Valor recognized at Fort Bragg ceremony - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

Valor recognized at Fort Bragg ceremony

The U.S. Army Special Operations Command recognized the valorous actions of 39 soldiers assigned to 3rd Special Forces Group in a ceremony Thursday at Fort Bragg, N.C.

USASOC commander Lt. Gen. Robert W. Wagner and Maj. Gen. Thomas R. Csrnko, commander of U.S. Army Special Forces Command, awarded six Silver Stars, six Purple Hearts, 15 Bronze Stars with Valor device and 22 Army Commendation Medals for valor in the afternoon ceremony at Meadows Memorial Parade Field.

The Army’s third highest award for combat valor, the Silver Star is awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States during military operations.

The following soldiers were honored (names are repeated for soldiers who received more than one award):

Silver Stars (6)

Master Sgt. Larry R. Reis

Master Sgt. Haldon H. Huber

Sgt. 1st Class Mark A. Howard

Sgt. 1st Class Matthew J. Julian

Staff Sgt. Jerad Eldred

Staff Sgt. Jude T. Voss

Bronze Star Medal with Valor device (15)

Capt. Sean Harkins

Master Sgt. Erick Maerten

Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Batson

Sgt. 1st Class Douglas Binchus

Sgt. 1st Class Robert Blount

Sgt. 1st Class John Darwin

Sgt. 1st Class Stephen Declay

Sgt. 1st Class Ernest Robinson

Sgt. 1st Class Jonathon Traina

Staff Sgt. Robert Blough

Staff Sgt. Timothy Cox

Staff Sgt. Vann Elliot

Staff Sgt. Richard Moore

Staff Sgt. William Spalding

Staff Sgt. Christopher Swaim

Purple Heart (6)

Master Sgt. Erick Maerten

Sgt. 1st Class John Darwin

Staff Sgt. Matthew Duchon

Staff Sgt Christopher Swaim

Staff Sgt. Ryan Savard

Staff Sgt. Edward Schmidt

Army Commendation Medal with Valor device (22)

Capt. Nathan Whitfield

Warrant Officer William Marr

Master Sgt. Erick Maerten

Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Batson

Sgt. 1st Class Douglas Binchus

Sgt. 1st Class Bruce Holmes

Sgt. 1st Class Buddy Lockwood

Sgt. 1st Class Adrian Mendoza

Sgt. 1st Class Michael Saragosa

Sgt. 1st Class Michael Swenson

Sgt. 1st Class Robert Thibeault

Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Wylie (2 awards)

Staff Sgt. Matthew Brown

Staff Sgt. Matthew Duchon

Staff Sgt. Joshua Lawter

Sgt. Robert Miller (2 awards)

Staff Sgt. Terrence Nealy

Staff Sgt. John Potynsky

Staff Sgt. Edward Schmidt

Sgt. Jonathan Marks

Group deployed after 9/11

The 3rd Special Forces Group was assigned in December 2001 to Joint Special Operations Task Force-South in Kandahar, Afghanistan, and given the responsibility for command and control of its Special Forces companies and Operational Detachment Alpha teams fighting in the Khowst region, according to an Army press release.

At the onset of its deployment to the Southern region of Afghanistan, the Group participated in Operation ANACONDA in Takur Ghar and the Shahikhot Valley.

In March 2003, the Group’s 3rd Battalion was attached to the 10th Special Forces Group in northern Iraq, becoming part of Combined Special Operations Task Force-North and Task Force Dagger.

The 3rd SF Group is preparing to deploy on its sixth rotation to Afghanistan.