04.939 --> 27:07.770 Captain Benjamin Bloom . And Staff 27:07.770 --> 27:09.680 Sergeant Brandon Brashear . 27:29.810 --> 27:33.329 Sergeant Major Bobby Sue Cox , First 27:33.329 --> 27:35.489 Lieutenant Cole Duster . 27:36.510 --> 27:38.760 Specialist Corey Dupree . 27:59.660 --> 28:03.459 Captain Donovan Edwards . Captain 28:03.459 --> 28:06.959 Michael El Haj and Sergeant Ethan 28:07.020 --> 28:07.699 Guzman . 28:27.810 --> 28:31.329 Captain Stafford Harmond . Sergeant 28:31.329 --> 28:34.979 First Class Christian Hidalgo . And 28:34.979 --> 28:36.959 Staff Sergeant Tristan Huff . 28:56.859 --> 29:00.369 Captain Samuel Jones . Private First 29:00.369 --> 29:03.699 Class Emmery Jones . And Lieutenant 29:03.699 --> 29:05.739 Colonel Richard Kuu . 29:26.989 --> 29:29.689 Corporal Jonathan McLeod , 29:30.310 --> 29:34.010 Specialist Andrew Oliphant . First 29:34.010 --> 29:36.410 Lieutenant Dominic Perro . 29:56.540 --> 29:59.140 Private First Class Laresa Perry . 30:00.589 --> 30:02.989 Private First Class Ian Pinto . 30:04.199 --> 30:06.949 Private First Class Lily Ann Redford . 30:28.989 --> 30:31.469 Sergeant Kevante Reed . 30:35.160 --> 30:39.079 Sergeant Emiliano Reynoso . And 30:39.079 --> 30:41.290 Staff Sergeant Randy Robertson . 31:00.130 --> 31:03.920 Sergeant Michaela Rowntree . Sergeant 31:04.099 --> 31:07.449 Michael Siegler . Sergeant Aaron 31:07.709 --> 31:08.390 Tavison . 31:38.439 --> 31:40.640 Specialist Osmand Vargas . 31:42.030 --> 31:44.869 Staff Sergeant Luis Villarreal . 31:46.229 --> 31:49.500 Chief Warrant Officer 2 , Terron Weigel . 31:50.890 --> 31:53.229 Staff Sergeant Ethan Young . 32:13.739 --> 32:15.628 Thank you , Mr . Weaver , General 32:15.628 --> 32:17.683 Laneve , Major General Gardner , and 32:17.683 --> 32:19.906 Secretary Hegseth . A round of applause 32:19.906 --> 32:21.030 for the awardees . 32:33.050 --> 32:35.272 Ladies and gentlemen , please stand for 32:35.272 --> 32:37.383 the benediction delivered by Chaplain 32:37.383 --> 32:38.383 David Wake . 32:44.849 --> 32:48.170 Let us pray . The ceremony is but a 32:48.170 --> 32:50.281 moment in the grandeur of all created 32:50.281 --> 32:52.392 things , and yet , Almighty God , you 32:52.392 --> 32:54.569 are here and present with us . I pray 32:54.569 --> 32:56.625 as we depart , you will go with each 32:56.625 --> 32:58.847 and every one gathered here and be with 32:58.847 --> 33:00.902 all of our service members and their 33:00.902 --> 33:03.069 families . Give them grace and a peace 33:03.069 --> 33:05.236 that passes all understanding until we 33:05.236 --> 33:06.369 meet again . Amen . 33:13.609 --> 33:15.665 Ladies and gentlemen , please remain 33:15.665 --> 33:17.553 standing for the departure of the 33:17.553 --> 33:18.553 official party . 33:35.699 --> 33:37.755 Ladies and gentlemen , please remain 33:37.755 --> 33:40.319 standing . This concludes today's 33:40.319 --> 33:42.369 ceremony . Thank you for attending .