Army Staff Sgt. Ronald Shurer II receives the Medal of Honor
“Today is a truly proud and special day for those of us here in the White House because Ron works right here alongside of us on the Secret Service counter-assault team; these are incredible people,” Trump told a crowded room filled with Shurer’s family, fellow soldiers and Army senior leaders.
Trump then told the story of Shurer’s bravery as a Green Beret on a daring April 6, 2008, mission in the Shok Valley of Afghanistan to “hunt down a deadly terrorist, a leader in that world … [who] was in a remote mountain village.”
“Ron was among two dozen Special Forces soldiers and 100 Afghan commandos who dropped off by helicopter into Shok Valley, a rocky barren valley, far away from reinforcements,” Trump said.
The assault force encountered no enemy activity during the 1,000-foot climb to their objective, but as the lead element approached the target village, “roughly 200 well-trained and well-armed terrorists ambushed the American and Afghan forces,” he said.
Shurer, the mission’s only medic, immediately began treating wounded. He then sprinted and climbed through enemy fire to reach several of his teammates who were pinned down on a cliff above.
“There was blood all over the place,” Trump said. “It was a tough, tough situation to be in. Immediately, Ron climbed the rocky mountain, all the while fighting back against the enemy and dodging gun fire left and right. Rockets were shot at him, everything was shot at him.”
After treating and stabilizing two more soldiers, Shurer was struck in the helmet by a bullet that had passed through another soldier’s arm. He was stunned by the blow but quickly bandaged the soldier’s arm.
“He continued to brave withering enemy fire to get to [another] soldier’s location to treat his lower leg, which had been almost completely severed by a high-caliber sniper round,” according to the award citation.
Shurer then helped evacuate the wounded down the mountainside so they could be loaded aboard helicopters.
He rejoined his commando squad and “continued to lead his troops and emplace security elements” until it was time to leave the area, the citation states.
“For more than six hours, Ron bravely faced down the enemy; not a single American died in that brutal battle thanks in great measure to Ron’s heroic actions,” Trump said.
One hell of a hero, I will send him a free membership to the Dollar Shave Club.
Category: Terror War, Veterans in the news, War Stories
BBB!
Well Done Sgt Shurer! The fact that no Americans died in that blistering assault is a testament to his actions.
Why is it , the little short guys, especially medics/corpsmen get the MOH? is it because being little they can run faster? Smaller targets to the enemy? or just try harder? I don’t know, but God bless ’em!!!
BZ!
BZ Sgt
Well done Sergeant. Damned well done indeed!
BZ Sgt Shurer! Again though, 10 years?!? WTF. John Basilone was brought back from Guadalcanal to get his MoH and join the war bond tour in a couple months.
yes but John Basilone should not have been sent to Iwo….where he was killed, new wife, also a Sgt in the Marines, never remarried…sad story…fine Marine!
BZ!
Outstanding! Now he’s with the Secret Service.
Wishing him success in his fight against stage 4 lung cancer.
Well Done SSgt. Shurer
Well Done but you had an obligation to shave the facial hair when you put the uniform on. Should have worn civilian attire if you wanted to retain it. Some will say BS but that is our obligation as soldiers. If we wear the uniform in retirement or occasions like this, then we fall out with a hair cut, clean shaven, shoes shined and everything on the uniform correctly.
Are you saying that the MOH should be recinded because he didn’t shave? Maybe his present job requires that he not shave you know like blending into a hostile crowd looking for Bad Guys. I wouldn’t care if he had shown up in cut-off’s and a Tee shirt and barefoot. He did what He did, Period!!!
No, Club Manager did not say the MOH should be rescinded. As I watched the ceremony, the same thought ran through my mind. I am not Army, so I don’t know what they will allow for their retired and former members, but it didn’t look right to me.
You mean , you nitpicking clowns, that the man after doing what he did is not entitled to show up with a slight beard? GIMME A FREAKING BREAK!
No, as a career soldier for life what I am saying is if you are going to wear the uniform you are compelled to wear it correctly. If you have a problem with that, “Well Ain’t That Nice”. Let me know if you need a translation.
Then you are missing the point entirely. If you wear a uniform anywhere, you wear it correctly, or you don’t wear it. Dude is all heroic, fine. He looks like a shit sandwich with that scrubby crap on his puss. BTW, that is also Army regulations.
That attitude separates you from those who believe in the oath we took and the traditions of our military branch. You too get a “Well Ain’t That Nice”.
He didn’t shave because of the stage 4 lung cancer treatments. Breaking out, tongue issues, difficulty speaking.
There are shave chits for health reasons. I knew some darn good soldiers that were ordered to minimize shaving because they were scarring themselves.
Some duty slots require full beards, or other non-reg appearances.
I had the same snap disapproval reaction when I saw this on Fox, then thought that perhaps there was a darn good reason, so said nothing.
How often do I say nothing? Got it right for once.
His lower jaw was shot off and had to be reconstructed. He was asked by Army G-1 if he could shave and he said he couldn’t.
Apparently it was ok with the USASOC, USSOCOM and White House protocol offices.
He’s not yet 40, has a wife, two kids, a CMOH, and, as Berliner pointed out and I confirmed for myself, stage 4 lung cancer. Man.
Guys: “Secret Service counter-assault team” Probably needs to blend in. Don’t know what is duty status is, but with stage four lung cancer, he may be deploying to become a bodyguard for Jesus soon. Jesus doesn’t mind beards.
Didn’t we have a post on his up graded medal week or so back? He did a hell of a job fighting off
bad guys and bandaging good guys all at the same time. He of the large brass ones. The previous post didn’t mention (IIRC) his stage 4 lung cancer. Did see the broadcast on TV the other day. It was obvious that the Trumpster was very proud to be placing the MoH on the deserving trooper.
I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if the valor awards of other members of ODA 3336 were upgraded too.
“As Morales slipped down the cliff, he glanced over to see Walding, one of the assault team leaders, calmly carrying his leg, which had been severed by a sniper shot, down the difficult incline”
This is a good read of events during this mission.
https://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/danger-close-oda-3336-in-the-shok-valley/
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