Lost in all this noise: a real hero gets recognized.

quote:

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In the early morning of 4 March 2002, then-Senior Chief Slabinski led a reconnaissance team to its assigned area atop Takur Ghar, a 10,000-foot snow-covered mountain in Afghanistan. An enemy rocket-propelled grenade attack on the insertion helicopter caused Petty Officer Neil Roberts to fall onto the enemy-infested mountaintop below, and forced the damaged helicopter to crash land in the valley below. Fully aware of the risks, a numerically superior and well-entrenched enemy force, and approaching daylight, without hesitation Senior Chief Slabinski made the selfless and heroic decision to lead the remainder of his element on an immediate and daring rescue back to the mountaintop. Senior Chief Slabinski's team, despite heavy incoming enemy fire, was subsequently successfully inserted on top of Takur Ghar. Senior Chief Slabinski, without regard for his own life, charged directly toward the enemy strongpoint. He and a teammate fearlessly assaulted and cleared one enemy bunker at close range. The enemy then unleashed a murderous hail of machine gun fire from a second hardened position twenty meters away. Senior Chief Slabinski exposed himself to enemy fire on three sides, then moved forward to silence the second position. With bullets piercing his clothing, he repeatedly charged into deadly fire to personally engage the enemy bunker with direct rifle fire, hand grenades and a grenade launcher on the surrounding enemy positions. Facing mounting casualties and low on ammunition, the situation became untenable. Senior Chief Slabinski skillfully maneuvered his team across open terrain, directing them out of effective enemy fire over the mountainside.

Senior Chief Slabinski maneuvered his team to a more defensible position, directed danger-close air support on the enemy, requested reinforcements, and directed the medical care of his rapidly deteriorating wounded teammates, all while continuing to defend his position. When approaching daylight and accurate enemy mortar fire forced the team to maneuver further down the sheer mountainside, Senior Chief Slabinski carried a seriously wounded teammate through waist-deep snow, and led an arduous trek across precipitous terrain while calling in fires on enemies engaging the team from the surrounding ridges. Throughout the next 14 hours, he stabilized the casualties and continued the fight against the enemy until the mountain top could be secured and his team was extracted. His dedication, disregard for his own personal safety and tactical leadership make Master Chief Slabinski unquestionably deserving of this honor.

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I'm still waiting on John Chapman to get his too. The seals are actively fighting against it.

Did you read the full article on the fight over this MoH nomination and the their Air Force FAC’s reccomendation for his MoH?

Was an interesting read on the service rivalry’s.

quote:

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President to award Medal of Valor

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Medal of HONOR

And yeah there's a stink going on in the military community about this right now. SEALs saying that the AF guy was dead and shouldn't get the MoH. Other people saying the SEALs left the AF guy out there by himself when he was actually still alive.

This has the potential to get ugly.

I have mixed feelings on this. I have no doubt this dude is brave as hell and has taken way more risks than I have. But it is important to remember that these guys were trying to insert into their OP, which is a no-no. The dudes who hauled arse to save them in the helo that got shot down were there to save the SEALs.

And there is strong evidence that Chapman survived and the SEALs have without a doubt attempted to quash that story because it makes them look bad.

I flew helicopters for the Army, including a number of missions in support of the SEALs. I respect what they do but I do believe that their propaganda machine gets out of hand sometimes.