BRIAN: DURING OPERATION
PHANTOM FURY 2004.
STAFF SERGEANT DAVID
BELLAVIA CLEARED INSURGENT
STRONG POINT.
LISA: PRESIDENT TRUMP
PRESENTED HIM WITH THE MEDAL
OF HONOR FOR HEROIC ACTIONS
MAKING HIM THE FIRST IRAQ
WAR VETERAN TO RECEIVE THE
HONORABLE.
>> STAFF SERGEANT BELLAVIA,
WHOSE INTREPID SPIRIT AND
UNWAVERING RESOLVE DEFEATS
OUR ENEMIES, PROTECTS OUR
FREEDOMS AND DEFENDS OUR
GREAT AMERICAN FLAG.
DAVID, TODAY WE HONOR YOUR
EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE.
WE SALUTE YOUR SELFLESS
SERVICE.
AND WE THANK YOU FOR
CARRYING ON THE LEGACY OF
AMERICAN VALOR.
STEVE: AND JOINING US LIVE
RIGHT NOW STAFF SERGEANT
BELLAVIA JOINS US ALONG WITH
HIS CLOSE FRIEND AND "FOX &
FRIENDS WEEKEND" CO-HOST
PETE HEGSETH.
GOOD MORNING TO BOTH OF YOU.
STAFF SERGEANT, IT IS SUCH
AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU WITH US
TODAY.
>> THAT'S VERY KIND OF YOU,
THANK YOU, SIR.
STEVE: COULD YOU TAKE US
BACK TO THAT DAY THAT WE
HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IN
2004.
>> SECOND BATTLE OF
FALLUJAH.
MARINE CORPS EFFORT THE
ARMY.
22 CAV AND 22 INFANTRY WHICH
WAS MY UNIT.
WE WERE BROUGHT IN THERE TO
SUPPORT.
THIS ENEMY HAD SIX MONTHS TO
SIT UNMOLESTED AND WE WENT
IN THERE AND IT WAS CLOSE
QUARTER COMBAT, YOU KNOW.
IT'S GRIZZLY STUFF.
STEVE: IT WAS AS BAD AS IT
GETS?
>> YOU KNOW, IT WAS PRETTY
ROUGH.
THANK GOD I HAD THE MEN AND
WOMEN FROM 22 INFANTRY.
WE DID THIS SHOULDER TO
SHOULDER.
WE LOST OUR COMPANY
COMMANDER, SEAN SIMS.
STEVEN, J.V. MADISON.
THESE WERE IMPORTANT GUYS TO
OUR TEAM.
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE RESPONDED,
OUR TRAINING.
IT'S A REAL PRIVILEGE TO
SERVE THIS COUNTRY AT A TIME
OF WAR WHERE --
BRIAN: PETE, YOU MEET A LOT
OF PEOPLE WHO SERVE.
I HAVE READ HIS BOOK BEFORE
I MET HIM.
I WATCH BOOK NOTES MIDNIGHT
ON SATURDAY.
TALKING ABOUT YOUR STORY.
WHAT MADE HIM STAND OUT?
>> THIS IS MY ORIGINAL COPY
OF HOUSE-TO-HOUSE THAT DAVID
SIGNED FOR ME IN 2006.
WHAT STOOD OUT IS THE MINUTE
HE LEFT THE MILITARY, WHICH
IS WHEN I MET HIM.
HE CONTINUED TO FIGHT FOR
THE GUYS FIGHTING.
WHEN HE CAME OUT WITH A
SILVER STAR.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US WHO
READ HIS BOOK SAID THIS IS A
MEDAL OF HONOR STORY.
WHICH IS HIGHER WHICH IS
WHAT HE WAS BESTOWED AT THE
WHITE HOUSE.
>> WE WALKED INTO.
WE HAD A MISSION TO WALK IN
AND FIND 6 TO 8 BAD GUYS AND
A GROUP OF ABOUT 10 HOUSES.
WE WALKED INTO ONE HOUSE AND
THESE GUYS SET UP AN AMBUSH.
BELL FED MACHINE GUNS.
YOUNG EARLY
20-SOMETHING-YEAR-OLD KID
OPENS THE DOOR AND JUST LIKE
THE BATTLE OF ETIM THROUGH A
DOOR.
THIS YOUNG KID JUST PUTS
DOWN REFLEXIVE FIRE.
