1 00:00:15,356 --> 00:00:20,796 Speaker 1: Pushkin Hello, Hello. Before we get on with our show, 2 00:00:21,076 --> 00:00:23,596 Speaker 1: I want you to know that your Pushkin Plus subscription 3 00:00:23,716 --> 00:00:27,476 Speaker 1: grants you early access to Medal of Honor episodes one 4 00:00:27,516 --> 00:00:30,556 Speaker 1: week before they were released to the public. That's one 5 00:00:30,596 --> 00:00:34,076 Speaker 1: week of exclusive access. If you want to listen to 6 00:00:34,156 --> 00:00:37,836 Speaker 1: more episodes a week before they're widely available, sign up 7 00:00:37,836 --> 00:00:41,956 Speaker 1: for Pushkin Plus on Apple Podcasts or by visiting Pushkin, 8 00:00:42,316 --> 00:00:51,756 Speaker 1: dot Fm, slash Plus. Now onto the episode. A dust 9 00:00:51,796 --> 00:00:55,916 Speaker 1: storm rolled over the small city of Samara in central Iraq. 10 00:00:56,556 --> 00:00:59,436 Speaker 1: The sky turned hazy red, and then as the sun set, 11 00:00:59,836 --> 00:01:03,756 Speaker 1: a dark and moonless black. It was mid October two 12 00:01:03,796 --> 00:01:06,676 Speaker 1: thousand and five, thirty one months since the US had 13 00:01:06,676 --> 00:01:11,356 Speaker 1: invaded the country. American forces had captured Sata Mussein almost 14 00:01:11,396 --> 00:01:14,876 Speaker 1: two years earlier, and still the war dragged on. 15 00:01:15,676 --> 00:01:17,876 Speaker 2: A campaign on the harsh terrain of a nation as 16 00:01:17,956 --> 00:01:22,676 Speaker 2: large as California could be longer and more difficult than 17 00:01:22,716 --> 00:01:27,116 Speaker 2: some predict, and helping Iraqis achieve a united, stable and 18 00:01:27,156 --> 00:01:30,596 Speaker 2: free country will require our sustained commitment. 19 00:01:32,516 --> 00:01:36,036 Speaker 1: American soldiers were settled into dozens of forward operating bases 20 00:01:36,076 --> 00:01:39,876 Speaker 1: around a rock. Every day was a combination of monotony 21 00:01:40,316 --> 00:01:44,436 Speaker 1: and dread. On that black October night, a convoy of 22 00:01:44,476 --> 00:01:48,516 Speaker 1: two American Bradley fighting vehicles traveled through the dust storm 23 00:01:48,836 --> 00:01:52,556 Speaker 1: up an unlit road. A Bradley is an armored personnel 24 00:01:52,636 --> 00:01:56,076 Speaker 1: carrier that rolls forward on tracks, not wheels. It has 25 00:01:56,116 --> 00:01:58,916 Speaker 1: a troop compartment in the back and a gun turret 26 00:01:58,956 --> 00:02:02,716 Speaker 1: at the front. Bradley's were mostly used for scouting missions, 27 00:02:02,956 --> 00:02:06,916 Speaker 1: and this night was one of those routine The Army 28 00:02:06,956 --> 00:02:10,356 Speaker 1: troops stationed nearby had done the same trip dozens, if 29 00:02:10,356 --> 00:02:14,836 Speaker 1: not hundreds of times in the balance between monotony and dread. 30 00:02:15,556 --> 00:02:21,356 Speaker 1: This was monotony until it wasn't. Suddenly a deafening blast, 31 00:02:21,756 --> 00:02:25,196 Speaker 1: a fiery explosion illuminated the night. The first of the 32 00:02:25,236 --> 00:02:29,876 Speaker 1: two Bradleys had hit an ied, an improvised explosive device. 33 00:02:30,636 --> 00:02:33,436 Speaker 1: If you've been watching from a distance that night, here's 34 00:02:33,516 --> 00:02:36,836 Speaker 1: what you would have seen. An armored vehicle engulfed in fire, 35 00:02:37,156 --> 00:02:39,596 Speaker 1: a soldier climbing out of a hatch and pulling a 36 00:02:39,596 --> 00:02:43,196 Speaker 1: burning man to safety, then that soldier too, catching fire, 37 00:02:43,756 --> 00:02:47,436 Speaker 1: a column of flame against the dark night sky. Over 38 00:02:47,476 --> 00:02:50,076 Speaker 1: the roar of the explosion, you'd hear the screams of 39 00:02:50,116 --> 00:02:54,316 Speaker 1: soldiers trapped inside the vehicle and then you'd see that 40 00:02:54,436 --> 00:03:01,676 Speaker 1: first man turned back to the fire, him Malcolm Gladwell. 