President Obama has apologized to the Family of a deceased Medal of Honor Winner for conveying the impression he was still alive.
Speaking Thursday to troops of the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, N.Y., Obama said:
I had the great honor of seeing some of you because a comrade of yours, Jared Monti, was the first person who I was able to award the Medal of Honor to who actually came back and wasn't receiving it posthumously.
In fact, Obama awarded Monti the Medal of Honor posthumously in September of 2009.
Paul Monti -- father of the slain soldier -- wrote on his Facebook page: "FYI - President Barac(k) Obama telephoned me personally this afternoon to apologize for his error in his speech to the 10th mountain division re: Jared's medal ceremony. Apology accepted."
Aides said Obama misspoke, confusing Monti with Salvatore Giunta, the first living recipient of the Medal of Honor who had served in Afghanistan.
The flub gave Obama's critcs a chance to tee off.
Republican Party chairman Reince Priebus told CBS News, "people make mistakes but ... when he is not scripted, mistakes seem to happen."
"I think the president is a scripted, plasticized candidate and I think America is prepared to relieve him of his job in 2012," Priebus said.
Obama apologizes to family of slain Medal of Honor winner
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