Alwyn Crendall Cashe (July 13, 1970 – November 8, 2005) was a
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, ...
senior non-commissioned officer who was posthumously awarded the
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of val ...
for
heroism in
Iraq
Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq ...
. On November 10, 2020, the
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is Bicameralism, bicameral, composed of a lower body, the United States House of Representatives, House of Representatives, and an upper body, ...
voted to upgrade Cashe's initially awarded
Silver Star
The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an e ...
to the Medal of Honor. On December 16, 2021, more than 16 years after his death at age 35, Cashe's widow, Tamara, accepted the Medal of Honor from President
Joe Biden at a ceremony commemorating the actions of Cashe and two fellow soldiers for their acts in separate battles.
Early life and education
Cashe was born in
Sanford, Florida
Sanford is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Seminole County. As of the 2020 census, its population was 61,051.
Known as the "Historic Waterfront Gateway City", Sanford sits on the southern shore ...
, on July 13, 1970. He was raised in
Oviedo, Florida
Oviedo ( ) is a city in Seminole County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 33,342, representing an increase of 7,026 (26.7%) from the 26,316 counted in the 2000 Census. It is part of the Orlando– ...
, and attended
Oviedo High School
Oviedo High School is a grade 9–12 public secondary school set on a campus in Oviedo, Florida, a community situated in southeastern Seminole County operated by Seminole County Public Schools.
Academics
Oviedo High School has been rated an ...
, graduating in 1988.
Career
Cashe enlisted in the
U.S. Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...
following high school graduation in 1988.
As an
infantryman
Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marin ...
, he deployed in support of the
1991 Gulf War
The Gulf War was a 1990–1991 armed campaign waged by a 35-country military coalition in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Spearheaded by the United States, the coalition's efforts against Iraq were carried out in two key phases ...
. He also deployed to former
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia (; sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Jugoslavija, Југославија ; sl, Jugoslavija ; mk, Југославија ;; rup, Iugoslavia; hu, Jugoszlávia; rue, label= Pannonian Rusyn, Югославия, translit=Juhoslavij ...
, earning the
Kosovo Campaign Medal
The Kosovo Campaign Medal (KCM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces established by of President Bill Clinton on May 3, 2000. The medal recognizes military service performed in Kosovo from March 24, 1999 through December 31, 2013 ...
. Prior to his assignment to
3rd Infantry Division,
he deployed once again to Iraq in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom
{{Infobox military conflict
, conflict = Iraq War {{Nobold, {{lang, ar, حرب العراق (Arabic) {{Nobold, {{lang, ku, شەڕی عێراق (Kurdish languages, Kurdish)
, partof = the Iraq conflict (2003–present), I ...
following the
2003 invasion.
During his time in service he also served as a
drill sergeant.
On the evening of October 17, 2005, Cashe, a member of A Company, 1st Battalion,
15th Infantry Regiment,
3rd Infantry Division, he managed to save the lives of six of his fellow soldiers after the
Bradley fighting vehicle
The Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV) is a tracked armoured fighting vehicle platform of the United States developed by FMC Corporation and manufactured by BAE Systems Land & Armaments, formerly United Defense. It is named after U.S. General Om ...
they were riding in struck an
improvised explosive device
An improvised explosive device (IED) is a bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action. It may be constructed of conventional military explosives, such as an artillery shell, attached to a detonating mecha ...
despite suffering second and third-degree burns over 72% of his body. Cashe succumbed to his injuries on November 8, 2005, at
Brooke Army Medical Center
Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) is the United States Army's premier medical institution. Located on Fort Sam Houston, BAMC, a 425-bed Academic Medical Center, is the Department of Defense's largest facility and only Level 1 Trauma Center. BAMC ...
,
Fort Sam Houston
Fort Sam Houston is a U.S. Army post in San Antonio, Texas.
"Fort Sam Houston, TX • About Fort Sam Houston" (overview),
US Army, 2007, webpageSH-Army.
Known colloquially as "Fort Sam," it is named for the U.S. Senator from Texas, U.S. Represen ...
, Texas.
Cashe is interred at Restlawn Cemetery in Sanford, Florida.
Legacy
On July 19, 2014, a new Army Reserve center in Sanford, Florida was named in Cashe's honor.
On May 11, 2019, the Oviedo Post Office was renamed in Cashe's honor.
On July 23, 2020, Alwyn Cashe's son, Andrew Cashe, graduated
One Station Unit Training
One Station Unit Training, sometimes referred to as One Site Unit Training, is a term used by the United States Army to refer to a training program in which recruits remain with the same unit for both Basic Combat Training (BCT) and Advanced Indiv ...
