A Vietnam War veteran gave his own Purple Heart to Donald Trump during a town hall event in Fayetteville, North Carolina, on Friday to honor the former president's response during the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, the New York Post reported Saturday.
The veteran, identified only as Dwight, presented the medal on stage, expressing his admiration for Trump's resilience.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., who moderated the event, read a letter from Dwight explaining the gesture.
"Dear President Trump," the letter began, "watching you during the Butler rally, and you getting back up, both my wife and I gave a sigh of relief as well as a few tears."
"I would be honored if you would accept this small token I received as a young Marine in Vietnam."
Trump was struck in the ear during the Butler rally on July 13 and was pulled down to the stage by Secret Service. After the all-clear and as he was helped offstage by Secret Service agents, Trump pumped his fist and said, "Fight, fight, fight."
"You took it. You laid down there," Dwight told Trump. "You got back up, and the first words out of your mouth were, 'Fight, fight, fight.'"
Upon receiving the medal, Trump joked, "Whoa. Looks like a check," before acknowledging the seriousness of the gesture. "It's a great honor," he said.
The assailant, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot and killed by a Secret Service countersniper.
Reflecting on the incident, Trump said, "And maybe it wasn't so much luck. Maybe it is something else, right? Maybe there's something else up there."
In return, Trump sent Dwight a letter and a challenge coin, a token of appreciation often given by military leaders.