FINALLY! SFC Alwyn Cashe to be awarded MoH

| December 9, 2021

SFC Alwyn Cashe

The bravery of Alwyn Cashe should be well known to regular readers here. For those who don’t know, or would like a refresher (have tissues handy), here is my Valor Friday write up of this amazing man. He was a personal hero of our departed founder and platoon sergeant Jonn Lilyea.

Finally, after years of lobbying to have the wrong of Cashe’s gallantry not being properly recognized, President Biden will be presenting Cashe’s family with his posthumous Medal of Honor. It’s not clear when exactly this will happen, but the Washington Post is saying it could happen in the next couple of weeks.

The Washington Post report also says two other soldiers will be receiving award upgrades to the Medal of Honor at the same time. The Post’s article (which, because it’s the WaPo notes Cashe’s race in the very first sentence of their article) can be found here;

The Biden administration is planning to award Medals of Honor to three U.S. soldiers who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to people familiar with the matter, a group that includes the first Black service member to be recognized with the nation’s top combat distinction for either conflict.

The soldiers are Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe, who suffered mortal injuries in Iraq while rescuing fellow soldiers from a burning vehicle in 2005; Master Sgt. Earl Plumlee, a Special Forces soldier who fought off Taliban suicide bombers in Afghanistan in 2013; and Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Celiz, an Army Ranger who died after stepping between Taliban fighters targeting a U.S. helicopter evacuating his fellow soldiers in 2018.

Recognition for each — the nation’s highest for battlefield valor — could happen as soon as Dec. 16, four current and former U.S. officials said. They spoke on the condition of anonymity ahead of an expected White House announcement.

MSG Earl Plumlee’s award is also an upgrade from the Silver Star. You’ll see why if you read the citation;

 The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant First Class Earl D. Plumlee, United States Army, for gallantry in action in August 2013, while serving with Operation Detachment Alpha 1434 (ODA-1434), 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan. Sergeant First Class Plumlee distinguished himself when a vehicle-borne IED initiated an attack on Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan, followed by the attack of nine insurgents armed with small arms, grenades, rocket-propelled grenades and suicide vests. During the attack, Sergeant First Class Plumlee repeatedly engaged the enemy at close range, was wounded by a detonating suicide vest, risked his life to bring another Soldier to safety and provide first aid, all while continually putting himself in the line of fire in order to prevent the assault from penetrating the perimeter of the FOB. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

SFC Christopher Celiz was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Meritorious Service Medal. I can’t immediately find any citations, but here’s a contemporary news report on his death.

Thanks to ninja for making sure we didn’t miss this one!

Category: Afghanistan, Army, Army News, Iraq, Medal of Honor, Valor, We Remember

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[…] [[UPDATE 12 December 2021]] It is being reported that before the end of the month, Cashe’s Silver Star is being upgraded to the Medal of Honor and will be presented to his family by President Biden. Legislation authorizing the upgrade was passed by Congress last year and signed by President Trump, but it was not carried out prior to his leaving office. -Mason […]

AW1Ed

A part of the Multiverse was just corrected.

Sapper3307

About time!

Green Thumb
Hondo

Yep. But better late than never, I guess.

Sapper3307

Somebody sandbagged this until now, politics.
He was a hero.

Hatchet

YES!! It’s about damn TIME!!!

For historical reference –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZprGLt77sBA

Great update! thank you, Mason.

Roh-Dog

Thank God. This honoring of SFC Cashe is post-due, but a blessing nonetheless.

‘Can Do’!

SFC D

Seriously overdue. Godspeed, SFC.

A Proud Infidel®™️

Long overdue.

Sparks

Finally, a true hero is recognized for his true valor.

26Limabeans

A tough read all over again. Tnx for the update.

MI Ranger

About time for Alwyn.
Boy that article about Celiz really says nothing about what he did. Strange that he was awarded a Bronze Star that they felt should be bumped to a MoH. Someone really did a disservice when they wrote his award if it went in as a BSM and not a SSM in the first place. Reading Plumlee’s citation it has all the trappings of a MoH. I have heard it is all a matter of who knows about it if it goes from a SSM to MoH. Good for all of them, hope all their families will know what they did to deserve this honor.