WE TALK ABOUT ONE PERSON'S
ACTIONS BUT THERE ARE 55
DIFFERENT DECISIONS THAT
OTHER PEOPLE MAKE THAT ALLOW
TO YOU MAKE DECISIONS.
AND I WAS -- YOU KNOW, I
JUST HAPPENED TO BE AT THE
RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT
TIME.
LISA: WHEN YOU FOUND OUT YOU
WERE GOING TO RECEIVE THE
MEDAL OF HONOR, WHAT WENT
FLY YOUR MIND.
>> UNBELIEVABLE.
YOU FEEL AWKWARD AND
UNCOMFORTABLE.
MY COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF
ALLOWED ME TO BRING MY
SOLDIERS ON THAT STAGE AND
THAT MEANT SO MUCH TO THEM.
STEVE: THEY WERE IN THE
WHITE HOUSE WITH YOU.
>> NOT ONLY WERE THEY IN THE
WHITE HOUSE.
>> WHAT DID IT MEAN TO YOU.
>> IT MEANT EVERYTHING TO US
AND TO MYSELF.
MY PRESIDENT BROUGHT OUR
SOLDIERS ON THE STAGE.
THAT HAS NEVER HAPPENED
BEFORE IN THE MEDAL OF HONOR
CEREMONY.
ABOUT ONE PERSON.
AND HE ALLOWED IT TO MAKE IT
ABOUT THE ENTIRE TEAM.
LISA: WOW.
>> LIKE EVERY SOLDIER HE
WILL BE HUMBLED I WAS THE
RIGHT GUY AT THE RIGHT TIME.
IN THIS BOOK AND ELSEWHERE.
STEVE: YOU TELL US WHAT
HAPPENED, PETE IT?
>> WAS A SERIES OF CHOICES.
YOUR GUYS WERE PINNED DOWN.
CLEAR A ROOM SO THE MEN
COULD GO IN.
WHAT'S GOING THROUGH YOUR
HEAD WHEN YOU ARE STACKED
OUTSIDE THE BUILDING, THE
FIVE BAD GUYS ARE STILL
INSIDE THE HOUSE, AND YOU
KNOW THEY ARE GOING TO LIVE
TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE
ANGRY.
THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF
SHAME THAT YOU BROKE CONTACT
TO BEGIN WITH WE ARE
AMERICAN SOLDIERS FIGHTING
AGAINST OUR TERRORISTS.
TRYING TO BREAK THEIR BACK
AND END THE WAR.
EVERY BATTLE WE ARE TRYING
TO END THE WAR IN IRAQ.
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL
ABOUT.
SO YOU WANT TO TAKE -- YOU
GET INITIATIVE AND DOMINATE
THE ENEMY.
AND THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT I
HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO.
I KEPT ROLLING UNTIL MY LUCK
RAN OUT.
BRIAN: UNTIL YOUR LUCK RAN
OUT.
IN THE END YOU REALIZED THE
ROOM, WHAT WAS IT PROPANE
WAS IN THE ROOM.
SO YOU COULD NOT USE A
FIREARM.
SO YOU HAD TO KILL THE GUY
WITH YOUR BARE HANDS.
>> WELL, THERE WAS AN
IMPLEMENT USED BUT, YEAH.
I MEAN THAT'S THE THING.
WE ARE FIGHTING FOR OUR
LIVES.
AND I HAD -- THIS HAPPENED A
LOT.
I MEAN, WE TALK ABOUT ONE
SNAPSHOT IN FALLUJAH.
THERE WAS A LOT OF CLOSE
QUARTER BATTLE THAT'S
GRIZZLY AND THAT'S GHOUL
ISSUE WILL
GHSUE WILL
GHOUE WILL
GHOULIWILL
GHOULISHLL
GHOULISH.BUT AT THE SAME TIME YU
GHOULISH.BUT AT THE SAME TIME YS
GHOULISH.BUT AT THE SAME TIME YE
A LOT OF INCREDIBLE STUFF.
LISA: TAKE US BACK TO THE
MIND SET MAKING THESE
CALCULATIONS.
>> MAYBE IF YOU HAVE TIME TO
THINK ABOUT IT, YOU PROBABLY
DON'T DO IT, RIGHT?
YOU CARE -- SO MUCH LOVE ON
THE BATTLEFIELD.
YOU LOVE THESE MEN.
YOU LOVE WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
YOU LOVE THIS COUNTRY.
