Special Forces soldier receives high honors from the German army

[Dan]

RELEASE NUMBER: 0600913-01
DATE POSTED: SEPTEMBER 13, 2006


Special Forces soldier receives high honors from the German army
By John V. Tomassi
EUCOM Public Affairs Office

BERLIN (USASOC News Service, Sept. 13, 2006) – In a small ceremony led by the German Minister of Defense, Gen. Wolfgang Schneiderhan, Sept. 12, a U.S. soldier assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Ft. Bragg, N.C. was presented the highest award the German army can present to a foreign soldier.

Staff Sgt. Jonathon Zapien, 25, from Houston, Texas, was deployed with the German Special Forces Command to Afghanistan from June to October 2005. While there, he acted as the sole liaison between the German unit and other coalition forces in the region.

Zapien provided communications support, directed air support, went on regular patrols with the unit and on one occasion played an essential part in saving the life of a German soldier who was injured during an improvised explosive device attack by calling in air and ground medical support.

Schneiderhan presented the Ehrenmedaille (honor medal) to Zapien on behalf of the German Special Forces Command. This is the first time German Special Forces has presented an award to a foreign soldier.

The German general, whose son was serving as a medical officer in Afghanistan during the same period, said that Zapien played a critical role on a strong and decisive team and “displays exemplary dedication and an exceptional sense of duty…a sensational warrior with a very soldier-like attitude.”

Army Gen. William E. “Kip” Ward, U.S. European Command deputy commander also attended the ceremony and echoed comments from Gen. Schneiderhan saying that we are all “truly brothers and comrades in arms. I know Staff Sgt. Zapien will display this award proudly on his uniform.”

Zapien said it was a great honor to receive this award and that he is “accepting it for all the other soldiers who do amazing things everyday. I’m grateful to receive this on their behalf.”

-usasoc-

[Dan]

Staff Sgt. Jonathon Zapien, 3rd Special Forces Group, Ft. Bragg, N. C., receives the German Ehrenmedaille (Honor Medal) from Gen. Wolfgang Schneiderhan, the German Chief of Defense in a ceremony at the German Ministry of Defense in Berlin Sept. 12. Staff Sgt. Zapien was deployed to Afgahnistan with the German Special Forces Command from June to October 2005 as a liasion between the German unit and the U.S. contingent.

[Cincinnatus]

Outstanding!

[The Reaper]

Army Gen. William E. “Kip” Ward, U.S. European Command deputy commander also attended the ceremony and echoed comments from Gen. Schneiderhan saying that we are all “truly brothers and comrades in arms. I know Staff Sgt. Zapien will display this award proudly on his uniform.”

Not on anything but his Dress Blues, which if he is lucky, he will only wear once per year.

What, no Iron Cross?:D

TR

[sf11b_p]

Not on anything but his Dress Blues, which if he is lucky, he will only wear once per year.

What, no Iron Cross?:D

TR

So what happens when Blues become the standard dress uniform, will there be two standards of awards wearing for the one uniform?

[deanwells]

Great Job. I knew he'd do well.

[x SF med]

Great job, SSG.

[Trip_Wire (RIP)]

So what happens when Blues become the standard dress uniform, will there be two standards of awards wearing for the one uniform?

There already are two standards isn't there? My understanding is, that right now if you wear the bow tie with the standard Blue uniform after retreat, you can wear mini-medals and badges instead of the full size ones. :munchin

[mike-munich]

A friend just pointed this out to me.

Thank you SSG Zapien for your service !

http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,114418,00.html?ESRC=army-a.nl

[admin edit]merged with the initial thread on this topic[/admin edit]

[Pigpen]

The guy gets a medal for doing a good job, and you guys are wondering about his dress blues?

ehhem! Since when have we wondered/cared about dress blues?

I say JOB WELL DONE, SSG let the REMFs and the CSMs worry about his blues!:p

Perhaps we should add the thread: Fashion and AR 670-1. <jk>

[Team Sergeant]

The guy gets a medal for doing a good job, and you guys are wondering about his dress blues?

ehhem! Since when have we wondered/cared about dress blues?

I say JOB WELL DONE, SSG let the REMFs and the CSMs worry about his blues!:p

Perhaps we should add the thread: Fashion and AR 670-1. <jk>

Staff Sergeant Jonathon Zapien is a member of this board, you can ask him yourself if he's offended by what is written on the thread.....;)

TS

[The Reaper]

I think we pretty much congratulated the SSG, and the point then was that since you cannot wear foreign badges on utility type uniforms, and GEN Schoomaker has decided that the Dress Greens are on their way out, the only remaining uniform for all of our foreign awards and badges was the Blues.

I was specifically commenting on the statement by Army Gen. William E. “Kip” Ward, who said "I know Staff Sgt. Zapien will display this award proudly on his uniform."

Well, unless he is wearing his Dress Blues, he won't.

Sorry if that discussion offended you.

TR

[JMH85]

Thank you Staff Sgt. Great work!

[echoes]

Staff Sergeant Jonathon Zapien is a member of this board, TS

Thank You For Your service SSG, and to All QP's!

Holly:o

[Twinkdawg]

I have to say thank you to all the members whom congratulated me for my award I mean what I wrote though, I was only doing my job the same as any other NCO who would have been in my position.

Uniform or not I still haven't gotten word back on weither I could wear the award or not.

On another note the thing about the whole ceremony is this. I got pulled out of my firebase after we arrived and were conducting combat operations, It was amazing the resources that came together to get my to Berlin, the only heartache I felt was leaving the detachment after we had arrived in theater.

The Per Diem was nice though. :)

Thanks again,
Jon

[Team Sergeant]

I have to say thank you to all the members whom congratulated me for my award I mean what I wrote though, I was only doing my job the same as any other NCO who would have been in my position.

Uniform or not I still haven't gotten word back on weither I could wear the award or not.

On another note the thing about the whole ceremony is this. I got pulled out of my firebase after we arrived and were conducting combat operations, It was amazing the resources that came together to get my to Berlin, the only heartache I felt was leaving the detachment after we had arrived in theater.

The Per Diem was nice though. :)

Thanks again,
Jon


Welcome Jon.

You'll have to keep us up to date on the wearing of the medal. ;)

Damn fine job, you make all of us proud.

TS

[The Reaper]

Welcome aboard, and congratulations.

Max per diem! The alternate SF motto.

If you apply to DA for permission, just like with foreign wings, you will likely be authorized to wear it, again like foreign wings.

Best of luck!

TR

[vsvo]

Great job and congratulations, Sergeant!