Alwyn Cashe to finally receive posthumous Medal of Honor for Iraq War heroism

Thank you my friend MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. for posting the taskandpurpose.com news.
On Oct. 17, 2005, Cashe was on his second deployment to Iraq and conducting a route clearance operation with his platoon when they were ambushed. As Cashe’s Bradley Fighting Vehicle rolled over a pressure plate and triggered an improvised explosive device, all hell broke loose.
The explosion ignited the fuel cell, causing it to erupt. The flames quickly spread as the soldiers remained trapped inside of the vehicle. Cashe was injured in the initial explosion and drenched in fuel. Nonetheless, the 35-year-old combat veteran immediately began working to free the six soldiers trapped inside in addition to the unit’s translator, as well as the driver of the Bradley.
“Flames had engulfed the entire vehicle from the bottom and were coming out of every portal,” reads Cashe’s citation for the Silver Star, which will be upgraded to the Medal of Honor in the upcoming ceremony.
Cashe immediately began pulling soldiers from the rear of the vehicle, but as he did the fire began to spread to his fuel-soaked uniform. One by one Cashe pulled his men from the burning wreck, and each time he came back the fire spread. But he kept coming back.
By the time the company first sergeant arrived on scene, Cashe was the most wounded soldier on the ground — suffering from second and third-degree burns over 72% of his body. Nonetheless, Cashe refused to be loaded onto the medical evacuation helicopter until the rest of his men had been safely evacuated.
“Sgt. Cashe saved my life,” Sgt. Gary Mills, one of the soldiers Cashe saved that day, told the Los Angeles Times. “With all the ammo inside that vehicle, and all those flames, we’d have all been dead in another minute or two.”
Cashe was transported to a field hospital in Iraq where military doctors worked for hours, but the damage from the burns was too severe. He was flown to Germany and later to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.
When Cashe was finally able to speak, his sister recalled that his first concern, even then, remained the welfare of his soldiers: “How are my boys?” he asked. On Nov. 8, weeks after the ambush, Cashe succumbed to his wounds.
To Maj. Mark Rasnake, the Air Force doctor who treated Cashe, the soldier was a hero.


Sgt. Alwyn Cashe, Oviedo, Florida soldier killed in Iraq, to receive Medal of Honor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCTCcqKWnSI

Image: Alwyn Crendall Cashe
Family members alive when he died. His mother Ruby Mae Cash died in 2015.
His widow Tamara; and children, Alexis, Andrew, and Lejada; his sisters, Mayetta Alexander, Lake Butler, Bernadine Blocker, Orlando, Kasinal (James) White, Yvonne (Robert) Holmes, Lake Butler, FL, Andrea (Dennis) Walsh, Marlene (Alphonse) Reddick, Claudette (Bennie) Brown of Sanford; and his brothers, Karlos, Eulie, Oviedo, Jerris (Sabrina), Orlando, Al Collin, Gary (June), Brooklyn, NY, Tracy (Delores), Sanford, Willie (Janette) Cashe, Cocoa;

Background from {[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alwyn_Cashe#cite_note-valor-23]
Alwyn Crendall Cashe (July 13, 1970 – November 8, 2005) of Company A, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, was a United States Army Non-Commissioned Officer posthumously awarded the Silver Star for heroism in Iraq. After additional information became known, on November 10, 2020, Congress voted to upgrade his award to the Medal of Honor. On December 4, 2020, President Donald Trump signed into law H.R. 8276, which authorizes the President to posthumously award the Medal of Honor to Cashe. A measure to award Cashe the medal must still be submitted by the Defense Department and approved by the president to finalize the award.

Early life and education
Cashe was born in Sanford, Florida on July 13, 1970.[2] He was raised in Oviedo, Florida and attended Oviedo High School, graduating in 1988.

