Professional Soldiers ® - 3rd Group News

In the local paper today

http://www.fayettevillenc.com/story....&Story=6889107

Surely that's not "Dangerous Dave" Langer from 3/5th in 1986?

Way to go guys.

Pete

Quote:

Special Forces honored for work in Afghanistan
By Kevin Maurer
Staff writer

Sgt. 1st Class David Langer received a Bronze Star with valor Wednesday for saving some Afghan children who were hit by shrapnel in August.

Langer was one of about 50 Special Forces soldiers from the 3rd Special Forces Group awarded medals in a ceremony at Fort Bragg. The soldiers were recognized for actions performed during their six-month deployment in the summer and fall of 2004 to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Langer was searching for suspected Taliban fighters in August after his Special Forces team's base was attacked. The soldiers tracked three suspected fighters into a compound and were searching for them when a suicide bomber killed himself with a grenade, spraying the room with shrapnel. Several women and children were wounded. Langer, a medic, was wounded in the neck and leg.

He quickly bandaged his wounds and then started to help the children.

Langer's medical bag was in a truck a few miles from the compound.

With few supplies, he started to treat the five children in the room. ''I did my best with what I had," he said. He was able to save all but one boy.

Langer said he doesn't feel like a hero.

''You don't want to promote yourself and say you deserve something. I would rather have nothing," Langer said.

The Special Forces soldiers said the awards - 13 Purple Hearts, 11 Bronze Stars and 29 Army Commendation Medals - were a representation of the unit's efforts and sacrifices.

About 200 family members and fellow soldiers attended the ceremony at the U.S. Army Special Operations Command Memorial Plaza. Lt. Gen. Philip R. Kensinger Jr., commanding general of the Army Special Operations Command, and Brig. Gen. Gary Jones, commanding general of the Army Special Forces Command, were the honored guests.

''The warriors before you today are truly deserving of your recognition and admiration," said Col. Patrick Higgins, commander of the 3rd Special Forces Group.

He said the 3rd Group soldiers played an integral role in making Afghanistan safer. Higgins said Americans do not often hear about the day-to-day combat there, but the soldiers repelled ambushes and captured Taliban leaders on a daily basis. They also helped rebuild roads and schools and provided medical care.

Despite the soldiers' hard work, Higgins said there are still people in Afghanistan working to overthrow the newly-elected government and plan attacks against the United States.

''They will fail because the United States has men like these," Higgins said. ''We will see this action through to the end."

Staff writer Kevin Maurer can be reached at maurerk@fayettevillenc.com or 486-3587.

Medals awarded

Purple Heart

Master Sgt. Michael L. Reynolds

Master Sgt. Anthony Soignoli, Jr.

Sgt. 1st Class Aaron S. Doss

Sgt. 1st Class Christopher D. Flynn

Sgt. 1st Class David Langer

Sgt. 1st Class Michael D. Ray

Sgt. 1st Class Thomas A. Smith

Sgt. 1st Class Bradley Felix

Staff Sgt. Donald C. Maguin Jr.

Staff Sgt. Cody T. Nix

Staff Sgt. David R. Glenn

Staff Sgt. David G. Colucci

Staff Sgt. Micah P. Hawthorne

Bronze Star with "V" Device

Lt. Col. John P. Ladelfa

Capt. Jeffrey P. Godwin

Master Sgt. Michael Robinson

Master Sgt. Anthony Soignoli, Jr.

Sgt. 1st Class Richard A. Dubeau

Sgt. 1st Class Luke P. Hayward

Sgt. 1st Class David Langer

Sgt. 1st Class Jared B. Reesor

Sgt. 1st Class Thomas A. Smith

Staff Sgt. Micah P. Hawthorne

Sgt. Eric D. Reed

Army Commendation Medal with "V" Device

Capt. Michael Ritter

Capt. Thomas A. Beckstrand

Capt. Stephen D. Cook

Capt. Douglas J. Peluso

Capt. David A. Rittgers

2nd Lt. Brandon L. Petrick

Chief Warrant Officer Robert A. Davis

Master Sgt. Tyrone J. Lawrence

Sgt. 1st Class Jimmie L. Adams II

Sgt. 1st Class Dennis C. Downey

Sgt. 1st Class Johnny J. Glenn, Jr.

Sgt. 1st Class David S. Howard

Sgt. 1st Class Brian L. King

Sgt. 1st Class Harold King

Sgt. 1st Class James Moore

Sgt. 1st Class Andrew J. Pezzella

Sgt. 1st Class Michael D. Ray

Sgt. 1st Class Nathan J. Rehl

Sgt. 1st Class Demetrio Rios

Sgt. 1st Class Richard P. Turner

Staff Sgt. Fredrick L. Battenberg

Staff Sgt. Robert S. Farmer

Staff Sgt. David R. Glenn

Staff Sgt. Tige W. Mavety

Staff Sgt. Travis W. Osborne

Staff Sgt. Jeremy J. Swanner

Sgt. William T. Ayers

Sgt. Aaron S. Doss

Pfc. David B. Hertzog