What has America done to deserve such great men?
(FoxNews) – A former Army captain who tackled a suicide bomber in Afghanistan was awarded the Medal of Honor at the White House Thursday, in front of some of his fellow soldiers whose lives he saved.
Florent Groberg, 32, was badly injured in the August 2012 attack, which killed four people.
During his second deployment to Afghanistan’s Kunar Province, Groberg was helping lead an escort for a meeting with a provincial governor when his unit encountered the bomber. Groberg, with assistance from another soldier in the security detail, Sgt. Andrew Mahoney, tackled the bomber to the ground, and his vest detonated.
…U.S. military officials say the explosion caused a second, unseen bomb to detonate before it could be planted.
“It’s the greatest honor you can ever receive. And I’m blessed, and just grateful to have been given the opportunity to serve my country,” Groberg said after the ceremony. He’d spent nearly three years recovering at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and endured more than 30 surgeries.
The young, French-born immigrant’s story of the incident is featured at the Army’s website:
The Battle
- August 8, 2012
- Asadabad, Afghanistan
- Provincial Governor’s compound
On the morning of Aug. 8, 2012, U.S. Army Capt. Florent Groberg served as a personal security detachment (PSD) commander for Task Force Mountain Warrior — responsible for the safety of 28 coalition and Afghan National Army (ANA) personnel, including several principals: two brigade commanders, two battalion commanders, the brigade command sergeant major, a battalion command sergeant major and an ANA battalion commander.
The patrol’s escort mission included moving on foot from Forward Operating Base Fiaz to the provincial governor’s compound in Asadabad, Kunar, Afghanistan for a weekly security meeting.
As the patrol advanced toward the governor’s compound, they reached the choke point along the route, a small bridge spanning a canal feeding the Kunar River. The patrol halted near the bridge as two motorcycles approached from the opposite direction. The motorcyclists began crossing the bridge, but stopped midway before dismounting and retreating in the opposite direction.
As the patrol observed the motorcyclists, Groberg also spotted a lone individual near the left side of the formation, walking backwards in the direction of the patrol. The individual did not cause immediate alarm as there were other local civilians in the area.
However, when the individual made an abrupt turn toward the formation, Groberg rushed the suspect and shoved him away from the patrol. Groberg then immediately confirmed the individual was wearing a suicide vest, and with the help of Sgt. Andrew Mahoney, a fellow Soldier with the PSD, grabbed the suicide bomber, physically driving him away from the formation and down to the ground.
While on the ground, the bomber’s explosive vest detonated. The explosion caused a second suicide bomber, who remained hidden behind a small structure near the road, to detonate his vest prematurely. Most of the blast of the second bomber’s suicide vest went straight into a building, adjacent to the patrol.
Groberg’s actions disrupted both bombers from detonating as planned, saving the majority of lives he was charged with protecting.
Salute
Bravo!
Salute
These are the men and women that keep us safe. Honor them!