41 00:03:01,756 --> 00:03:06,636 Speaker 1: And this is Medal of Honor Stories of courage. The 42 00:03:06,636 --> 00:03:09,636 Speaker 1: Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration in the 43 00:03:09,716 --> 00:03:14,196 Speaker 1: United States, awarded for gallantry and bravery in combat with 44 00:03:14,316 --> 00:03:17,436 Speaker 1: the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty. 45 00:03:17,796 --> 00:03:20,716 Speaker 1: Each candidate must be approved all the way up the 46 00:03:20,796 --> 00:03:23,916 Speaker 1: chain of command, from the supervisory officer in the field 47 00:03:24,276 --> 00:03:28,436 Speaker 1: to the White House. This show is about those heroes, 48 00:03:28,876 --> 00:03:32,156 Speaker 1: what they did, what it meant, and what their stories 49 00:03:32,196 --> 00:03:36,516 Speaker 1: tell us about the nature of courage. Each Medal of 50 00:03:36,556 --> 00:03:40,956 Speaker 1: Honor action is by definition heroic, but the story of 51 00:03:41,036 --> 00:03:44,756 Speaker 1: Sergeant first Class Allwin Cash is about a very specific 52 00:03:44,956 --> 00:03:50,916 Speaker 1: element of heroism. Sacrifice, not the sacrifice that comes with 53 00:03:51,036 --> 00:03:53,556 Speaker 1: being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or 54 00:03:53,676 --> 00:03:56,356 Speaker 1: is the second decision that later turns out to have 55 00:03:56,396 --> 00:04:01,916 Speaker 1: been courageous and fatal, a kind of sacrifice that's more intentional, 56 00:04:02,916 --> 00:04:06,676 Speaker 1: more deliberate. We talk a lot about the acts of 57 00:04:06,716 --> 00:04:11,796 Speaker 1: bravery for which people receive something a metal recognition, but 58 00:04:11,876 --> 00:04:16,036 Speaker 1: there's always that flip side when someone loses something too 59 00:04:16,356 --> 00:04:20,956 Speaker 1: the sacrifice. It can be surprisingly easy to gloss over 60 00:04:21,196 --> 00:04:24,116 Speaker 1: what our heroes are giving up or the pain they're 61 00:04:24,156 --> 00:04:28,076 Speaker 1: going through. But it's hard to miss in the story 62 00:04:28,916 --> 00:04:41,556 Speaker 1: of Alwen Cash. If you want to get a good 63 00:04:41,596 --> 00:04:44,916 Speaker 1: sense of who Alwen Cash was in Iraq, you need 64 00:04:44,956 --> 00:04:47,796 Speaker 1: to talk to the people who served with him. General 65 00:04:47,836 --> 00:04:50,316 Speaker 1: Gary Britto would be at the top of that list. 66 00:04:50,676 --> 00:04:54,036 Speaker 3: We have some ordinary people that just do some extraordinary 67 00:04:54,036 --> 00:04:57,076 Speaker 3: things when unexpected, and Cash was one of those. 68 00:04:57,796 --> 00:05:01,116 Speaker 1: Brideau was Alwin's battalion commander in two thousand and five. 69 00:05:01,676 --> 00:05:04,276 Speaker 1: Now he's a four star general in charge of training 70 00:05:04,476 --> 00:05:09,476 Speaker 1: and leadership development across the entire Army, active Duty, National Guard, 71 00:05:09,596 --> 00:05:13,596 Speaker 1: and reserves. He guides and shapes the culture of the Army. 72 00:05:14,236 --> 00:05:16,636 Speaker 1: If anyone can tell you what makes a good soldier, 73 00:05:16,956 --> 00:05:20,556 Speaker 1: it's Brito. He knew and liked Olwen, not just as 74 00:05:20,556 --> 00:05:22,756 Speaker 1: a sergeant, but as a person. 75 00:05:23,356 --> 00:05:29,436 Speaker 3: Very unassuming, very professional, newest stuff. And I had yet, 76 00:05:29,476 --> 00:05:32,996 Speaker 3: and I'll use the word the gruffness that I respected 77 00:05:33,116 --> 00:05:36,516 Speaker 3: and expected on noncommissioned officers. 78 00:05:36,556 --> 00:05:39,436 Speaker 1: A non commissioned officer is one who hasn't gone to 79 00:05:39,476 --> 00:05:43,116 Speaker 1: college or through officer training. Cash had enlisted in the 80 00:05:43,276 --> 00:05:45,436 Speaker 1: Army right out of high school. He had grown up 81 00:05:45,476 --> 00:05:47,676 Speaker 1: in a big family in a small town in Florida. 82 00:05:48,236 --> 00:05:50,596 Speaker 1: He kept his dark hair in a buzz cut fade 83 00:05:50,916 --> 00:05:53,996 Speaker 1: and wore a modest mustache. He was a country guy 84 00:05:53,996 --> 00:05:55,436 Speaker 1: at heart, like. 85 00:05:55,436 --> 00:05:58,316 Speaker 3: The fish, like to hunt, and he would bend your 86 00:05:58,316 --> 00:06:00,636 Speaker 3: ear on that if you've given him an opportunity to 87 00:06:00,676 --> 00:06:00,956 Speaker 3: do so. 88 00:06:01,996 --> 00:06:05,596 Speaker 1: Albyn worked his way up the ranks, a real soldier's soldier. 