[agonyea]

SFC Cashe

Today , three U.S. Army soldiers will be awarded the Medal of Honor for their heroic and selfless actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Two of those soldiers will receive their awards posthumously, as they gave their lives on the battlefield.
On October 17th, 2005 while serving with the 1/15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd ID, Sergeant First Class Alwyn Cashe and his soldiers were conducting a night time mounted patrol near Samarra, Iraq. During the patrol, insurgents attacked the convoy with small arms fire. A pressure activated IED detonated on the lead Bradley Fighting Vehicle, of which Alwyn was the gunner. The blast caused the vehicle to erupt in flames. SFC Cashe was initially slightly injured, but his uniform was drenched with spilled fuel. Despite his condition, he managed to escape the gunner's hatch, crawl down and get the driver out. The soldier was on fire and badly burned. Alwyn was able to extinguish the flames, but the fire ignited his fuel soaked uniform causing severe burns to his body.
The enemy fighters noted his movements and began to fire on his position. When another element of the company engaged the them, SFC Cashe seized the opportunity and continued to the rear of BFV where six soldiers and a translator were still trapped inside. By this time, fire had engulfed the entire vehicle. Without regard for his own safety, SFC Cashe reached into the flames and started pulling out his men through the troop door. Despite the agonizing pain, he began retrieving the wounded soldiers, one after another; all while he was still on fire.
During all this, SFC Cashe bravely continued to lead through the chaos. He selflessly refused helicopter medevac until his soldiers were treated first. In the end, the team’s translator was dead and seven soldiers were critically wounded (three of whom would ultimately succumb to their injuries days later). However, Alwyn’s wounds were by far the worst as he suffered 2nd and 3rd degree catastrophic burns over 3/4 of his body. He was flown to Germany, and then Texas where he would die 22 days later. Sergeant First Class Cashe's heroic actions undeniably saved the lives of many of his beloved soldiers. Alwyn was initially awarded a Silver Star, but after 16 years, it was finally upgraded to the Medal of Honor.
Sergeant First Class Alwyn Cashe loved the 3rd Infantry Division. He took pride in the Rock of the Marne. He bled it through and through. As a Platoon Sergeant, Alwyn always made sure his men were taken care of and that the mission was accomplished, even if that meant he had to do it himself. He was a two-tour veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and served in both Desert Storm and Bosnia. Alwyn was also a Drill Sergeant, responsible for instilling the same core values and love of country that he gave his life for into thousands of soldiers that he trained. He was a devoted husband and a loving father of two. His son followed in his dad’s footsteps and currently serves as a U.S. Army Infantryman. Alwyn was 35-years old at the time of his death.
Author: Unknown