On the recordApril 15, 2026
on Easter Sunday, President Donald Trump, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine completed a successful mission to rescue two American airmen in Iran. Less than 48 hours earlier, an American fighter jet had been shot down with a shoulder-fired missile as part of Operation Epic Fury. A rescue was launched immediately, locating one pilot within hours. However, the second crewmember landed much further away, complicating recovery efforts. Despite this challenge, President Donald Trump emphasized the promise that no man is left behind. He correctly described the mission as "one of the largest, most complex, most harrowing combat rescue searches ever attempted by the military." As the grateful father of four sons who have served in the Middle East, I especially appreciate President Donald Trump. In conclusion, God bless our troops as the global war on terrorism continues.
Source
govinfo.gov