89 00:06:06,516 --> 00:06:09,676 Speaker 1: For a time, he was a drill sergeant at Fort Benning, Georgia, 90 00:06:09,716 --> 00:06:13,116 Speaker 1: training troops. He was all about the basics, making sure 91 00:06:13,236 --> 00:06:17,356 Speaker 1: everyone had the foundations down. Then he pushed his guys 92 00:06:17,436 --> 00:06:22,276 Speaker 1: beyond those foundations to excellence. He was known for his 93 00:06:22,396 --> 00:06:26,436 Speaker 1: brutally honest sense of humor. Nothing shook him. But the 94 00:06:26,476 --> 00:06:29,116 Speaker 1: thing every person who served with Alwin will tell you 95 00:06:29,756 --> 00:06:32,276 Speaker 1: he truly cared for the soldiers in his command. 96 00:06:32,836 --> 00:06:36,516 Speaker 3: What I respected and I saw it shine and start 97 00:06:36,516 --> 00:06:39,556 Speaker 3: any cash was the ability to connect to his soldiers. 98 00:06:40,116 --> 00:06:42,436 Speaker 3: A platoon was about thirty five years people was ill, 99 00:06:42,796 --> 00:06:45,556 Speaker 3: but he knew them, knew them by their name, knew 100 00:06:45,596 --> 00:06:48,396 Speaker 3: them by their nickname, knew what was going on at home, 101 00:06:48,476 --> 00:06:50,196 Speaker 3: disconnected to his troops. 102 00:06:50,596 --> 00:06:52,956 Speaker 1: When he deployed to Iraq for the second time, in 103 00:06:52,956 --> 00:06:55,436 Speaker 1: two thousand and five. The men who served with him 104 00:06:55,636 --> 00:06:58,436 Speaker 1: saw him the way that General Breto did, as someone 105 00:06:58,436 --> 00:07:00,436 Speaker 1: who connected, who cared. 106 00:07:01,356 --> 00:07:03,396 Speaker 4: He was more like that big big brother. 107 00:07:03,916 --> 00:07:06,636 Speaker 1: This is Gary Mills, who was in Alwen's platoon. 108 00:07:07,036 --> 00:07:08,596 Speaker 4: You know he didn't tell me Who's something that he 109 00:07:08,596 --> 00:07:10,076 Speaker 4: wouldn't do. I think it was a type of leader 110 00:07:10,076 --> 00:07:12,556 Speaker 4: that you can argue with him, but one minute later 111 00:07:12,596 --> 00:07:13,476 Speaker 4: you're going to have a beer. 112 00:07:14,236 --> 00:07:16,876 Speaker 1: Alvin was only thirty five, but he'd seen a lot 113 00:07:16,956 --> 00:07:19,636 Speaker 1: during his years in the service. He knew how hard 114 00:07:19,676 --> 00:07:21,876 Speaker 1: it was to live an army life and have a family. 115 00:07:22,476 --> 00:07:24,396 Speaker 1: He had a wife and three young kids back in 116 00:07:24,436 --> 00:07:28,396 Speaker 1: the States. Here's Douglas Dodge, who was the second squad 117 00:07:28,476 --> 00:07:29,516 Speaker 1: leader of his platoon. 118 00:07:30,116 --> 00:07:34,636 Speaker 5: I was going through some marital problems and Sergeant Cash 119 00:07:34,756 --> 00:07:38,956 Speaker 5: actually called my wife for Iraq and talked to her 120 00:07:38,996 --> 00:07:42,036 Speaker 5: at length, and then came to my chew our little 121 00:07:42,436 --> 00:07:45,396 Speaker 5: sleeping area and told me, hey, Dodge, go call your wife. 122 00:07:45,396 --> 00:07:47,116 Speaker 5: And I was like, why, what are you talking about? 123 00:07:47,156 --> 00:07:49,436 Speaker 5: And he said, I just had a long conversation with 124 00:07:49,476 --> 00:07:50,956 Speaker 5: her about stuff that's going on with you two. I 125 00:07:50,996 --> 00:07:52,876 Speaker 5: know you're having problems, and it's I want you to 126 00:07:52,956 --> 00:07:56,036 Speaker 5: have your head clear while we're out here doing stuff. 127 00:07:56,276 --> 00:07:58,876 Speaker 5: At the time, I was kind of angry because I 128 00:07:58,916 --> 00:08:02,196 Speaker 5: was tired. I just wanted to sleep, But he had 129 00:08:02,236 --> 00:08:04,716 Speaker 5: taken his time when he could have been sleeping, but 130 00:08:04,796 --> 00:08:07,756 Speaker 5: he took his precious time to try to take care 131 00:08:07,796 --> 00:08:07,996 Speaker 5: of me. 132 00:08:09,716 --> 00:08:13,756 Speaker 1: So that's Olwen invested in his soldiers as whole people, 133 00:08:14,156 --> 00:08:16,756 Speaker 1: willing to give up his personal time to help them. 134 00:08:16,876 --> 00:08:20,356 Speaker 1: Unsolicited marital advice. It's not maybe the first thing you 135 00:08:20,356 --> 00:08:22,156 Speaker 1: think of when you think of a hero, but it 136 00:08:22,196 --> 00:08:24,836 Speaker 1: has everything to do with what will come next. 137 00:08:35,756 --> 00:08:38,276 Speaker 3: One thing that really stuck out to me that evening 138 00:08:39,636 --> 00:08:43,316 Speaker 3: was pitch pitch black outside. All the nights I was out, 139 00:08:43,476 --> 00:08:45,556 Speaker 3: that was probably the darkest one. 140 00:08:46,156 --> 00:08:49,276 Speaker 1: Forward Operating Base Mackenzie was in the middle of the 141 00:08:49,276 --> 00:08:53,276 Speaker 1: desert north of Baghdad. You can picture it, hot, sandy, 142 00:08:53,596 --> 00:08:57,836 Speaker 1: relentlessly beige concrete bunkers. The more than four hundred men 143 00:08:57,876 --> 00:09:02,236 Speaker 1: who were stationed there lived in contained housing units trailers really. 