WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Fort Bragg soldier received the military’s highest award for valor Friday at the White House.

Sgt. Maj. Thomas Payne, who played in a critical role in rescuing more than 70 ISIS-held hostages, was presented with the Medal of Honor by President Donald Trump.

“You embody the righteous glory of American valor. We stand in awe of your heroic, daring, and gallant deeds,” Trump said in remarks at the ceremony.

In October 2015, then-Sgt. First Class Payne led part of a hostage rescue mission in Iraq. His team was tasked with clearing one of two buildings, according to a summary of events provided by the White House.

“We run off the back of the Chinook helicopter. It's a complete brown out. We’re in the middle of a pretty intense firefight right off the bat,” he said, recalling that day.

After freeing nearly 40 hostages from his assigned building, though, a call came in for help at the second building. Payne went into action, putting himself once again in harm’s way.

“The building is starting to collapse. The building is on fire and we’re being engaged by enemy combatants in the back room. And we still have hostages that we need to liberate,” he said.

Facing enemy rounds, he used bolt cutters to help free more captives. All told, an additional three dozen made it to safety.

Payne says the award is an “amazing responsibility,” and said he considered himself a “guardian” rather than recipient of the medal.

“The spirit of the Medal of Honor lives inside every American ... I just want to be a man who wears it well,” he said.

Payne, who grew up in South Carolina, was in high school during the September 11 attacks. Inspired to serve, he joined the Army after high school.

He has been deployed 17 times throughout his career. He is now stationed at Fort Bragg.

When sked what sort of message he hopes his new distinction may convey to the folks at home, Payne said he says he is just looking forward to “going back to a normal day at work.”