Special Forces Soldiers of Fort Bragg honored for combat valor

[Dan]

RELEASE NUMBER: 060809-01
DATE POSTED: AUGUST 9, 2006

NEWS RELEASE: Special Forces Soldiers of Fort Bragg honored for combat valor
U.S. Army Special Operations Command
By Paul D. Prince

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service August 9, 2006) – Thirty-one Soldiers from the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) were decorated with honors to include three Silver Star Medals for valorous actions during Operations Enduring Freedom in a ceremony, here, Aug. 8.

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

The Silver Star Medal is the Army’s third highest award for combat valor and is presented to Soldiers distinguished by their 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...”

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. First Class Euclid Cruz, Chief Warrant Officer Bruce Defeyter, Sgt. Trent Garner, Capt. Roger Gavriluk, Sgt. First Class Donald Grambusch, Sgt. First Class Charles Green, Master Sgt. Van E. Hines, Sgt. First Class Jerry Hochstedler, Master Sgt. Rob Latham, Sgt. First Class Troy A. Lettieri, Staff Sgt. Donald C. Maguin, Staff Sgt. Richard Moore, Staff Sgt. James Parsons, Master Sgt. Brian E. Penrod, Sgt. First Class Mario A. Ramirez, Sgt. First Class Jared B. Reesor, Sgt. First Class Robert Thibeault, Sgt. First Class Robert Vires, Master Sgt. Ricky Wigent and Sgt. First Class Shaun Womack.

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

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

“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,” said Csrnko.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, friends and family of the 3rd SFG Soldiers in attendance assembled to congratulate them.


-usasoc-

[Dan]

Staff Sgt. Matthew T. Keefe, 3rd SFG (A), receive a received a Silver Star Medal for valor in a formal ceremony. He distinguished himself by exceptional gallantry in action under intense small arms and heavy weapons fire against a well entrenched, numerically superior force that occupied key terrain as the Detachment Junior Engineer Sergeant for ODA 323, Task Force 31, CJSOTF-A in the Syahcow, Oruzgan Providence, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on July 25, 2005.

[Dan]

Sgt. First Class Bruce Holmes, 3rd SFG (A), receive a received a Silver Star Medal for valor in a formal ceremony. He distinguished himself by exceptional gallantry in action under intense small arms and heavy weapons fire against a well entrenched, numerically superior force as the Detachment Senior Medical Sergeant for ODA 324, Task Force 31, CJSOTF-A in the Syahcow, Oruzgan Providence, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on July 25, 2005.

[Dan]

Master Sgt. Keith G. Logsdon, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), received a Silver Star Medal for valor in a formal ceremony. He distinguished himself by exceptional gallantry in action under intense small arms and heavy weapons fire against a well entrenched, numerically superior force as the Detachment Operations Sergeant for Operational Detachment Alpha 324, Task Force 31, Combine Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan in the village of Syahcow, Oruzgan Providence, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on July 25, 2005.

[casey]

Hey, thanks Dan!

[Roycroft201]

The actions, bravery and sacrifice of these Quiet Professionals of the 3rdSFG is deeply appreciated.


Sincerely,
Roycroft201

[Goggles Pizano]

As a citizen I thank all these fine men. As a soldier I hope to emulate them.

[Five-O]

My family and I thank you gentlemen.

[x SF med]

Job well done, men

[Bill Harsey]

Thanks Dan.

Thank you Gentlemen of 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne).

[CoLawman]

Thanks for posting that Dan! These guys put the "Special" in SF.

[NSDQ]

Thanks Dan for the post. Thank God for Quiet Professionals. Thank you men/soldiers/Special Forces for being there & doing the deed.

NSDQ

[Gypsy]

Thank you for the post Dan, most of all my heartfelt gratitude to the Men of the 3rd SFG(A).