AND THERE IS NO ENEMY THAT'S
EVER GOING TO STAND AGAINST
THAT.
>> THIS IS THE MIDDLE OF THE
NIGHT, DRUGGED UP
TERRORISTS.
YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE A "TIME"
MAGAZINE REPORTER THERE.
THERE IS LITERALLY AUDIO AND
VIDEO ON THE SCENE THERE IS
VIDEO WHERE MICHAEL WEAR THE
REPORTER, 10, 20 MINUTES
OUTSIDE THE HOUSE.
IT'S QUIET.
YOU ARE THE ONLY AMERICAN
INSIDE A HOUSE FULL OF
TRUCKED UP TERRORISTS
SUICIDAL AND WANTS TO DIE
FOR THEIR CAUSE.
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THAT
HOUSE AT THE TIME.
>> THERE IS A LOFT
CONFUSION.
BECAUSE I HAD A GUY, STAFF
SERGEANT SCOTT LAWSON WAS IN
THE HOUSE WITH ME.
YOU DON'T KNOW.
ARE YOU HEARING FOOT
STEPPING UPSTAIRS?
IS THAT AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
ON THE ROOF COMING DOWN YOU?
DON'T WANT TO SHOOT YOUR
OWN.
THEN YOU HAVE GOT A
JOURNALIST RUNNING AROUND,
THIS AUSTRALIAN LUNATIC.
BRIAN: IS HE VERY
AGGRESSIVELY.
>> HE IS RUNNING ROOM TO
ROOM WITH A CAMERA.
THIS IS NOT -- IT WAS VERY
CHAOTIC AND CRAZY.
BRIAN: I'M READING THIS BOOK
WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT.
I'M WATCHING ROLL THIS OUT
AND TELL YOUR STORY.
NOT ONLY ARE YOU A GREAT
COMMUNICATOR.
I SAID THIS IS ALMOST LIKE A
NOVEL IN THAT YOU WALK IN
BEFORE YOU JOINED THE
MILITARY AND YOUR HOUSE IS
BEING ROBBED THEY DON'T
EXPECT YOU TO BE HOME.
LOOKS AT YOU AND YOU FREEZE.
YOU DIDN'T MOVE.
THEY END UP GETTING AWAY.
YOU REMEMBER LOOKING IN YOUR
DAD'S EYES DISAPPOINTMENT
THAT YOU DIDN'T STOP THE
INVASION.
LATER ON, JOIN THE MILITARY.
AND DID YOU GO INTO THE
WORST BLOCK IN THE -- ON THE
PLANET AND YOU HAVE THE
COURAGE TO NOT ONLY GO IN
THERE BUT TO TAKE OUT
EVERYBODY.
SAVE YOUR BUDDY AND TAKE A
GUY OUT WITH YOUR HANDS TALK
ABOUT REDEMPTION YOU CAN'T
WRITE A SCRIPT LIKE THAT.
>> WORLD WAR II.
IT'S A BLESSING.
BRIAN: YOU CHOSE TO RISE TO
THE MOMENT.
YOU LEARNED HOW TO BE A
HERO.
>> YOU KNOW, THE THING IS,
WHEN YOU ARE -- PEER
PRESSURE CAN MAKE YOU SMOKE
CIGARETTES AT 13.
PEER PRESSURE CAN ALSO MAKE
YOU CLEAR A ROAD OF IEDs
AND TAKE OUT A BUNCH OF BAD
GUYS.
IT'S WHO YOUR PEERS ARE.
IF YOU HAVE GREAT PEOPLE
AROUND YOU, YOU WILL FIND
THAT YOU ARE GOING TO RISE
TO ANY LEVEL BECAUSE
EVERYONE IS IN THIS
TOGETHER.
THERE IS A MILLION REASONS
WHY WE ARE DIVIDED OUTSIDE.
THIS MILITARY, IT DOESN'T
MATTER WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE,
HOW WORSHIP, WHAT YOU DO,
IT'S ONE TEAM.
AND ANYONE THAT WANTS TO
STEP UP AGAINST THAT TEAM
YOU ARE IN FOR A LONG, LONG
DAY.
>> DAVID, I GOT TO KNOW YOU
AFTERWARDS, PART OF GROUPS
FOR FREEDOM.
WHY IS IT THAT 10 YEARS
LATER YOU ARE THE FIRST
LIVING RECIPIENT OF THE
MEDAL OF HONOR FROM THE IRAQ
WAR.
