Crenshaw, Murphy, Waltz Urge DOD To Posthumously Award Medal of Honor To Florida Sergeant
WASHINGTON, DC – Representative Dan Crenshaw joined Representatives Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.) and Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) in urging the U.S. Department of Defense to consider awarding the Medal of Honor to Army Sergeant First Class Alwyn Cashe, a war hero who died from injuries sustained in combat. In a bipartisan letter sent to Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy, the three Members cited SFC Cashe’s extraordinary heroism and self-sacrifice as the basis for Cashe’s Silver Star to be upgraded to the Medal of Honor, which is the nation’s highest award for military valor. The letter was sent on the 14th anniversary of SFC Cashe’s heroic actions in Iraq that resulted in his death. Cashe was a resident of Rep. Murphy’s district.
The Department of Defense is conducting a review of valor medals that were awarded in conflicts occurring after September 11, 2001 and multiple medals have been upgraded as a result of this review.
“We write to respectfully request that you carefully consider the case of Sergeant First Class Alwyn Crendall Cashe, who earned the Silver Star for his actions in Iraq on October 17, 2005. SFC Cashe saved the lives of multiple soldiers, but suffered severe burns in the process and ultimately died from those burns. SFC Cashe has become something of a legend in military circles, the object of profound respect and even reverence,” wrote Murphy, Crenshaw, and Waltz in their letter.
“Each of us was deeply moved upon learning of SFC Cashe’s heroism. We believe that SFC Cashe has earned the highest award for military valor that our nation bestows, and we hope you will ensure that his case is scrutinized with the utmost care,” concluded the Members.
Background:
In 2005, while deployed to Iraq, SFC Cashe saved multiple soldiers after their fighting vehicle hit an improvised explosive device and caught fire. SFC Cashe returned to the burning vehicle again and again to pull his soldiers out of the flames, all while he himself was on fire and exposed to incoming enemy gunfire. He later passed away as a result of his wounds.
Last year, Murphy introduced, and the President signed into law legislation to dedicate a U.S. post office in Oviedo, Fla. after SFC Cashe. This year, she held a special dedication ceremony in Oviedo that was attended by SFC Cashe’s family and friends. Reps. Crenshaw and Waltz together offered a successful floor amendment to the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act this year expressing their support for SFC Cashe’s Silver Star to be upgraded to the Medal of Honor.
Crenshaw, Murphy and Waltz all have national security backgrounds. Crenshaw served as an officer in United States Navy SEALs, Murphy served as a national security specialist at the Department of Defense and Waltz served as an officer in the U.S. Army Special Forces.
The full text of the letter can be found here.
###