(OSUT) for Infantry soldiers at
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post near Columbus, Georgia, adjacent to the Alabama– Georgia border. Fort Benning supports more than 120,000 active-duty military, family members, reserve component soldiers, retirees and civilian employee ...
,
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States
Georgia may also refer to:
Places
Historical states and entities
* Related to the ...
.
On May 20, 2021,
3rd Infantry Division at
Fort Stewart, GA
Fort Stewart is a United States Army post in the U.S. state of Georgia. It lies primarily in Liberty and Bryan counties, but also extends into smaller portions of Evans, Long and Tattnall counties. The population was 11,205 at the 2000 census. T ...
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.
Campaign to upgrade Cashe's Silver Star to the Medal of Honor
Gary Brito
Gary M. Brito (born 1963 or 1964) is a United States Army general who serves as Commanding General, United States Army Training and Doctrine Command since September 8, 2022. He served as Deputy Chief of Staff G-1 Personnel of The United States Arm ...
, 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 continued to support efforts to upgrade Cashe's Silver Star to the Medal of Honor
On October 17, 2019, the 14th anniversary of Cashe's actions, three members of Congress wrote to Defense Secretary
Mark Esper
Mark Thomas Esper (born April 26, 1964) is an American politician and manufacturing executive who served as the 27th United States secretary of defense from 2019 to 2020. A member of the Republican Party, he had previously served as the 23rd U ...
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
Daniel Reed Crenshaw (born March 14, 1984) is an American politician and former United States Navy SEAL officer serving as the United States representative for Texas's 2nd congressional district since 2019. The district includes parts of northe ...
, former Special Forces officer
Michael Waltz
Michael George Glen Waltz (born January 31, 1974) is an American politician and United States Army officer serving as the U.S. representative for Florida's 6th congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, he was first elected in 20 ...
and
Stephanie Murphy
Stephanie Murphy (born Đặng Thị Ngọc Dung; September 16, 1978) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Florida's 7th congressional district since 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, she defeated incumbent R ...
.
On August 24, 2020, Secretary of Defense,
Mark Esper
Mark Thomas Esper (born April 26, 1964) is an American politician and manufacturing executive who served as the 27th United States secretary of defense from 2019 to 2020. A member of the Republican Party, he had previously served as the 23rd U ...
, agreed that Cashe's actions merited award of the Medal of Honor.
On September 22, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill, introduced by Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), which allowed Cashe to finally receive the Medal of Honor. HR 8276 waived a five-year time statute of limitations that 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.”
On September 28, 2020,
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. Founded in , the Steel ...
left tackle
Alejandro Villanueva
Carlos Alejandro Villanueva Martínez (4 June 1908 – 11 April 1944) was a Peruvian footballer who played for Alianza Lima and the Peru national football team. He is considered one of the most important Alianza strikers in the 1920s and 1930s. ...
, 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. Villanueva stated his actions were intended to support the campaign to award Cashe the Medal of Honor.
On November 10, 2020, the Senate passed legislation that cleared the way for Cashe to be awarded the Medal of Honor.
On December 4, 2020, President
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of P ...
signe
H.R. 8276 which authorized the President to posthumously award the Medal of Honor to Alwyn C. Cashe.
Awarding of the Medal of Honor
The awarding of Cashe's Medal of Honor to his family was delayed by the new administration. It was hoped by members of Cashe's family and several U.S. House Representatives that the award ceremony would take place as fast as possible. However, on January 11, 2021, it was announced that it was now expected to happen after President Biden assumed office on January 20.
President Biden awarded three Medals of Honor, to Cashe's family,
Earl Plumlee
Earl D. Plumlee (born April 6, 1980) is a Master Sergeant in the United States Army. He was awarded the Silver Star for his actions in Afghanistan that took place on 28 August 2013. His Silver Star was upgraded to the Medal of Honor
The Med ...
and the family of
Christopher Celiz, in a ceremony on December 16, 2021.
Awards and decorations
Silver Star
Medal of Honor
Commendations
SFC Cashe's awards include:
References
External links
US Army Medal of HonorArchived
Medal of Honor presentedArchived
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cashe, Alwyn
1970 births
2005 deaths
United States Army Medal of Honor recipients
United States Army non-commissioned officers
United States Army personnel of the Gulf War
United States Army personnel of the Iraq War
American military personnel killed in the Iraq War
African-American United States Army personnel
Military personnel from Florida
People from Oviedo, Florida
People from Sanford, Florida