144 00:09:02,716 --> 00:09:04,836 Speaker 1: While some of the other American bases in the region 145 00:09:05,076 --> 00:09:08,116 Speaker 1: had seen very little fighting, that wasn't the case here. 146 00:09:09,556 --> 00:09:12,996 Speaker 1: Had been high for a while. Jimmy Hathaway was a 147 00:09:12,996 --> 00:09:16,636 Speaker 1: company commander at FOB Mackenzie, as he remembers that things 148 00:09:16,676 --> 00:09:19,836 Speaker 1: had been dicey in the Area of Operations, or as 149 00:09:19,836 --> 00:09:22,356 Speaker 1: they referred to it, the AO for months. 150 00:09:23,396 --> 00:09:25,956 Speaker 6: We'd just come off of racky elections that year. It 151 00:09:25,996 --> 00:09:28,476 Speaker 6: had been a pretty rough time. Starting in September. 152 00:09:28,956 --> 00:09:31,756 Speaker 1: There had been skirmishes around the base with the American 153 00:09:31,796 --> 00:09:35,596 Speaker 1: troops engaging with small arms fire or IEDs a few 154 00:09:35,676 --> 00:09:38,756 Speaker 1: days out of the week. The roads weren't safe, so 155 00:09:38,836 --> 00:09:41,636 Speaker 1: the troops had to secure the roots for supplies coming in. 156 00:09:42,396 --> 00:09:45,156 Speaker 6: We'd had a pretty big incident with a convoy that 157 00:09:45,196 --> 00:09:48,716 Speaker 6: had been ambushed, and we knew that anytime a resupply 158 00:09:48,796 --> 00:09:51,996 Speaker 6: convoy came into our AO that there was potential for 159 00:09:52,796 --> 00:09:56,036 Speaker 6: loss of life, there's potential for damage to the vehicles 160 00:09:56,236 --> 00:09:57,636 Speaker 6: if we didn't go out and secure it. 161 00:09:58,796 --> 00:10:01,596 Speaker 1: The night of October seventeenth, two thousand and five, a 162 00:10:01,676 --> 00:10:04,836 Speaker 1: patrol of two Bradley fighting vehicles was going to do 163 00:10:04,996 --> 00:10:07,956 Speaker 1: just that, drive the main supply route to make sure 164 00:10:07,996 --> 00:10:12,036 Speaker 1: it was clear, then drive right back. Leon Matthias was 165 00:10:12,156 --> 00:10:13,796 Speaker 1: Alwens team leader at the base. 166 00:10:14,836 --> 00:10:18,436 Speaker 7: I remember specifically the weather being really really bad, so 167 00:10:18,836 --> 00:10:21,916 Speaker 7: it was like a dust storm moving through the area 168 00:10:22,276 --> 00:10:26,556 Speaker 7: and there was redy hair, So basically metowacs weren't supposed 169 00:10:26,556 --> 00:10:28,476 Speaker 7: to fly during that time period. But I just remember 170 00:10:28,716 --> 00:10:30,516 Speaker 7: it was a night patrol and we have to go 171 00:10:30,596 --> 00:10:33,476 Speaker 7: out because of a logistical convoy was coming in the 172 00:10:33,476 --> 00:10:34,156 Speaker 7: following day. 173 00:10:35,036 --> 00:10:37,476 Speaker 1: Alwyn was in the first vehicle of the patrol. He 174 00:10:37,596 --> 00:10:38,476 Speaker 1: wasn't supposed to be. 175 00:10:39,076 --> 00:10:41,596 Speaker 7: So normally on the patrol, the Petunia would lead out, 176 00:10:41,596 --> 00:10:43,316 Speaker 7: so I would be the lead patrol and then Starting 177 00:10:43,316 --> 00:10:46,076 Speaker 7: Cash would be the last vehicle in the convoy. But 178 00:10:46,196 --> 00:10:48,956 Speaker 7: that night I had just recently come back off of leave, 179 00:10:49,436 --> 00:10:52,036 Speaker 7: and Starting Cash said, hey, sir, I know you're just 180 00:10:52,116 --> 00:10:52,796 Speaker 7: back off of leave. 181 00:10:52,836 --> 00:10:55,356 Speaker 1: I'm gonna lead the patrol tonight. It was a classic 182 00:10:55,396 --> 00:10:58,276 Speaker 1: example of Cash going above and beyond for somebody else. 183 00:10:58,916 --> 00:11:00,996 Speaker 7: So he drives, he drives around me, and I see 184 00:11:01,036 --> 00:11:03,076 Speaker 7: him drive out, so I get back on my track 185 00:11:03,116 --> 00:11:05,196 Speaker 7: and so I am now behind him driving down the 186 00:11:05,276 --> 00:11:07,636 Speaker 7: road and we're going really, really slow, just because of 187 00:11:07,676 --> 00:11:08,356 Speaker 7: the visibility. 