Service members have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country in past conflict and are buried in U.S. cemeteries around the world. But what about those fallen heroes who are still missing? SGT Vincent Pedican tells us how a group of people from Hawaii continue to look for missing service members to this day.
In the United States military, heroes aren’t hard to come by. When a Soldier receives as high an award as the Medal of Honor from another country, his peers know he must have done something uniquely extraordinary.
Soldiers of the Special Operations Command Europe pride themselves as quiet professionals, but sometimes certain actions deserve special recognition. SSG Joe Labutka has more on a valor ceremony for several heroic men and their amazing deeds.
One Soldier was rendered unconscious by a bomb blast, but recovered and repelled an enemy attack. One Soldier strained both his hamstrings carrying slain French officer down a mountain. One Soldier scaled up and down a mountain three times to save his fellow comrade. One Soldier was shot by enemy fire in the arm three times, yet continued to aggressively engage the enemy. And one Soldier ran through a burning building to evacuate its residents.
U.S. European Command Commander Admiral James G. Stavridis pins the Bronze Star with Valor device on Staff Sgt. Jeffery Musgrave during a Valor Ceremony hosted by U.S. Special Operations Command Europe on Dec. 6, 2011 in Stuttgart, Germany. Musgrave, a U.S. Army Special Forces Soldier assigned to 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), received the fourth-highest award for gallantry in combat for his heroic actions on May 17, 2010 in Wardak Province, Afghanistan in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He also received the Purple Heart for his actions and wounds received by the enemy.
From left to right, Silver Star recipients Capt. David Fox, Sgt. McKenna 'Frank' Miller and Staff Sgt. Matthew Gassman stand during a Valor Ceremony hosted by U.S. Special Operations Command Europe on Dec. 6, 2011 in Stuttgart, Germany. The U.S. Army Special Forces Soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) received the third-highest award for gallantry in combat for their heroic actions on Dec. 17, 2010 in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Joseph Brennan enlisted in the Army after his cousin, Sgt. Joshua Brennan was killed in action when his squad was ambushed on Oct. 25th, 2007 in the Korengal Valley of Kunar Province, Afghanistan. For his actions that day, fighting off the ambush and recovering the wounded Brennan from the clutches of Taliban fighters, then Spc. Salvatore Giunta was awarded the Medal of Honor. Ever since that tragic date, Joseph has followed in the footsteps of his cousin Joshua.
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.
LAJES FIELD, Azores — Air Force Master Sgt. Rigoberto Chacon, 65th Civil Engineer Squadron Programs Flight superintendent, was presented the Bronze Star Medal by Air Force Col. Jose A. Rivera, 65th Air Base Wing commander, during a ceremony Aug. 6.
KUNDUZ, Afghanistan — 14 American soldiers made history May 12, becoming the first foreigners to ever receive Germany’s Gold Cross medal, one of the nation’s highest awards for valor.
KUNDUZ, Afghanistan -- 14 U.S. Medical Evacuation crewmen are awarded the German Gold Cross May 12 for risking their lives to come to the rescue of German soldiers during a firefight in Kunduz, Afghanistan April 2. Germany's Gold Cross medal is one of the nation's highest awards for valor and this is the first time in history foreigners have ever received the award.