FuzeVT

DoD does something right for a change. Huzzah.

It is about time. He is certainly deserving if anyone is.

KoB

Jonn Lilyea smiles as he bumps a tankard with SFC Cashe in a toast.

Poetrooper

Thank you, KoB, that’s an image I’ll take to bed with me tonight…

USAFRetired

https://www.citadel.edu/citadel-history/war-deaths.html

SFC Celiz is listed as the next to last individual

USAFRetired

https://www.counton2.com/news/local-news/report-u-s-army-ranger-from-summerville-killed-while-serving-in-afghanistan-to-be-awarded-medal-of-honor/ SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCBD) – A U.S. Army Ranger from Summerville – who was killed while serving in Afghanistan back in 2018 – is expected to be honored by President Joe Biden. Three soldiers, including Sgt. First Class Christopher Celiz, of Summerville, will be presented Medals of Honor posthumously for their actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Celiz died from wounds he received in Paktia Province, Afghanistan, during a firefight with Taliban militants in July 2018. Celiz was born in South Carolina on January 12, 1986. He attended The Citadel from 2004 to 2006. In 2007, he left in good standing to join the army. According to The Citadel’s list of fallen alumni, Celiz was one of seven killed in Afghanistan. He was also the most recent alum lost to the War on Terror, with the first listed being CPT Patrick McKenna who was killed over Iraq on April 14, 1994. Celiz would be the 33rd South Carolinian to receive the Medal of Honor. It was most recently given to SCF Thomas “Patrick” Payne for his actions during a 2015 nighttime hostage rescue in Iraq. The other two recipients include Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe, who died from burns he received in October 2005 after rescuing six soldiers and an Iraqi interpreter from a burning vehicle that struck an IED near Samarra, Iraq, and Master Sgt. Earl Plumlee, a Green Beret who played a pivotal role in fighting off a complex suicide attack at FOB Ghazni, Afghanistan, in August 2013. Congresswoman Nancy Mace, who also attended The Citadel, released the following statement: “SFC Christopher Celiz, a Summerville native and former Citadel cadet gave the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our nation in 2018. Because of his heroic deeds, Sgt. First Class Celiz will be posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. He is a true patriot, who was previously awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, and the Purple Heart. The Lowcountry is incredibly proud of its native son who gave the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country and in defense of our freedom. We are grateful for… Read more »

Anonymous

Heck yeah!

HMCS(FMF) ret

Hot damn!!! About time!!

Prior Service

I’m optimistically skeptical. Been waiting a loooong time for SFC Cashe. I had the incredible opportunity to see CH Kapaun’s nephew receive his uncle’s MoH live in the White House in 2013 (even Obumbles) couldn’t screw it up too badly). Wish I could see Cashe’s too, even with Brandon stumbling through the ceremony.

Poetrooper

“End of citation”

What Xiden will no doubt robotically read as he closes his reading of the citation.

In ol’ Poe’s mind, SFC Cashe entered Valhalla a long time ago on his own merits. The MoH will just give him a better seat at that long, long, long table of those deserving of our respect and our awe…

Nucsnipe

No, what I envisioned when I saw the headline in the Stars and Stripes, is Brandon rambling about meeting Corn Pop while he was driving a big rig for Amtrak during the Civil Rights marches, put the medal around his own neck, proclaim himself and Olympic Gold athlete and then proceed to sniff any females in the vicinity.

Nucsnipe

And of course the ass kisses at the S&S have the headline “Biden to Award MOH”, not SFC Cashe to receive MOH.

Poetrooper

Stars and Stripes was long ago first infiltrated then gradually taken over by liberals.

Don’t trust ANYTHING they publish…

sj

I read somewhere that there is movement to rename Bragg or Benning after SFC Cashe.