Honor to the Honorees Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice
How these military men did what they were called to do with bravery.
Some rewards are awarded because of who a person is, or who a person knows, or some other biased tendencies, but the ultimate award goes to three men who deserve awards because of their triumph in the middle of a storm in their life. They did what they had to do with America becoming the benefactor of their selfless bravery.
Again, it was delightful to see President Biden award three medals of honor to three military men being recognized in battle giving their best, their life. Yes, America forever owes these men gratitude as they fought that we at home could be safe from harm.
President Biden presented three Medals of Honor to Master Sgt. Earl Plumlee for his duty in Afghanistan in 2013, and the late Sgts. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe and Christoper Celiz presented to their widows. While the awards cannot replace their spouses but it conveys their death was not in vain.
These three men, two now deceased, who fought in combat, deserve the nation’s highest military decoration, Medal of Honor, and recognition in the heart of America and the history books.
As the story goes, these three men put their lives in danger to protect others as they fought off the enemy that was approaching to attack the troops. Their commitment to the military was not a one-time gift but stretch over several years which depicted how Americans are and were in combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
These Medals of Honor presented to these three outstanding soldiers exemplified America’s appreciation to them whose actions embodied the highest ideals of selfless service.
Honoring these three brave men honors their families alike as they allowed and supported their family members to be in harm’s way as they gave their best to the nation.
According to the White House, then-Staff Sgt. Earl Plumlee earned this medal due to his actions in 2013 where there was a massive explosion that tore a 60-foot hole in his base wall in Afghanistan. Ten insurgents attacked by way of the hole in the wall, Plumlee and five other special operations soldiers jumped into two vehicles and raced to stop the attackers amidst the heavy fire.
Plumlee used his body like a weapon shield protecting the driver of the vehicle, then jumped out of the vehicle, returning fire on the insurgents, killing two of them. With no thought of his life, he carried a mortally wounded soldier to safety and thereafter helped organize a successful counterattack. Plumlee escaped bullets that passed right by him, inches away.
Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe, 35 years old, a Floridian whose bravery will be forever remembered in how he rescued several fellow troops in 2005 from a Bradley fighting vehicle that had burst into flames after striking a roadside bomb in the Iraqi town of Duluiyah. While he suffered severe burns, Cashe refused to evacuate by helicopter until other soldiers were flown to safety. He died several weeks later from his wounds. He enlisted in the Army in 1989 and was deployed to Iraq the same year he was killed.
Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Celiz, 32, a South Carolinian, enlisted in the army 2006, was killed in Afghanistan in 2018 after he assisted to help an injured soldier to take him to safety exposed him to the enemy. When the helicopter arrived to evacuate the wounded soldier, it came under fire.
Celiz stood between the insurgents and the chopper acting like a human shield blocking and protecting the evacuation team. As the helicopter took off, Celiz what shot and badly wounded. In order to save them, he motioned that the evacuation team departs rather than remain to collect him. His selfless actions saved their lives and prevented further casualties with members of his team and aircrews. President Biden’s words summarized Celiz’s commitment, “Christopher Celiz was courage made flesh.”
In conclusion, the Highest Medals of Honor to Celiz, Cashe, and Plumlee, well earned and deserved. Thanks forever for your service and your life exemplified what America needs to remember it represents as each of you fought for the land of the free and the home of the brave. Thank you for your service!
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