188 00:11:09,116 --> 00:11:11,516 Speaker 1: There were nine men in the lead bradley up front, 189 00:11:11,876 --> 00:11:14,316 Speaker 1: there was Alwy and a gunner in the turret, plus 190 00:11:14,356 --> 00:11:18,036 Speaker 1: a driver in the troop compartment. In the back, there 191 00:11:18,036 --> 00:11:22,516 Speaker 1: were six men, an Iraqi interpreter and five soldiers, including 192 00:11:22,556 --> 00:11:24,476 Speaker 1: Douglas and Gary Mills. 193 00:11:24,956 --> 00:11:27,756 Speaker 4: We were just in the back, just having funl like usual, 194 00:11:27,956 --> 00:11:29,756 Speaker 4: just getting my mind into you know, what was going 195 00:11:29,796 --> 00:11:34,556 Speaker 4: to happen. Then and boom, it kind of happened quick. 196 00:11:35,596 --> 00:11:37,876 Speaker 1: The Bradley had run over an Ied. 197 00:11:39,356 --> 00:11:42,036 Speaker 5: We had been hit by enough IED's already that you 198 00:11:42,116 --> 00:11:44,076 Speaker 5: knew when you heard it what it was. And I 199 00:11:44,196 --> 00:11:46,996 Speaker 5: heard that slap. But then in the next instant, I 200 00:11:47,036 --> 00:11:49,276 Speaker 5: was knocked unconscious. I was thrown into the ceiling of 201 00:11:49,276 --> 00:11:51,996 Speaker 5: the Bradley, and I don't know how long I was unconscious. 202 00:11:51,996 --> 00:11:56,356 Speaker 1: For Bradley's are armored vehicles. They're built to run over 203 00:11:56,396 --> 00:11:59,556 Speaker 1: things like IED's and stay in the road. But something 204 00:11:59,836 --> 00:12:00,796 Speaker 1: was different that night. 205 00:12:01,556 --> 00:12:02,276 Speaker 4: But I woke up. 206 00:12:02,316 --> 00:12:05,116 Speaker 5: Then we were all on fire. 207 00:12:06,476 --> 00:12:10,236 Speaker 1: The fuel cell of the Bradley had ignited. Fire was 208 00:12:10,276 --> 00:12:12,396 Speaker 1: surging upwards from the bottom of the vehicle. 209 00:12:13,196 --> 00:12:16,276 Speaker 7: I am watching this vehicle in flames, so it wasn't 210 00:12:16,316 --> 00:12:18,116 Speaker 7: as if it was a slow burn. It was literally 211 00:12:18,676 --> 00:12:21,716 Speaker 7: He saw the explosion and the vehicle itself was in flames. 212 00:12:22,996 --> 00:12:25,836 Speaker 1: Alwen wasn't injured in the blast, but as the fuel 213 00:12:25,916 --> 00:12:29,316 Speaker 1: cell drained, he was drenched in gasoline. He knew what 214 00:12:29,356 --> 00:12:33,036 Speaker 1: that meant he also could go up in flames at 215 00:12:33,076 --> 00:12:37,356 Speaker 1: any time. Alwen got to the driver's hatch and opened it. 216 00:12:37,876 --> 00:12:40,436 Speaker 1: He pulled the driver to safety, but the driver was 217 00:12:40,476 --> 00:12:43,316 Speaker 1: on fire, so now Alwan was on fire as well. 218 00:12:43,596 --> 00:12:46,316 Speaker 1: He extinguished the flames and then turned to the back 219 00:12:46,356 --> 00:12:49,356 Speaker 1: of the bradley. There were six men trapped back there. 220 00:12:49,836 --> 00:12:52,396 Speaker 1: The compartment was in flames. It was an oven. 221 00:12:53,156 --> 00:12:55,996 Speaker 5: The first thing I remember is the pain from being 222 00:12:56,036 --> 00:12:58,356 Speaker 5: on fire, and I could hear everybody screaming, and I 223 00:12:58,476 --> 00:13:00,996 Speaker 5: just climbed up onto the bench seat because the floor 224 00:13:01,156 --> 00:13:04,516 Speaker 5: was all fire and you couldn't see anything. All I 225 00:13:04,516 --> 00:13:05,956 Speaker 5: could see was an orange glow. 226 00:13:06,716 --> 00:13:09,516 Speaker 1: Alwin didn't hesitate. He went straight to the back of 227 00:13:09,516 --> 00:13:13,516 Speaker 1: the vehicle. He'd already sustained second and third degree burns 228 00:13:13,876 --> 00:13:17,036 Speaker 1: inside the compartment. Douglas reached for a tool and pried 229 00:13:17,076 --> 00:13:19,516 Speaker 1: at the door, and I managed to. 230 00:13:19,436 --> 00:13:21,596 Speaker 5: Get the troop door open, and I just kind of 231 00:13:21,596 --> 00:13:26,116 Speaker 5: spilled out of the bradley onto the back road, and 232 00:13:26,156 --> 00:13:28,316 Speaker 5: that's when I saw Sergeant Cash at the back of 233 00:13:28,356 --> 00:13:28,876 Speaker 5: the bradley. 