OT - Profiles of Valor (several)

[Ysabel Kid]

Sorry guys - I have been remiss in posting these. With Independence Day coming up, I thought it would be great to remember the kinds of men and women we have fighting to keep us free!

PROFILES OF VALOR: USA CAPT. SOLHEIM

In July 2007, United States Army Captain Kent Solheim was participating in Operation VOLCANO II, which aimed to capture a senior leader of the Mahdi Army, a Shi'ite militia in Karbala, Iraq. Solheim and his team fast-roped from helicopters into the objective area, setting up a position near the target building, but they soon came under fire from three sides with AK-47s and rocket-propelled grenades. Combat air support was called in to take out the enemy, but some jihadis remained on the attack. Amidst the fighting, Solheim saw an insurgent with an RPG about 10 meters away. He charged and shot and killed the enemy fighter, saving several of his comrades. He then exposed himself to enemy fire in order to cover other soldiers and was able
to provide suppressive fire. Rounding a corner of a building, Solheim came face to face with a Mahdi fighter armed with an AK. Solheim instantly fired, killing the insurgent, but not before he was hit with the jihadi's final burst of fire. He was wounded in the legs and back and was treated and survived. For his actions, he was awarded the Silver Star.

PROFILES OF VALOR: USMC LCPL. CARDENAS

U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Moses Cardenas of the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion was on a mission near Rawah, Iraq, when his platoon was assaulted by a suicide bomber, rocket-propelled grenades and heavy fire from machine guns. In the ensuing fight, Cardenas' sergeant was hit, leaving the Lance Corporal with a choice: Rescue his wounded comrade or wait for reinforcements. "He was my sergeant; I had to do something," Cardenas recalls, so he ran more than 50 meters through enemy fire to give aid to Sgt. Randy Roedema, and was shot in the neck en route. He continued on in spite of his injury, and managed to administer first aid. He then pulled Roedema back to the convoy's position, intermittently returning fire along the way. When he made it back to the convoy, Cardenas continued fighting with his fellow Marines until the situation was under control and medics could tend to the wounded. Four days after Roedema's life was saved, his wife gave birth to their first child. For his outstanding bravery, Cardenas was awarded the Silver Star.

PROFILES OF VALOR: USA PFC. MCGINNIS

On Monday, President Bush presented only the fifth Medal of Honor for valor in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, given posthumously to U.S. Army Private First Class Ross McGinnis. McGinnis also was promoted to Specialist and awarded the Silver Star. The Medal of Honor citation reads that McGinnis
"distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an M2.50-caliber Machine Gunner, 1st Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, in connection with combat operations against an armed enemy in Adhamiyah, Northeast Baghdad, Iraq, on 4 December 2006. That afternoon his platoon was conducting combat control operations in an effort to reduce and control sectarian violence in the area. While Private McGinnis was manning the M2.50-caliber Machine Gun, a fragmentation grenade thrown by an insurgent fell through the gunner's hatch into the vehicle. Reacting quickly, he yelled 'grenade,' allowing all four members of his crew to prepare for the grenade's blast. Then, rather than leaping from the gunner's hatch to safety, Private McGinnis made the courageous decision to protect his crew. In a selfless act of bravery, in which he was mortally wounded, Private McGinnis covered the live grenade, pinning it between his body and the vehicle and absorbing most of the explosion. Private McGinnis' gallant action directly saved four men from certain serious injury or death. Private First Class McGinnis' extraordinary heroism and selflessness at the cost of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army."

PROFILES OF VALOR: USA MAJOR FORD

Major Sheffield Ford III was leading a U.S. Army Special Forces unit in Afghanistan in June 2006 when Taliban fighters overwhelmed their position. The 16 Americans and 46 Afghan Army soldiers under Ford's command, working to re-establish order in a village, were surrounded by Taliban. As darkness fell, the attack began. The terrorist fighters directed machine-gun fire and rocket-propelled grenades at the American and Afghan allies from three directions. During the night, however, the Taliban fighters withdrew, so the next day, Ford ordered a team into the suspected hideout. More than 200 jihadis quickly poured out, splitting the allies in two. Despite the odds, Ford organized a rescue mission for two wounded Americans and the accompanying troops that were split from the main group. Combat was at times so close that the Taliban were beckoning the Afghan fighters to lay down their arms, saying, "We can forgive you; just put your weapons down and walk away. We want the Americans alive." Ford rallied the men, however, and they answered his call by continuing the fight. Ford was able to lead an evacuation, including the wounded, under cover from Apache helicopters. His unit had more than 120 confirmed kills, while losing only two Americans and three Afghan soldiers. For his accomplishments, Major Ford received the Silver Star.

[ole pizen slinger]

Most amazing thing--they didn't do it to win medals--they did it for their friends, buddies, us.
OPS

[rjohns94]

21 seconds of silence.

[gamekeeper]

Brave brave men. Thanks for posting.