FORT BRAGG, N.C. (9/16/2011) – For the second time in seven months, a valor ceremony took place to recognize the heroism of soldiers from Fort Bragg's 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne).  Soldiers, friends and family members of the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) filled the auditorium of the United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School in preparation for the group's valor ceremony Sept.15, 2011, in which 30 soldiers from 3rd SFG were honored and awarded respectively: two Silver Stars, seven Bronze Stars with “V” device, 10 Army Commendation Medals with “V” device and 11 Purple Hearts. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Enoch Fleites |
Thirty soldiers from the group were honored Sept. 15 at the JFK Special Warfare Center and School here, as commander of United States Army Special Operations Command, Lt. Gen. John F. Mulholland Jr., awarded two Silver Stars, seven Bronze Stars with “V” device, 10 Army Commendation Medals with “V” device and 11 Purple Hearts.
The ceremony showcased vignettes of the respective actions of the two Silver Star recipients, Capt. Matthew L. Golsteyn and Sgt. 1st Class Chad E. Lawson.
Each soldier braved enemy fire for hours; exposing themselves to danger in order to help their fellow service members and Afghan counterparts.
Golsteyn was awarded for his actions on Feb. 20, 2010, in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Of receiving the medal, Golsteyn humbly said: “I had the trust and loyalty of my teammates. I owe this to them.”
He added that “recognition like this doesn't happen if you aren't leading excellent people.”
Lawson was recognized for his actions on Aug. 4, 2010, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.
His former detachment commander, Capt. Aaron Baty, said Lawson was the “epitome of a Special Forces NCO.”
Also receiving awards from the battle that garnered Lawson his Silver Star were Staff Sgt. Robert Bradford (Bronze Star with “V” and Purple Heart), Sgt. 1st Class Sean King (Purple Heart) and Staff Sgt. John Bear (Purple Heart).
The USASOC commander acknowledged the selfless and humble nature of the Special Forces soldier as he addressed the crowd of family members, friends and fellow service members.
“One thing that every one of these guys would say, I'm sure if you asked them, is I was just doing my job,” Mulholland said.
He went on to say that it was his “extraordinary honor and privilege” to recognize the soldiers.
The following service members received awards during the ceremony:
Silver Star Capt. Matthew Golsteyn Sgt. 1st Class Chad Lawson
Bronze Star with “V” device Master Sgt. Matthew Moore Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Drew Sgt. 1st Class Ryan Misero Sgt. 1st Class Scott Redding Staff Sgt Robert Bradford Staff Sgt. Benjamin Wilson Staff Sgt. Brian Wilson
Army Commendation Medal with “V” device Capt. Aaron Baty Sgt. 1st Class Craig Gilbert Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Jones Sgt. 1st Class Robert Lopez Sgt. 1st Class Kuinnlan Malone Sgt. 1st Class Johnny Rodgers Sgt. 1st Class Rodney Scalise Staff Sgt. Mark Barbin Staff Sgt. Stephen Cotman Staff Sgt. Joshua Stephen
Purple Heart Capt. Anthony Applegate Chief Warrant Officer Thomas Russell Warrant Officer Candidate Kevin Swenson Master Sgt. Mike Clark Master Sgt. Matthew Moore Sgt. 1st Class Sean King Sgt. 1st Class Scott Redding Staff Sgt. James Boehlke Staff Sgt. John Bear Staff Sgt. Robert Bradford Staff Sgt. Patrick Gaskell By Army Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy D. Crisp 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) Provided through DVIDS Copyright 2011 Comment on this article |