Fort Bragg Special Forces honors 8 heroes with Silver Stars

UPDATE

The Silver Star recipients are, from left, (1st row) Sgt. 1st Class David Blish; Master Sgt. Charles Ritter; Chief Warrant 2 Jason Myers; Chief Warrant 2 Robert Hinsley; (2nd row) Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Drew; Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Brown; Staff Sgt. Robert Ashwell; and Staff Sgt. Nicholas Lavery. They received the awards Thursday at Fort Bragg, N.C..
(Sgt. Enoch Fleites / Army)

Read more on Army Times Special Forces soldiers honored for valor in Afghanistan

NC Special Forces soldiers who risked their lives to get valor awards
Fayetteville Observer
Drew Brooks
March 27, 2014

In one case, a soldier is being honored for catching a grenade in his hands and throwing it away before jumping on an Afghan soldier to shield him from the blast.

In another, a soldier physically pushed another away from danger and then stepped in front of him to shield him from bullets.

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — They risked their lives in Afghanistan to save their fellow soldiers, and now they'll be honored among their peers on Fort Bragg.

Soldiers of the 3rd Special Forces Group will receive dozens of medals during an award ceremony Thursday.

Lt. Gen. Charles Cleveland, commanding general of U.S. Army Special Operations Command, will present eight Silver Stars, 28 Bronze Stars for valor, 36 Army Commendation Medals for valor and 27 Purple Hearts to soldiers in the 11 a.m. ceremony, according to officials. The Silver Star is the military's third highest award for valor in combat.

The eight soldiers receiving Silver Stars are

Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Brown

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jason W. Myers

Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan B. Drew

Sgt. 1st Class David A. Blish

Warrant Officer Robert A. Hinsley

Staff Sgt. Nicholas C. Lavery

Staff Sgt. Robert B. Ashwell

Master Sgt. Charles P. Ritter

Myers and Ritter also will receive Purple Heart medals for being injured in Afghanistan, officials said.

Brown will also receive an Army Commendation Medal for valor and two Purple Hearts and Lavery will also receive a Bronze Star for valor and three Purple Hearts.
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