Career
Cashe enlisted in the U.S. Army following high school graduation in 1988.[3] An infantryman, he served tours of duty in the 1991 Gulf War and in Iraq following the 2003 invasion prior to his tour with the 3rd Infantry Division.[3]
On the evening of October 17, 2005, Cashe, despite suffering second and third-degree burns over 72% of his body, saved the lives of six of his fellow soldiers after the Bradley fighting vehicle they were riding in struck an improvised explosive device. Cashe succumbed to his injuries on November 8, 2005 at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.[4] He was survived by his wife and children. Cashe is interred at Restlawn Cemetery in Sanford, Florida.[5]

Birth name Alwyn Crendall Cashe
Born July 13, 1970 at in Sanford, Florida, U.S.
Mortally Wounded October 17, 2005 on route clearance mission near city of Daliaya, Iraq.
Died November 8, 2005 (aged 35) at San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Buried Restlawn Cemetery, Sanford, Florida, U.S.
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1988–2005
Rank Sergeant first class
Unit 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division
Battles/wars Persian Gulf War/Iraq War †
Awards Silver Star
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart



Legacy
On July 19, 2014, a new Army Reserve center in Sanford, Florida was memorialized for Cashe.[6] On May 11, 2019, the Oviedo Post Office was renamed in Cashe's honor.[7]
As of July 23, 2020, Alwyn Cashe's son, Andrew Cashe, graduated from the U.S. Army's One Station Unit Training (OSUT) for Infantry at Fort Benning in Georgia.[8]
On May 20, 2021, the Third Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, GA renamed their primary ceremonial grounds from “Marne Gardens” to “Cashe Gardens”. Located next to the Division Headquarters, Cashe Gardens is utilized by the installation for Battalion, Brigade, and Division Changes of Command as well as other high profile ceremonies.[9]
Campaign to upgrade Cashe's Silver Star to the Medal of Honor
Lieutenant General Gary Brito, Cashe's battalion commander at the time of the action, did not initially realize the extent of Cashe's injuries and the pain he must have been in when he nominated Cashe for the Silver Star award. Witnesses were evacuated for medical treatment and unavailable for statement. Brito subsequently submitted additional statements to the Army to justify upgrading Cashe's award to the Medal of Honor. Brito continues to support efforts to upgrade Cashe's Silver Star to the Medal of Honor[10]

On October 17, 2019, the 14th anniversary of Cashe's actions, three members of Congress wrote[11] to Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy formally requesting an upgrade of Cashe's award to the Medal of Honor. The letter was authored by retired Navy SEAL Dan Crenshaw, former Special Forces officer Michael Waltz and Stephanie Murphy.[12]

On August 24, 2020 Secretary of Defense, Mark Esper, agreed that Cashe's actions merit award of the Medal of Honor.[13] On September 22, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill, introduced by Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), which would allow Cashe to finally receive the Medal of Honor.[14] HR 8276 would waive a five-year time statute of limitations that has expired for normal consideration for Medal of Honor awards by directly authorizing the President to award the medal “for acts of valor during Operation Iraqi Freedom.”[15]
On September 28, 2020, Pittsburgh Steelers left tackle Alejandro Villanueva, a former US Army ranger, taped Cashe's name on the back of his helmet, covering the name of Antwon Rose Jr, who was killed by an East Pittsburgh policeman in June 2018. The team had previously decided to honor Rose.[16] Villanueva stated his actions were intended to support the campaign to award Cashe the Medal of Honor.[17]

On November 10, 2020, The Senate passed a legislation that clears the way for Cashe to be awarded the Medal of Honor.[18]
On December 4, 2020, President Donald Trump signed H.R. 8276, which authorizes the President to posthumously award the Medal of Honor to Alwyn C. Cashe for acts of valor during Operation Iraqi Freedom while serving in the United States Army.[19]

Awarding of the Medal of Honor
The awarding of Cashe's Medal of Honor to his family was delayed by the January 6, 2021 storming of the United States Capitol[citation needed]. It was hoped by members of Cashe's family and several U.S. House Representatives that the award ceremony would happen before former President Trump left office on January 20, 2021.[20][21] However, on January 11, 2021 it was announced that it was now expected to happen after President Biden assumed office on January 20th.[22] As of October 2021 President Biden has yet to comment on SFC. Cashe's Medal of Honor award.

FYI SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL CWO3 (Join to see) CWO3 Dennis M. MSG Andrew White SGT Steve McFarland Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen SGM Major Stroupe CSM Charles Hayden LTC Greg Henning Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Sgt (Join to see) SSG Michael Noll SSG William Jones SFC Chuck Martinez SGM Mikel Dawson LTC (Join to see) LTC Stephen C. MSG Greg Kelly SFC (Join to see)

He was so young, so sad. RIP Alwyn Cashe!

Well deserved!!