Army News, news from Iraq, - Army Times

Award for fallen Green Beret upgraded

Sgt. 1st Class Pedro Munoz was killed in Afghanistan on Jan. 2, 2005, while clearing a compound in pursuit of a midlevel Taliban commander.

Inside a room filled with women and children, an enemy fighter opened fire on Munoz who, in spite of his wounds, returned fire and killed his assailant without harming anyone else.

His fellow soldiers were able to clear the rest of the building because of his action, for which he was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star Medal with Valor, according to a news release from U.S. Army Special Operations Command.

That medal was recently upgraded to a Silver Star and on Sept. 9, his widow, Gisela, and their daughter, Dalia, accepted the award on his behalf at a Fort Bragg, N.C., ceremony.

The event took place in a commemorative rock garden designed by Dalia near the headquarters of 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), her father’s unit.

“Sergeant First Class Munoz continued to support his detachment, firing selectively, engaging only armed combatants without harming any non-combatants. His dedication and his courage are evident through his actions: protecting innocent life, staying in the fight without thought for himself while supporting his teammates — allowing them to successfully accomplish their mission,” group deputy commander Col. Mark Gorton, deputy commander of 7th SFG, said in the release.

Munoz joined the Army in February 1986 as an automated logistical specialist. He graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 1990 and was assigned to 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne).

Soon after assignment, he deployed for the Persian Gulf War, followed by a seven-month deployment to Haiti.

In 1999, he was assigned to the elite U.S. Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights. After completing more than 300 static-line and 4,000 free-fall parachute jumps, Munoz returned to the Special Forces community in 2002, serving with 7th SFG(A).

“You look at a picture of Munoz,” said Lt. Gen. Robert W. Wagner, commander of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, “and you see a 47-year-old senior soldier who has served our nation with extraordinary honor, distinction, pride and accomplishment. I suspect that some of the things that he’s most proud of are his wife and his daughter, two incredible people who have served our nation.”