Gunmaker Sig Sauer presented a retired Navy SEAL master chief with a commemorative MK25 pistol along with a brief documentary in recognition for his service.
On March 25, 2019, National Medal of Honor Day, the company gave Congressional Medal of Honor (CMH) recipient Command Master Chief (CMC) Britt Slabinski the pistol recognizing his service of leading a Joint Task Force during Operation Anaconda in mountains of Afghanistan, according to Sig Sauer’s website.
The documentary was titled, “For Service as Set Forth: The Story of CMC Britt Slabinski, Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient.”
Sig Sauer’s Pistol Product manager, Tim Butler designed the commemorative pistol from start to finish.
Butler said, “I wanted to capture several things from the person, his service, the unit, and also I wanted to capture why he and every other here was there that day. The most special thing about this was designing a firearm for someone that this was the only sidearm they ever used. This was the gun he used his whole career. It kept him alive and kept other people alive. It’s very strong to be able to present someone a gun that did that.”
This event was also the introduction of the Sig Sauer MK25 commemorative pistol, which is engraved in 24k gold, one side bearing, “For Service As Set Forth,” and to the left it says, “No Day Shall Erase You from the Memory of Time,” a phrase that is also included on the World Trade Center Memorial in New York City.
The MK25 pistol features Slabinski’s name engraved in 24k gold. It also bears the Red Unit Medallion on the right and the SEAL Trident on the left. The grips are made from American Black Walnut.
A piece of metal that was recovered from the World Trade Center site replicates the Medal of Honor, and six stars are engraved to represent and honor SEAL Team Six.
President Donald Trump awarded Slabinski, a U.S. Navy SEAL, the Congressional Medal of Honor on May 24, 2018 for his heroic actions in the Battle of Takur Ghar.
The Congressional Medal of Honor citation reads, “In March 2002, a Navy SEAL team that was led by Slabinski were hit by enemy fire while atop of a 10,000-foot mountain peak in Afghanistan. One of their helicopters was hit, a team member fell from the helicopter before it crashed into a ravine. Slabinski led the rescue of that team member even while being exposed to repeated enemy fire. He then spent 14 hours directing dangerously close air strikes, stabilizing the casualties, and continuing the fight against the enemy until the hill was secured and his team was extracted. By his undaunted courage, bold initiative, leadership, and devotion to duty, Slabinski reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”