234 00:13:29,596 --> 00:13:32,796 Speaker 1: Alwyn's uniform had burned so badly that it had melted 235 00:13:32,836 --> 00:13:33,676 Speaker 1: onto his body. 236 00:13:34,276 --> 00:13:37,476 Speaker 5: It was very surreal because he had his helmet on, 237 00:13:37,916 --> 00:13:40,436 Speaker 5: his body armor on, and his boots on, but he 238 00:13:40,476 --> 00:13:42,476 Speaker 5: didn't have anything else on because they had been burned 239 00:13:42,476 --> 00:13:45,596 Speaker 5: off with him. And the only thing he asked me 240 00:13:45,716 --> 00:13:48,236 Speaker 5: was where the boys at? And I just kind of 241 00:13:48,236 --> 00:13:50,876 Speaker 5: looked at him and looked at the bradley and he said, hey, 242 00:13:51,036 --> 00:13:53,916 Speaker 5: I get the boys out, and then he just instantly 243 00:13:54,436 --> 00:13:55,396 Speaker 5: started climbing. 244 00:13:55,156 --> 00:14:00,836 Speaker 1: In into the fire with no protection. Leon frantically called 245 00:14:00,876 --> 00:14:02,876 Speaker 1: back to base. Then he and the men in this 246 00:14:03,036 --> 00:14:05,716 Speaker 1: second vehicle raced towards the burning Bradley. 247 00:14:06,236 --> 00:14:08,756 Speaker 7: By started cash. He's kind of the one that's going 248 00:14:08,796 --> 00:14:12,316 Speaker 7: back from the Bradley, pulling people out one by one, 249 00:14:12,476 --> 00:14:14,516 Speaker 7: and he just goes back over and over again. 250 00:14:17,516 --> 00:14:19,796 Speaker 1: Alwen wasn't going to stop until every one of his 251 00:14:19,836 --> 00:14:22,956 Speaker 1: boys was accounted for. He went in once and helped 252 00:14:23,036 --> 00:14:25,996 Speaker 1: soldiers escape the troop compartment, and then he noticed that 253 00:14:26,076 --> 00:14:28,636 Speaker 1: two others were missing, so he went back into the 254 00:14:28,636 --> 00:14:32,076 Speaker 1: inferno again to pull them out, but where was the interpreter? 255 00:14:32,916 --> 00:14:35,556 Speaker 1: Alwen went back into Bradley another time. 256 00:14:36,316 --> 00:14:38,676 Speaker 7: The last person that got out was the interpreter, and 257 00:14:39,036 --> 00:14:41,196 Speaker 7: his body was so lifeless he just pretty much drug 258 00:14:41,276 --> 00:14:42,596 Speaker 7: him out of that track. 259 00:14:43,756 --> 00:14:46,596 Speaker 1: Alwen had been critically injured back when he'd saved the 260 00:14:46,676 --> 00:14:49,836 Speaker 1: first man, the driver, But he made the decision to 261 00:14:49,916 --> 00:14:54,436 Speaker 1: go back into the burning troop compartment five separate times. 262 00:14:54,916 --> 00:14:58,036 Speaker 1: He knew exactly what kind of sacrifice he was making, 263 00:14:58,516 --> 00:15:04,156 Speaker 1: yet he did it willingly, methodically. By the time Gary 264 00:15:04,196 --> 00:15:08,356 Speaker 1: Mills reached Olwen, seventy two percent of Alwen's body was 265 00:15:08,396 --> 00:15:10,876 Speaker 1: covered in second in third degree burns. 266 00:15:11,316 --> 00:15:15,556 Speaker 4: I seen sorry Cash laying on the ground now that 267 00:15:15,596 --> 00:15:17,836 Speaker 4: he was burnt and everything, and he was just trying 268 00:15:17,876 --> 00:15:20,396 Speaker 4: to make sure they hate, Hey, your guys all right, 269 00:15:20,436 --> 00:15:24,036 Speaker 4: And I'm like, are you okay? You know, I mean 270 00:15:24,076 --> 00:15:27,036 Speaker 4: you you're burnt. I mean, you're dude, worse than I am. 271 00:15:27,716 --> 00:15:29,596 Speaker 4: But he was just making sure that we was okay. 272 00:15:30,876 --> 00:15:33,796 Speaker 1: The forward operating base was only two miles away, but 273 00:15:33,876 --> 00:15:36,636 Speaker 1: there was a dust stone. Remember, Everything seemed to be 274 00:15:36,716 --> 00:15:41,676 Speaker 1: moving more slowly than usual. Finally, the metovac helicopters arrived. 275 00:15:42,596 --> 00:15:45,916 Speaker 1: The interpreter had died at the scene, Several of the 276 00:15:45,996 --> 00:15:51,116 Speaker 1: soldiers barely hung onto life all when included. Nevertheless, he 277 00:15:51,316 --> 00:15:53,716 Speaker 1: was the last one to get on the metavac. He 278 00:15:53,796 --> 00:15:56,596 Speaker 1: wanted to see everyone else get taken care of first. 279 00:15:57,236 --> 00:16:01,036 Speaker 1: He waited until they all were safe, and even then 280 00:16:01,436 --> 00:16:02,676 Speaker 1: he wouldn't get on a stretcher. 281 00:16:03,356 --> 00:16:06,116 Speaker 7: He was like, no, I'm walking to this helicopter because 282 00:16:06,116 --> 00:16:11,636 Speaker 7: if he wanted to walk off the battlefield, the. 283 00:16:11,636 --> 00:16:13,756 Speaker 1: Meta of Acts lifted off to the highest level of 284 00:16:13,836 --> 00:16:18,036 Speaker 1: triage facility nearby. Douglas was with Olwen. 