Four members of the 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), received awards during a ceremony held at the Panzer Community Club Jan. 19, for their valorous actions over the course of their last deployment to Afghanistan in support of International Security Assistance Forces Special Operations Forces (ISAF-SOF) and Task Force -10.

Master Sgt. Joe Dickinson received the Bronze Star Medal for valor during a ceremony Jan. 19 at the Panzer Community Center. Dickinson will also receive the Silver Star for separate acts of heroism in Afghanistan at a ceremony yet to be scheduled. Photo by Angeline Hoffmann, USAG-Stuttgart Training and Support Center.

Maj. Gen. Michael Repass pins the Bronze Star Medal for valor on the chest of Master Sgt. Joe Dickinson during a valor ceremony Jan. 19 at the Panzer Community Center. The Bronze Star Medal for valor is the fourth-highest combat award within the U.S. Armed Forces. Photo by Angeline Hoffmann, USAG-Stuttgart Training and Support Center.

As Maria Rodriguez-Torres listened to the reading of narrative to accompany the award of the Bronze Star medal highlighting her husband’s accomplishments from his tour in Afghanistan, her facial expression displayed a look of astonishment.

Sgt. Javier Rodriguez-Torres, left, a food service specialist assigned to Headquarters Support Company, 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), proudly smiles following his award ceremony in which he was presented the Bronze Star Medal and the Combat Action Badge for his courageous actions on the battlefield while actively engaging the enemy during his tour in Afghanistan serving with Special Operations Task Unit 0112, Task Force 10. (U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Donald Sparks approved for public release by MAJ James Gregory, SOCEUR PAO)

Sgt. Javier Rodriguez-Torres, left, a food service specialist assigned to Headquarters Support Company, 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), reads his certificate awarding him the Combat Action Badge following his award ceremony in which he was presented the Bronze Star Medal and the Combat Action Badge for his courageous actions on the battlefield while actively engaging the enemy during his tour in Afghanistan serving with Special Operations Task Unit 0112, Task Force 10. (U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Donald Sparks approved for public release by MAJ James Gregory, SOCEUR PAO)

Sgt. Javier Rodriguez-Torres, left, a food service specialist assigned to Headquarters Support Company, 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), and his wife Maria are all smiles following his award ceremony in which he was presented the Bronze Star Medal and the Combat Action Badge for his courageous actions on the battlefield while actively engaging the enemy during his tour in Afghanistan serving with Special Operations Task Unit 0112, Task Force 10. (U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Donald Sparks approved for public release by MAJ James Gregory, SOCEUR PAO)

Sgt. Javier Rodriguez-Torres, left, a food service specialist assigned to Headquarters Support Company, 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), is presented the Combat Action Badge by Lt. Col. Isaac Peltier, commander, 1-10 SFG(A), for his courageous actions on the battlefield while actively engaging the enemy during his tour in Afghanistan serving with Special Operations Task Unit 0112, Task Force 10. (U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Donald Sparks approved for public release by MAJ James Gregory, SOCEUR PAO)

Sgt. Javier Rodriguez-Torres, left, a food service specialist assigned to Headquarters Support Company, 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), is presented the Bronze Star Medal by Maj. Gen. Michael Repass, commander, U.S. Special Operations Command Europe for his courageous and meritorious performance during his tour in Afghanistan serving with Special Operations Task Unit 0112, Task Force 10. (U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Donald Sparks approved for public release by MAJ James Gregory, SOCEUR PAO)

While talking about his deployments, he shifted slightly in his seat and had difficulty speaking to me. When he spoke, his voice was soft and shaky, and when I looked into his eyes, I could tell they held memories that he wished he didn’t have.

Lt. Dorina Petre was the only female standing in formation with nearly 200 U.S. and Romanian Special Forces soldiers. Her small framed stature stood out amongst the men with green, burgundy and blue berets even though she was wearing a green beret herself. She did not feel out of place however, since she was surrounded by the men who knew her plight and the legacy of her last name, so much so that they fought for her to be assigned to their ranks.

BOBLINGEN, Gemany -- Within the fraternity of Army Special Forces, the brotherhood formed during the Qualification Course in the woods of Camp Mackall, North Carolina can only be sealed in one way – through combat.