Speaking of Valor

In honor of that OP/ED in the NYT decrying the lack of medals or awards for valor in the GWOT...

SF Soldiers honored for combat valor
By Paul D Prince
U.S. Army Special Operations Command
August 10, 2006


FORT BRAGG, N.C. (Army News Service, Aug. 10, 2006) – Thirty-one Soldiers from the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) were decorated with honors to include three Silver Star Medals for valorous actions in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom in a ceremony here, Aug. 8.

The three Silver Star Medal recipients were Master Sgt. Keith Logsdon, Sgt. 1st Class Bruce Holmes and Staff Sgt. Matthew Keefe.

The Silver Star Medal, the Army’s third highest award for combat valor is awarded to Soldiers for distinguished gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States during military operations.

Maj. Gen. Thomas R. Csrnko, U.S. Army Special Forces Command commanding general, presided over the ceremony and awarded each honoree with their respective medal(s).

“This is a great day to be a part of the Special Forces Regiment...” said Csrnko. “Today we acknowledge valor and sacrifice of individuals who displayed a level of bravery and courage in combat beyond the call of duty and who epitomize quiet professionals.

“Everyone on this field today is a hero, because their commitment and dedication to this global war on terrorism contributes to the successes which encourage the development of freedom,” Csrnko added.

In addition to the Silver Star Medal, the Bronze Star Medal for valor, the Purple Heart and the Army Commendation Medal for valor were awarded to the remaining 28 Soldiers in the ceremony which was held on Meadows Memorial Parade Field, adjacent to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command Headquarters.

The recipients of the Bronze Star Medal were Capt. Mir Ali, Capt. Christopher Augustine, Sgt. Jonathon Bennett, Sgt. Concepcion, Chief Warrant Officer Bobby Craig, Sgt. 1st Class Euclid Cruz, Chief Warrant Officer Bruce Defeyter, Sgt. Trent Garner, Capt. Roger Gavriluk, Sgt. 1st Class Donald Grambusch, Sgt. 1st Class Charles Green, Master Sgt. Van E. Hines, Sgt. First Class Jerry Hochstedler, Master Sgt. Rob Latham, Sgt. 1st Class Troy A. Lettieri, Staff Sgt. Donald C. Maguin, Staff Sgt. Richard Moore, Staff Sgt. James Parsons, Master Sgt. Brian E. Penrod, Sgt. 1st Class Mario A. Ramirez, Sgt. 1st Class Jared B. Reesor, Sgt. 1st Class Robert Thibeault, Sgt. 1st Class Robert Vires, Master Sgt. Ricky Wigent and Sgt. 1st Class Shaun Womack.

The recipients of the Purple Heart were Capt. Mir Ali, Sgt. 1st Class John Fairfax, Master Sgt. Patrick Fensom, Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Garrett, Sgt. 1st Class Brian Hotchkiss, Staff Sgt. David Pickford and Capt. Damon Robins.

The recipients of the Army Commendation Medal for valor were Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Batson, Sgt. 1st Class Scott A. Brady, Sgt. 1st Class Leonard L. Bussius, Sgt. 1st Class Paul Clarke, Sgt. 1st Class Theodore Cordano, Sgt. 1st Class Euclid Cruz, Staff Sgt. Stephen Declay, Sgt. Anthonie Deyo, Chief Warrant Officer Scott Dyer, Sgt. 1st Class William Edson, Staff Sgt. Jared Eldred, Master Sgt. Patrick Fensom, Staff Sgt. Eric Frye, Staff Sgt. James Gaston, Sgt. 1st Class Gene Harris, Capt. David Hodges, Sgt. 1st Class Michael Lebron, Sgt. 1st Class John McDonald, Staff Sgt. Jerry Parker, Sgt. 1st Class George Perez, Sgt. 1st Class Jay Pope, Master Sgt. Larry Reis, Capt. John W. Sannes, Sgt. 1st Class David Smith and Staff Sgt. Matthew Summers.

I'm sure there were big write-ups in all the newspapers...I just missed them. I'm sure this was ignored because of some legitmate reason that some newspaper/meda lacky could makes us all aware of. Some reason other than they just don't care about things like this of course.