SC soldier was ‘courage made flesh,’ Biden says during Medal of Honor ceremony
President Joe Biden on Thursday presented the family of a South Carolina soldier, who was fatally wounded protecting a helicopter conducting a medical evacuation, with the Medal of Honor.
Biden called Christopher Celiz, a Summerville native who graduated from South Carolina’s military college, The Citadel, “a Ranger through and through.”
“Christopher Celiz was courage made flesh,” Biden said.
Celiz first enlisted in 2006, and in 2013, he was chosen to serve with the 75th Ranger Regiment.
Celiz died in action while fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2018.
The Ranger took on Taliban fighters to protect a helicopter trying to carry out a medical evacuation. The helicopter’s pilot credited Celiz with saving the evacuating helicopter from receiving critical damage.
“Sergeant First Class Celiz made a conscious effort to ensure his body acted as a physical shield to his team carrying the casualty and the crew of the aircraft,” a White House statement read. “As the casualty was loaded and Sgt. 1st Class Celiz’ team returned to cover, he alone remained at the aircraft, returning a high volume of fire and constantly repositioning himself to act as a physical shield to the aircraft and its crew.”
Celiz was wounded as the helicopter took off. According to the White House, he told the transport to leave rather than pick him up.
“He knew he was hit, but he waved for the air crew to depart without him,” Biden said. “In the face of extreme danger, he placed the safety of his team and crew above his own.”
Celiz was later evacuated to the nearest medical treatment facility, according to an Army statement about his death. He died there of his wounds.
He was serving as a combat engineer and was on his fifth deployment.
Celiz was previously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart and the Meritorious Service Medal posthumously.
Biden gave the Medal of Honor to Celiz’s family during the ceremony at the White House.
This story was originally published December 16, 2021 at 2:47 PM.
