Military Olympians honored at the Pentagon, against backdrop of Iran war

US Military Olympians Frankie Del Duca and Kelly Curtis were honored at the Pentagon for their accomplishments at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, and their service to the nation's safety and freedom.

A group of 10 American Olympians who serve in the U.S. military were honored at the Pentagon on April 17.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth, while leading the efforts in the war on Iran, found time to meet with the athletes for a ceremony to honor their accomplishments in the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. All 10 were members of the high-performance U.S. military-sponsored World Class Athlete Program (WCAP).

"It's not every day you get invited into Sec. War's office," U.S. bobsledder Frankie Del Duca told Fox News Digital. "We had a good conversation about the Army."

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War Secretary Pete Hegseth addresses WCAP Olympians at the Pentagon. (Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Eric Brann)

Del Duca was the Team USA Olympic flag bearer in Cortina back in February. As an American of Italian descent, it held a special cultural significance to him and his family that he had the honor in Italy.

Del Duca is also a U.S. Army infantryman.

"I'm infantry," he said. "There's different assignments I can take as I gain experience. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve. I'm very proud to serve our country, and I love our country and America."

Hegseth himself was an Army infantry officer who served in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay.

But so far, Del Duca has only ever done athlete work for the military, enlisting in 2019 and training as a bobsledder at Lake Placid, New York. But as a WCAP athlete, he will serve in a military-related role as well.

"We've had members of WCAP that have been in the