285 00:16:18,276 --> 00:16:22,236 Speaker 5: And there they began triaging and treating everybody, starting Cash. 286 00:16:22,316 --> 00:16:24,756 Speaker 5: The whole time there I could hear him yelling, well, 287 00:16:24,996 --> 00:16:27,796 Speaker 5: how are these are my guys? You know what's going 288 00:16:27,836 --> 00:16:28,956 Speaker 5: on with them? Are they okay? 289 00:16:28,996 --> 00:16:31,916 Speaker 1: Where are they at the most badly burned men were 290 00:16:31,916 --> 00:16:35,476 Speaker 1: flown to Germany and then to Texas for more specialized care. 291 00:16:36,076 --> 00:16:39,796 Speaker 1: Alwin was one of them, and Gary Mills was two. 292 00:16:39,956 --> 00:16:43,196 Speaker 1: As soon as he was able, he insisted on seeing Alwen. 293 00:16:43,836 --> 00:16:46,036 Speaker 4: They told me, no, I'm not supposed to go and 294 00:16:46,156 --> 00:16:49,356 Speaker 4: visit you know anybody like no, I'm going to visit. 295 00:16:49,436 --> 00:16:54,756 Speaker 4: I visited Saryn Cash and it was funny because, like 296 00:16:54,796 --> 00:16:58,876 Speaker 4: I said, we were both messed up, and he still 297 00:16:58,916 --> 00:17:02,676 Speaker 4: had jokes and just making sure I'm good it hits 298 00:17:02,716 --> 00:17:06,436 Speaker 4: you because it was like, man, even in how bad 299 00:17:06,516 --> 00:17:09,916 Speaker 4: a moment, it doesn't matter about it, no matter about 300 00:17:09,916 --> 00:17:10,636 Speaker 4: everybody else. 301 00:17:11,996 --> 00:17:14,236 Speaker 1: There was hope that all of the soldiers might make it, 302 00:17:15,156 --> 00:17:15,996 Speaker 1: until there wasn't. 303 00:17:16,556 --> 00:17:19,316 Speaker 4: That's when we started losing people and it just got 304 00:17:19,316 --> 00:17:20,396 Speaker 4: hard and hard every day. 305 00:17:21,636 --> 00:17:25,156 Speaker 1: Of the nine people in the Bradley, only three would survive. 306 00:17:25,716 --> 00:17:28,876 Speaker 1: General Gary Britto remembers waiting to get news from the 307 00:17:28,876 --> 00:17:30,356 Speaker 1: men in the hospital. 308 00:17:31,196 --> 00:17:34,716 Speaker 3: Every single night. Did not want to get that phone 309 00:17:34,716 --> 00:17:38,076 Speaker 3: call that somebody passed, and we did, Hey, how's he 310 00:17:38,156 --> 00:17:43,276 Speaker 3: doing well? Staff Sergeant George Alexander this first one, second call, 311 00:17:43,876 --> 00:17:47,556 Speaker 3: Doc Robinson, third call, especially Darren holl just kept up 312 00:17:47,556 --> 00:17:48,916 Speaker 3: at night. We just didn't want to get it what 313 00:17:48,996 --> 00:17:51,796 Speaker 3: you did. So we were really really just hoping, thank 314 00:17:51,836 --> 00:17:54,636 Speaker 3: fingers crossed, will he survived, Just holding on for hope. Okay, 315 00:17:54,676 --> 00:17:56,436 Speaker 3: don't die, don't die, don't die. 316 00:17:57,636 --> 00:18:00,916 Speaker 1: In the hospital, Albyn kept his sense of humor and 317 00:18:00,956 --> 00:18:04,676 Speaker 1: his sense of duty intact. Everyone who loved him knew 318 00:18:04,676 --> 00:18:08,156 Speaker 1: how strong he was. As the weeks passed, they kept 319 00:18:08,236 --> 00:18:10,836 Speaker 1: up hope, but he had the worst of the burns, 320 00:18:11,796 --> 00:18:15,636 Speaker 1: and on November eighth, two thousand and five, Albin Cash 321 00:18:15,716 --> 00:18:20,196 Speaker 1: died in the hospital in San Antonio. He was the 322 00:18:20,276 --> 00:18:23,196 Speaker 1: last man to have gotten on the METAVAC and the 323 00:18:23,276 --> 00:18:26,556 Speaker 1: last man to succumb to his injuries. He held out 324 00:18:26,996 --> 00:18:27,956 Speaker 1: for as long as he could. 325 00:18:28,996 --> 00:18:31,716 Speaker 5: He would say, it's going to be hard coming home 326 00:18:32,036 --> 00:18:35,236 Speaker 5: without the guys you came here with. And who would 327 00:18:35,276 --> 00:18:37,596 Speaker 5: have known that he would have been one of those people. 328 00:18:40,676 --> 00:18:43,556 Speaker 1: Almost immediately, Britto put in for Alwin to get the 329 00:18:43,596 --> 00:18:46,636 Speaker 1: Silver Star, one of the Army's top awards for bravery. 