Major Payne: The Heroic Actions of a Medal of Honor Recipient

On October 22, 2015, amidst Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq, then-Sgt. 1st Class Thomas “Patrick” Payne served as an assistant team leader on a mission of extreme urgency. As part of a Special Operations Joint Task Force, his unit was tasked with rescuing over 70 Iraqi hostages held by ISIS militants in a prison compound near Hawija. Intelligence indicated the hostages faced imminent execution, making the operation incredibly time-sensitive. The bravery displayed by Thomas Payne during this perilous rescue would ultimately lead to him receiving the Medal of Honor, recognizing his exceptional courage in the face of overwhelming danger.

Shoulder sleeve insignia of the 3rd Infantry Division associated with Medal of Honor recipient Thomas Payne

Meticulous Planning Meets Urgent Reality

Preparation for the complex mission involved a full week of intensive planning and rehearsals by Payne’s team, anticipating numerous potential obstacles. The operation was abruptly green-lit upon receiving intelligence about newly dug graves near the compound, signaling ISIS’s intent to execute the hostages shortly. Payne, his fellow U.S. Special Operators, and their Kurdish Special Forces partners were rapidly deployed via helicopter into a volatile situation.

The Assault Begins Under Fire

The combined force landed amidst a chaotic firefight. Heavy dust and smoke severely limited visibility, forcing the soldiers to rely heavily on their training. Payne expertly maneuvered his team towards the first designated building. As they prepared to scale ladders for their objective, a critical call came over the radio: Master Sgt. Josh Wheeler, a respected leader from the task force operating nearby, was down. Payne’s medic immediately diverted to render aid, while the rest of the team pressed on. Facing initial hesitation from some Kurdish partners, Payne and another teammate provided crucial leadership, urging them forward with a simple, determined command: “Follow me.” They advanced towards the first building, which held over 30 hostages.

First Rescue and Escalating Conflict

Meeting only light resistance initially, Payne’s team swiftly secured the area within the first building. They located the prison cell and cut the lock, witnessing the hostages’ expressions shift dramatically from terror to elation upon realizing rescue was underway. As these hostages were being moved to safety, Payne received an urgent radio call requesting assistance at the second building, merely 30 yards away. The intensity of the gunfire from that direction was palpable. Payne knew immediate action was required, telling a teammate, “Let’s get into the fight.”

Map showing Hawija, Iraq, the location of the Operation Inherent Resolve hostage rescue mission involving Thomas Payne on October 22, 2015

Into the Burning Building

Payne and his teammates repositioned to the roof of the second building, which was now engulfed in flames. They faced relentless enemy fire from entrenched positions to the west and from within the building directly beneath them. Initial attempts to breach from the roof using small arms and grenades proved unsuccessful. Hearing shouts of “Allahu akbar” followed by the detonation of suicide vests from below, Payne led his team back to ground level to find an alternative entry point.

As the team worked to breach the building’s heavily fortified walls and windows, several Kurdish partners were wounded by enemy fire. Amidst the smoke and chaos, Payne identified the main prison door inside the entryway – secured by the same type of lock encountered in the first building. He recognized that attempting to cut the lock would expose him directly to enemy fire, but inaction meant certain death for the hostages trapped inside the rapidly deteriorating, burning structure.

Courage Under Fire: Breaching the Locks

Without hesitation, Payne seized a pair of bolt cutters and charged into the smoke-filled entryway. Under direct enemy fire, he successfully cut the first lock. Forced to retreat momentarily to escape the thick smoke and incoming rounds, Payne knew a second lock still barred the way. After Kurdish forces attempted unsuccessfully to cut it, Payne, disregarding his own safety, once again moved into the kill zone. Braving intense enemy fire and suffocating smoke, he cut the final lock, clearing the path to the trapped hostages.

With the door breached, the combined U.S. and Kurdish forces stormed the burning building, engaging remaining ISIS fighters while trying to reach the hostages. A mandatory evacuation order crackled over the radio – the building was structurally compromised and beginning to collapse. The hallways were choked with smoke, and enemy fire continued, yet numerous hostages remained inside, disoriented and terrified.

Ensuring No One Was Left Behind

Many hostages were confused and hesitant to move amidst the chaos. Payne took decisive action, directing the frightened group towards safety, physically guiding one man down the hallway to initiate the flow out of the building. Still under fire, Payne re-entered the collapsing structure a second time, located a larger man struggling to escape, and dragged him to safety. He entered the building a third time, conducting a final sweep to ensure everyone was out before giving the critical “last man” call, signaling the team could prepare for extraction.

Extraction and Legacy

The combined forces formed a human shield to protect the fleeing hostages as they moved towards the extraction point, still drawing enemy fire. When return fire from Payne’s team caused hostages to freeze in fear, the operators ceased firing, deliberately placing themselves at greater risk to ensure the civilians reached safety.

Helicopters arrived, presenting a final logistical challenge: ensuring enough space for the unexpectedly large number of rescued individuals. Quick calculations confirmed everyone could fit, though Payne’s team had to stand for the duration of the flight back to Erbil due to the cramped conditions.

The mission resulted in one of the largest hostage rescues in history. For his extraordinary heroism, disregard for personal safety, and decisive leadership under fire on October 22, 2015, then-Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Payne was subsequently awarded the Medal of Honor, the United States’ highest military decoration for valor. His actions exemplify the profound commitment and bravery inherent in the U.S. Armed Forces.