On April 22, President Trump awarded a Purple Heart to Sergeant 1st Class, Alvaro Barrientos. The Purple Heart is a medal that is awarded for wounds that are suffered in combat. It can also be awarded to family members for those who were killed in combat. The Purple Heart has been awarded to approximately 1.8 million people for their service since it was introduced in 1932 under president Herbert Hoover. Barrientos, an Army sergeant in Afghanistan, had his right leg amputated after he was wounded while serving on March 17.

The awarding was also the first time that President Trump visited Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. During the short ceremony, Trump said, “Congratulations on behalf of Melania and myself and the entire nation. Tremendous, tremendous job, congratulations.”