CW2 DeJesus and SSG Espino (Silver Stars)

[Dan]

http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=255327

Special Forces soldiers earn Silver Stars
By Michael Futch
Staff writer

Two Fort Bragg Special Forces soldiers were honored today with the Army’s third-highest award for combat valor — the Silver Star.

Chief Warrant Officer Angel DeJesus and Staff Sgt. Erasmo Espino, both in the 7th Special Forces group, were honored for their heroism in action in Afghanistan. They were part of a detachment of two dozen soldiers conducting a patrol when they were ambushed by an estimated 150 to 200 Taliban fighters in May 2006.

The award ceremony was at Fort Bragg’s Ritz-Epps Physical Fitness Center. Lt. Gen. Robert Wagner, who is commander of U.S. Army Special Operations Command, and Maj. Gen. Thomas Csrnko presented the awards. Csrnko leads the U.S. Army Special Forces Command at Fort Bragg.

In all, 41 soldiers from the 7th Special Forces Group — mostly from the 2nd and 3rd Battalions — were recognized for gallantry and courageous actions while deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq.