Old Dominion cadets receive medals
Sergeant Major of the Army Weimer and Secretary of the Army Driscoll honoring cadets
I’m really enjoying the new Department of Defense War policy of just giving people the medals they deserve without years of delay.
It’s not even been two weeks since that radical Islamic terrorist shot up a classroom full of ROTC cadets at Old Dominion University. The cadets (unarmed as it was a “gun free zone”) took the fight to the jihadi and “rendered him no longer alive.” Unfortunately, their instructor, Army Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Shah was mortally wounded by the enemy combatant.
The Secretary of the Army and the Sergeant Major of the Army were on hand 22 March to reward the cadets’ heroism. Two were given Purple Hearts and eight were given Meritorious Service Medals. I’m surprised there wasn’t enough here for a Soldier’s Medal. I’d argue if they’re giving out Purple Hearts, then this qualifies as a combat environment and the in-theater equivalent of the MSM would be appropriate, which is the Bronze Star Medal. In any case, an MSM is nothing to sneeze at. I watched many a SNCO get that as a departing gift at retirement.
Military Times has the report;
Army ROTC cadets attending Old Dominion University were awarded eight meritorious service medals and two Purple Hearts for their actions during a shooting incident that occurred in their classroom earlier this month.
In a private ceremony Sunday, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer granted the cadets the honors for their “bravery and sacrifice” during the March 12 shooting on the Norfolk, Virginia, campus, U.S. Army Cadet Command said in a Facebook post Monday.
The cadets’ names have not been released for privacy reasons, the post says.
On March 12, a gunman yelled “Allahu Akbar” before opening fire in a university classroom and killing one individual and injuring two others. The ROTC students subdued the gunman and “rendered him no longer alive,” Dominique Evans, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Norfolk field office, said in a news conference following the shooting.
The gunman was identified as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a former Army National Guard member who pleaded guilty in 2016 to attempting to aid the Islamic State. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison and was released from federal custody in 2024.
It is unclear how Jalloh died during the incident, but Evans said he was not shot.
FBI Director Kash Patel said in a March 12 post on X that the ROTC students’ actions “undoubtedly saved lives along with the quick response of law enforcement.”
The deceased victim was identified as Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, who led the Army ROTC program at Old Dominion University since 2022.
Shah joined the Army in 2003 and received his Army commission in 2007 after graduating from the university.
“A devoted ROTC instructor, Lt. Col. Shah didn’t just lead a life of service to our country, he taught and led others to follow that path,” Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger said in a March 12 post on X after confirming Shah as the victim.
“I am grateful for his example, deeply saddened by his death, and praying for his family,” Spanberger continued.
Category: Army
Amen, amen.
I have to say that sending in the SEC Army and SMA for the ceremony was a nice touch. I think that means that someone upstairs is listening.
How do we know she is was talking about the. LT COL and not the terrorist?
I believe that Lt. Col. Brandon Shah is proud of those young men.
What an honor to have the chance to train up young leaders like this.
Agree at the level of award. Someone here had set me straight when the Soldiers at FT Stewart shut down an active shooter.
The MSM may be interim awards until the BSM/SMs can be approved.
However, you’d think that if you could rush an MSM through the approval process, you could do the same for the others.
No SM. Enemy combatant. Should be BSM with V device and/or PH as merited.
But that means admitting the USA has combat zone(s).
MSM (with V? Lol) would likely be interim while “higher” argues/clerks.
“It is unclear how Jalloh died during the incident, but Evans said he was not shot.”
I was under the impression he got knifed to death. Maybe I’m wrong?
That’s the method oft attributed to the demise of the terrorist.
“…and then shit got all stabby…”
I wish I remembered who to credit for that phrase.
Good on these fine young men!
Saw something on Facebook where they said Mohamed Bailor Jalloh received his separation orders via a Leatherman (maybe Gerber?) knife. Man, you can do damn near anything with one of those.
