Medal of Honor Campaign for a fallen soldier

[First Coast Tea Party]

Letter to Senator Bill Nelson, Senator Marco Rubio, Congresswoman Sandi Adams

by Harry Conner on Saturday, October 8, 2011 at 12:56pm

Men of Hardrock, below I have posted the letter I have sent to Senator Bill Nelson, Senator Marco Rubio and Congresswoman Sandi Adams. I have noted you and your page. In my next post I will provide you their addresses. I ask each of you who would like to contact these members of Congress with your thoughts and memories of SFC Cashe. Those of you who live in Florida would be especially helpful! I would also ask you to email your Representative and Senators in Congress to call their attention to the heroism of SFC Cashe. Legislation must be passed in Congress to waive the Army 2 year nomination time limit so the Chain of Command can consider Col Brito's request for upgrade to the MOH. Many thanks!

To: Senator Bill Nelson

Senator Marco Rubio

Congresswoman Sandi Adams

 

Dear Senator Nelson, Senator Rubio and Congresswoman Adams:

 

I write to you Members of Congress today, not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Americans and as the Representatives in Congress for the family of SFC Alwyn C. Cashe, formerly of A Co., 1/15th Inf, 3rd Inf Division, who died in the service of his Nation on November 8th, 2005. While each of you my not be "personally" familiar with this soldier, members of your staffs are.

 

On October 17, 2005 SFC Cashe was involved in a combat action in Ad Duliyah, Iraq. An action for which SFC Cashe was awarded the Silver Star (post) on November 11, 2005, 3 days after his death at Brook Army Hospital from 2nd and 3rd degree burns over 85% of his body; burns he WILLINGLY sustained in an attempt to save the lives of 5 of his BROTHERS IN ARMS and an Iraqi interpreter trapped inside Bradley Fighting Vehicle, designated A13.

 

On Monday, October 17 of this year hundreds of millions of our fellow citizens will wake up, get ready for work or school and journey through a normal day. For his widow, children, brother and sisters and mom and his comrades in arms, the men of the 1/15th, and those of us who know of his actions that day, it will be a 6th anniversary of mourning and grief and one of pride in knowing such a man.

 

Since at least 2009 Commanders within SFC Cashe's military Chain of Command, spearheaded by Colonel Gary Brito, have been engaged in an effort to have SFC Cashe's Silver Star upgraded to a MEDAL OF HONOR. Col. Brito has compiled a thorough and detail package of supporting evidence proving the merit of a Medal of Honor nomination for SFC Cashe. This package includes letters of endorsement from Brig. Gen. Steve Salazar, Maj. Gen. Joe Taluto and LTG William Webster. Each of your offices is in possession of Col. Brito's full package.

 

I write to you today to seek your joint efforts and support in introducing the required legislation to waive the Department of the Army's 2 year nomination time limit so that the military Chain of Command can in fact consider Col. Brito's package for the potential nomination of SFC Alwyn C. Cashe for the MEDAL OF HONOR. I believe Senator Nelson has recently completed such legislation for upgrade consideration for a service member of World War II.

 

I simply ask you take one hour of your time to read Col. Brito's documentation. I assure you I have it virtually memorized. I have read it at least 30 times; and, I cry every single time. As a veteran of the Army, as an American and as a human being I have never heard of an act of sacrifice and heroism such as that of SFC Cashe. I implore you, I plead with you, just read the package.

You might also go to the facebook page, HARDROCK, a group page comprised of over 100 members of the 1/15th who served with SFC Cashe. These men were his BROTHERS IN ARMS. These are the men who served with him, fought with him, the men who knew him best. Read their postings; their memories, opinions and storys of SFC Alwyn C. Cashe. It is obvious, SFC Alwyn C. Cashe was more than just a Non Commissioned Officer or Platoon Leader. He was a mentor, a "father" figure, a "big brother", a friend, and yes, a HERO.

 

Dear Sirs and Madam. One of you is a Democrat. Two of you are Republicans. One of you is Caucasian; one Hispanic, and one a lady.

 

On October 17, 2005 SFC Alwyn C. Cashe was not a Democrat or Republican. HE WAS AN AMERICAN SOLDIER. He was not Caucasian, Hispanic or Black. HE WAS ARMY OLIVE DRAB. He wasn't Christian, Protestant, Jewish or Muslim. HE WAS ONE OF GOD'S ANGELS SENT TO EARTH TO SAVE HIS BROTHERS. On that day he wasn't solely an American; he was a human being as he attempted to save the life of an Iraqi interpreter. And on the fateful day he did not save himself, which he easily could have done. HE WILLINGLY GAVE HIMSELF UP TO GOD in an attempt to save his BROTHERS IN ARMS. SFC Alwyn C. Cashe was trained as a soldier, to take life if necessary in defense of his Country. HE GAVE HIS LIFE WITHOUT FIRING A SHOT, IN BATTLE, TO SAVE HIS BROTHERS.

 

On the day he died, during his brother's last visit to his bedside, his brother asked him "Alwyn, why did you do it?" Alwyn Cashe replied, "Because I had made my peace with God, but I didn't know if my men had."

 

Senator Nelson, Senator Rubio, Congresswoman Adams, the actions and the sacrifice of this AMERICAN HERO deserve no less that the opportunity for consideration for the MEDAL OF HONOR. Again, I implore you to read Col. Brito's package, which each of your offices now have. I can not help but believe that if you do so you will jointly introduce the simple Legislation needed to obtain the waiver on the nomination time limit. Then the Army Chain of Command can act upon Col. Brito's request for upgrade consideration for the MEDAL OF HONOR.

 

I ask you to do this as American citizens and patriots. I ask you to do this in honor of the memory of an American soldier. I ask you to do this for Alexis 16, Lajada 14 and Andrew 13, his 3 angels he loved so much. And, I ask you to do this for America. Our citizens should know of this soldier and of his actions displaying the very heart and virtues of the Medal of Honor; 'FOR SERVICE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY".

 

I sincerely appreciate your time and consideration.

 

 

Respectfully and sincerely submitted,

Harry M. Conner

Citizen

[JL Gawlik]

I will forward your letter to both of my Senators and Congressman, bless you for bringing this to everyone's attention.

God bless you and yours.

God bless this brave young man and his family.