The Congressional Medal of Honor Society salutes the service and sacrifice of Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn C. Cashe on Dec. 16, 2021, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for going above and beyond the call of duty during his service in the U.S. Army during the War on Terrorism in Iraq. He is the first Black Medal of Honor Recipient awarded the Medal of Honor for actions during this conflict.

Career

Recipient Cashe grew up in Ovieda, Florida. After he graduated from Ovieda High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and soon deployed  to the Middle East for the first Gulf War, before he returned to the U.S. for a three-year assignment at Fort Lewis, Washington. He then served in Korea for a year before returning to the U.S. again as a squad leader at Fort Hood,Texas.

Following his time in Texas, Cashe served two years in Germany and then returned to Fort Benning, Georgia, as a drill sergeant. He returned to Europe again, two serve two more years in Germany before thend returning to Fort Benning as a platoon sergeant. In 2005, he was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The Battle

During Operation Iraqi Freedom, in October of 2005, Recipient Cashe and fellow troops were conducting nighttime patrol when their vehicle was struck by a makeshift explosive. Cashe managed to exit the vehicle first, and he and a fellow soldier moved quickly to extract the driver. At that point Cashe’s uniform, fuel-soaked from the explosion, caught fire. He suffered severe burns, but he continued to the rear of the vehicle to help soldiers trapped in the troop compartment.

While other troops engaged the enemy, Cashe was able to continue to the rear and aid four troops to escape the burning vehicle. Noticing that two troops were still missing, he re-entered the burning vehicle to retrieve them. Cashe refused to board the medical helicopter ahead of fellow soldiers. He ultimately succumbed to his wounds weeks later in the hospital on Nov. 8, 2005. Sgt. Cashe’s actions that day saved many lives.

Medal of Honor Presented

The Medal of Honor, which was upgraded from a Silver Star, was presented to Alwyn Cashe’s family on Dec. 16, 2021, by President Joseph R. Biden at the White House. 

About the Congressional Medal of Honor Society

The Congressional Medal of Honor Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Medal of Honor and its Recipients, inspiring Americans, and supporting the Recipients as they connect with communities across the country. Chartered by Congress in 1958, its membership consists exclusively of those individuals who have received the Medal of Honor, including 66 living Recipients. 

The Society carries out its mission through outreach, education, and historical preservation programs, including the Medal of Honor Museum, Valor Outreach Program, Character Development Program, and more. 

Learn more about the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s initiatives and how you can partner with us at https://www.cmohs.org.