Alwyn Cashe – Medal of Honor Winer
By
John C Abercrombie
Alwyn Crendall Cashe is the newest soldier to be awarded the highest honor given by the United States Military for action above and beyond the call of duty.
Cashe was born July 13, 1970, in Sanford Florida and raised in Oviedo, Florida. He was the youngest of 9 children, 5 girls and 4 boys. After graduating from Oviedo High School, he joined the United States Army and at the time of his great sacrifice was assigned to the Company A, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division and was a Non-Commissioned Officer.
Based on reports of an incident in which the Bradley Vehicle he was in was destroyed by an IED. The vehicle was on fire and Cashe made repeated entries into the vehicle to aid others who would have perished without his assistance.
The reports seemed to contain all of the necessary detail, however, it did not. As a result, he was recommended for the Silver Star and it was awarded, however when additional details were revealed the original commanding officer fought a long hard battle to recognize Alwyn C Cashe the Medal of Honor he so rightly deserved.
Cashe scored remarkably high on tests administered by the Army and could have chosen another specialty, but he loved the infantry and based his decision on his love for the outdoors and a sense of adventure
At the explosion of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, he was completely saturated with fuel and the vehicle was on fire. Despite the danger to himself he made 3 trips into the vehicle to rescue others. Even when his fuel soaked uniform was on fire, he was more focused on saving as many as possible. He sustained severe second and third degree burns over 72% of his body. His uniform was melted and sticking to him. Despite his injuries, he continued to insist that the men be treated first.
The last video in this post is a must watch as he tells his brother on his deathbed shortly before succumbing to his massive burns why he did it. It is a touching story and reveals the deep commitment that he had not only with his men, but with God.
There were problems that required congressional approval because of the time, not the question of deserving hampered the approval and awarding of the Medal of Honor, which was given posthumously by President Joe Biden, December 2021.
This is an important story to tell as for decades Blacks have been depicted in all manner of not having courage. Being afraid of their shadow, lacking dedication and purpose. Now compare that to what people are really like. There is little doubt that Alwyn Cashe is deserving of the highest medal and honors that this country can bestow.
Below are the current criteria for the award, followed by detailed videos. Pay special attention to the last video.
The highest award given by the United States of America for valor in action is the Medal of Honor. It has been in existence for a bit over 150 years. Within the medal are etched the revered values of each recipient Bravery, Courage, Sacrifice and Integrity. It comes with a deep love of country and a desire to ALWAYS do what is right.
- The current criteria for the Medal of Honor were established in 1963 during the Vietnam War but has always called for actions that go above and beyond.
- The Medal is authorized for any military service member who “Distinguishes himself/herself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty.
- They must be engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States
- While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force or
- While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force
- While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party
All recommendations require thorough reports on the act itself, the battlefield and its setting; at least two sworn eyewitness statements; and any other compelling evidence that can be gathered. Recommendation packets must be approved all the way up the military command structure, ending with the United States President as the Commander-in-Chief.
By Federal Statute, recommendations for the Medal must be submitted within 3 years of the valorous act and the Medal must be presented within 5 years. Any submissions outside of this timeline require an Act of Congress to waive the time limits.
The ceremony to bestow the posthumous honor is scheduled for December 16, 2021. There is no information to believe that the delay of the medal was based on race and his sister agrees with this position. However, it is overdue to the fact that for so many years we have presented a highly distorted view of an entire race based on the false information we have been fed for centuries.
There are people of all races that have served this country with the same degree of devotion. We even have a history of lynching some Blacks for wearing the uniform in public. It is time for this country to show appreciation to those who have served “above and beyond” …
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Alwyn Cashe, Medal of Honor – Speaking of Courage
In November 2005 Alwyn Cashe fought through intense pain to save the lives of his men. For his actions he was awarded the Silver Star, but he deserves the Medal Of Honor. Hear his story on Speaking of Courage Podcast.
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Offers so amazing they change every day! Check daily!
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Brothers in Valor:
Battlefield Stories of the 89 African Americans Awarded the Medal of Honor During the Battle of Fort Wagner in 1863, Sgt. William Harvey Carney picked up the fallen flag from his lifeless comrade. He waved the flag for all of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry to see and led the way to the parapet to plant the colors. After Col. Robert Gould Shaw was mortally wounded, Carney inspired his infantry forward. Even after sustaining severe wounds, Carney proudly declared, “Boys, the old flag never touched the ground!” After this battle, Carney became the first African American to receive the Medal of Honor.
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Gift Cards
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Above & Beyond the Call of Duty:
Sergeant First Class Alwyn Cashe | October 2005 In October 2005, a column of M2 Bradley A.F.V’s were on a mission in Central Iraq when one of them hit a roadside I.E.D. Bursting into flames, the crew of the Bradley bailed out to safety, but the 6 U.S. soldiers and an Iraqi translator, who were in the rear passenger compartment, were trapped inside the flame-engulfed vehicle. Knowing this, Sergeant First Class Alwyn Cashe, with complete disregard for his own life and with the sole focus on saving his colleagues, made multiple trips to pull free the 7 passengers – all the while with his uniform on fire. This is the story of his actions and valor that went above and beyond the call of duty.
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Black Valor:
Buffalo Soldiers and the Medal of Honor, 1870–1898 They were U.S. Army soldiers. Just a few years earlier, some had been slaves. Several thousand African Americans served as soldiers in the Indian Wars and in the Cuban campaign of the Spanish-American War in the latter part of the nineteenth century. They were known as buffalo soldiers, believed to have been named by Indians who had seen a similarity between the coarse hair and dark skin of the soldiers and the coats of the buffalo. Twenty-three of these men won the nation’s highest award for personal bravery, the Medal of Honor. Black Valor brings the lives of these soldiers into sharp focus. Their remarkable stories are told in the collected biography. Derived from extensive historical research, Black Valor will enrich and inspire students with its tales of trials and courage.
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ALWYN CASHE – HERO.
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Immortal Valor:
The Black Medal of Honor Winners Of World War II The remarkable story of the seven African American soldiers ultimately awarded the World War II Medal of Honor, and the 50-year campaign to deny them their recognition.
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Congresswoman Murphy Announces Bill to Honor Fallen Oviedo War Hero
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Forgotten:
The Untold Story of D-Day’s Black Heroes, at Home and at War The injustices of 1940s Jim Crow America are brought to life in this extraordinary blend of military and social history—a story that pays tribute to the valor of an all-black battalion whose crucial contributions at D-Day have gone unrecognized to this day. In the early hours of June 6, 1944, the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, a unit of African-American soldiers, landed on the beaches of France. Their orders were to man a curtain of armed balloons meant to deter enemy aircraft. One member of the 320th would be nominated for the Medal of Honor, an award he would never receive. The nation’s highest decoration was not given to black soldiers in World War II.
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SFC Alwyn C. Cashe Deserves the Medal of Honor
The story of the heroic actions of SFC Alwyn C. Cashe ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY. Please join us on our fb Site for up to the minute information on our cause:
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Alwyn Cashe is most deserving of the Medal of Honor. He served his country and fellow service members. He is an example of the devotion of so many of his fellow service members and is a prime example of the love that a person has within themselves. He is an example for all people!