The big problem is deciding what part of the multitool to use. Blade? Saw? Punchdown tool?
Use all of it…
Milwaukee Sawzall
I had read one article that indicated the presence of about 28 stab wounds on the shooter. One can only hope the stabber used his knife previously to cut up some bacon.
IMO that knife needs to be placed in a prominent display in either the ROTC Commander’s office or inside the main lobby where the ROTC is based.
Thanks for doing the right thing! I’m also amazed that the SMA has 17 overseas service bars! I have 6, it makes me feel inadequate 🙂
He was Delta i belive, all he did was deploy and stack bodies
For once, bringing a knife to a gunfight worked.
There is always that One Guy in a unit that takes Revealed Wisdom as a challenge…
(Like “don’t get into pissing contests with one’s 1SG”…)
These cadets have shown that they have balls of steel and deserve to serve our country. The lefttard libshits need to take a lesson from them on bravery.
I’m honestly surprised the school hasn’t kicked them out for 1) killing a POS Jihadist, 2) having a “weapon” (even if it originally belonged to the POS Jihadist), 3) being a racist/white supremacist (ya know, just because)
Agree. I bet those leftist turds running the school actually thought about doing just that and then realized that they would pay holy hell for it, so they took the high road and did the right thing. But yeah, I bet they were scratching at their blue and green wigs and pulling at their nose rings as they made their final decision.
PSG whispers: “sir, you are wearing an MSM.
2LT. “Rgr, sergeant, I earned it.”
PSG: “dang, sir, are you serious? They don’t come easy. Sure you don’t mean AAM?”
2LT: “rgr. I earned it.”
PSG, skeptically, “alright sir. What for?”
2LT: “I stabbed a MF’ing terrorist to death.”
PSG, to squad leaders: “I think the new LT is going to be okay.”
Always thought it was funny when we had to wear our A’s and all the Lt’s would be dick waving over having the exact same ribbons as any Pvt just out of AIT, one of these guys is going to commission wearing a PH and a MSM.
Anyone else notice how the authorities and MSM refuse to say how the ‘Slamonazi is no longer alive. I heard one of the cadets pulled hi EDC knife and stabbed him to death.
I’m kinda surprised the seagull hasn’t showed up to say how the cadets are all ” islamophobes” and should be charged, expelled, etc.. seems like his style
I haven’t seen anything from him in awhile. Hope he is working on wiseup, not confined for smartass.
Great stuff! If the MSMs were pushed through, I kind of doubt they are interim for BSMs, unless those are being held up by Legal or whoever determines whether the “combat environment” was suitable. Even so, if the PH was awarded, one would think that BSMs are no-brainers. I don’t know how long it takes to push through an SM, but I could see the MSM as an interim for that.
Yeah, the MSM is the pinnacle award for the vast majority of Army NCOs, unless you’re a brigade-level CSM of higher or have a really good command. I was just looking at a former acquaintances Facebook page yesterday. He’s a former 11B Sniper who’d started out in 75th Ranger (combat Scroll, no tab). When we were Recruiters, he was undergoing a Med Board and forced to reclass to Admin. He’s a 1SG now, with his highest award being an ARCOM. So, I’d say a Butterbar rocking an MSM is something rare.
I saw a butterbar with an MSM exactly once. Ok, she got it as a SFC before OCS…
I don’t think an MSM is the right award. Soldiers Medal would more clearly indicate they did something heroic, at the risk of their lives. But if they are giving out Purple Hearts, BSM with “V” would be the most appropriate.
I’ll just bet that the former specialist (POS Jihadist), was just the pride and joy of his leadership team!!!!
NOT!!!
💀💩
I thought I had a big dick, then I saw the SMA’s.
While we’re at it, why don’t they reclassify the Fort Hood shooting as a terrorist act versus the “workplace violence” it has been called since that piece of shit did his deed?
At the very least it would allow needed benefits for his victims.
Finally, nice to see he’s run out of appeals. Bout fuckin time.