>> I DON'T KNOW.
I HAVE GOT TO TILL, I'M VERY
PROUD TO BE A VETERAN OF THE
IRAQ WAR, AS YOU ARE.
THERE WAS WE CAN NEVER AGAIN
MAKE A BAD WAR AND GOOD WAR.
THE CHIP ON THE IRAQ WAR
VETERAN SOLDIERS THAT OURS
WAS A BAD WAR.
AND I LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT
THERE ARE MANY MORE OF THESE
COMING, TO LIVING RECIPIENTS
AS WELL.
YOU THINK ABOUT RAPHAEL
PERALTA AND BRAD CASTLE AND
ALL THESE INCREDIBLE
STORIES.
IRAQ WAR VETERANS HAVE
NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF.
WE DID OUR JOB.
ATTENTION NEEDS TO BE PAID
TO WHAT WE DID IN IRAQ.
BRIAN: IT KILLS ME WHEN
LEADERS TALK ABOUT DIMINISH
THE WAR OR DUMB WAR.
REALLY?
THIS SADDAM HUSSEIN WAS A
MENACE FOR DECADES.
SHOOTING AT OUR PLANES OVER
10 YEARS.
GEORGE BUSH 41 WAS CALLED
LEAK FOR BILL CLINTON.
41 GOES IN.
OCCUPATION SPRATION
BRILLIANT.
WRITING ABOUT IT FOR
GENERATIONS.
THE SURGE IS HISTORIC.
WE SENT A MESSAGE TO THE
MIDDLE EAST.
AMERICANS WILL FIGHT AND IF
IT WASN'T FOR A BAD
POLITICIAN PULLING TROOPS
OUT PREMATURELY THAT WOULD
HAVE BEEN THE VERDICT.
LISA: POLITICIANS THAT
DIMINISHED THAT SERVICE WHAT
WOULD YOU TELL THEM?
>> I DON'T PRETEND TO
REWRITE THE NARRATIVE OF THE
IRAQ WAR.
ALL I'M SAY SOMETHING WE
DIDN'T GET A VOTE OR A
CHOICE.
WE FOLLOWED THE LAWFUL
INTENT OF OUR GOVERNMENT TO
SERVE OUR COUNTRY.
AND DON'T PUT THE POLICY
OVER THE VALOR OF MY
GENERATION?
THIS GENERATION SERVING
TODAY.
BRIAN: BRILLIANT.
>> WE ARE THE GREATEST
GENERATION.
WE HAVE BEEN AT WAR LONGER
THAN ANY OTHER GENERATION OF
AMERICAN.
WE ARE DOING MULTIPLE.
THIS GUY HAS BEEN TO GITMO,
AFGHANISTAN, AND IRAQ.
THAT'S THE TRIPLE DOUBLE
RIGHT THERE.
AND THERE ARE AMERICANS THAT
ARE GIVEN SIX YEARS OF THEIR
LIFE AT WAR.
BRIAN: AND VOLUNTEER YOU
HAD.
>> VOLUNTEERED
PROFESSIONALS.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
SUPPORT THE TROOPS.
JOIN THE MILITARY.
BECAUSE YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS
YOU.
WE NEED TO SERVE RIGHT NOW.
AMERICA NEEDS US AND OUR
ENEMIES AREN'T SLEEPING.
BRIAN: WORLD WAR II EVERYONE
GREW UP ON THE HEROISM OF
AUDIE MURPHY THIS IS THE
HERO OF OUR GENERATION DAVID
BELLAVIA.
LISA: WE HONOR YOU FOR YOUR
SERVICE.
>> THANK YOU.
BRIAN: KEEP THE WORD OUT
THERE?
>> WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO
GET AS MANY AMERICANS TO
MAKE A DECISION THAT WE BOTH
MADE SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY
MAKES US BETTER MEN, BETTER
WOMEN, BETTER CITIZENS,
HUSBANDS, FATHERS, AMERICA
IS WORTH ANY SACRIFICE.
LISA: THANK YOU FOR THAT.
BRIAN: THEY SHOULD MAKE YOUR
BOOK A MOVIE.
I KNOW THEY TALKED ABOUT IT.
THEY HAVE GOT TO MAKE THE
BOOK A MOVIE.
>> IS HE MY AGENT NOW.
LISA: PROBABLY MAKE A GOOD