330 00:18:46,996 --> 00:18:50,516 Speaker 1: It's a couple notches below the Medal of Honor. Britto 331 00:18:50,636 --> 00:18:53,116 Speaker 1: was still in Iraq, trying to keep his troops together, 332 00:18:53,236 --> 00:18:57,396 Speaker 1: boost morale, just survived the deployment. Everyone was exhausted at 333 00:18:57,396 --> 00:19:00,716 Speaker 1: that moment. The Silver Star for Alwin felt like the 334 00:19:00,836 --> 00:19:01,396 Speaker 1: right idea. 335 00:19:02,156 --> 00:19:04,996 Speaker 3: There was a sense of numbness, just combat fatigue, and 336 00:19:04,996 --> 00:19:06,796 Speaker 3: I didn't see it. Then I see it now. 337 00:19:08,516 --> 00:19:11,196 Speaker 1: Let me take a second to explain what differentiates the 338 00:19:11,236 --> 00:19:14,516 Speaker 1: Silver Star from a Medal of Honor. A Silver Star 339 00:19:14,876 --> 00:19:19,156 Speaker 1: is the Army's third highest decoration, given for distinguished gallantry 340 00:19:19,196 --> 00:19:23,356 Speaker 1: in action. The next step up is a Distinguished Service Cross, 341 00:19:23,596 --> 00:19:28,156 Speaker 1: given for extraordinary heroism in combat, and then sitting at 342 00:19:28,156 --> 00:19:30,316 Speaker 1: the top of the heap is the Medal of Honor. 343 00:19:31,076 --> 00:19:35,036 Speaker 1: Each one carries a huge amount of prestige, but the 344 00:19:35,036 --> 00:19:38,276 Speaker 1: Medal of honor has a stringent set of criteria. The 345 00:19:38,316 --> 00:19:41,076 Speaker 1: action comes at the risk of life and limb and 346 00:19:41,356 --> 00:19:43,876 Speaker 1: above and beyond the call of duty. In other words, 347 00:19:44,196 --> 00:19:47,156 Speaker 1: not something that your commanding officer could order you to do. 348 00:19:48,676 --> 00:19:53,956 Speaker 1: Those requirements might sound general, but in reality they're punishingly specific. 349 00:19:54,596 --> 00:19:57,756 Speaker 1: There aren't a huge variety of things that perfectly tick 350 00:19:57,916 --> 00:20:01,796 Speaker 1: all of those boxes. The iconic medal of honor worthy 351 00:20:01,796 --> 00:20:05,316 Speaker 1: action is throwing yourself on a grenade. It's an act 352 00:20:05,356 --> 00:20:08,916 Speaker 1: of pure selflessness and courage, done at a moment when 353 00:20:08,956 --> 00:20:12,876 Speaker 1: the enemy is in full attack. In fact, one hundred 354 00:20:12,956 --> 00:20:15,756 Speaker 1: and forty seven of the men who have been awarded 355 00:20:15,796 --> 00:20:18,716 Speaker 1: the medal received it for putting themselves in the way 356 00:20:18,716 --> 00:20:21,556 Speaker 1: of a grenade, and we've only had grenade since World 357 00:20:21,556 --> 00:20:27,196 Speaker 1: War One. What Alwen did sounds very much like throwing 358 00:20:27,316 --> 00:20:30,196 Speaker 1: himself on a grenade, doesn't it an act of supreme 359 00:20:30,276 --> 00:20:34,516 Speaker 1: self sacrifice on behalf of others at a time of peril. 360 00:20:34,636 --> 00:20:37,756 Speaker 1: You can't walk into a fire thinking you're going to survive. 361 00:20:38,436 --> 00:20:42,276 Speaker 1: Alwin's skin was charred, his lungs were failing, and yet 362 00:20:42,276 --> 00:20:46,156 Speaker 1: he kept returning to the inferno, knowing what that meant. 363 00:20:46,916 --> 00:20:49,756 Speaker 1: When Bretto and Alwen's family and friends thought about how 364 00:20:49,796 --> 00:20:52,836 Speaker 1: best to honor Alwen. They began to think that maybe 365 00:20:52,876 --> 00:20:56,276 Speaker 1: he deserved something more than a silver star. Maybe he 366 00:20:56,356 --> 00:20:59,636 Speaker 1: deserved the highest of all military honors. 367 00:21:00,316 --> 00:21:02,636 Speaker 3: It was all my mind, just wait on me, all 368 00:21:02,636 --> 00:21:04,116 Speaker 3: my mind. So I sort of think about it, think 369 00:21:04,116 --> 00:21:06,596 Speaker 3: about it, said, I got to do this, not for me, 370 00:21:06,956 --> 00:21:09,076 Speaker 3: not for the unit, but for Cash in his troops. 371 00:21:09,876 --> 00:21:10,516 Speaker 3: This is earned. 372 00:21:11,556 --> 00:21:15,156 Speaker 1: But there was a catch, a crucial one. There was 373 00:21:15,196 --> 00:21:20,076 Speaker 1: a third essential requirement for Medal of Honor eligibility. The 374 00:21:20,116 --> 00:21:22,876 Speaker 1: act of bravery has to take place in the field 375 00:21:22,876 --> 00:21:27,116 Speaker 1: of combat. That's why throwing yourself on a grenade fits. 376 00:21:27,516 --> 00:21:31,276 Speaker 1: The enemy threw a grenade at you, but almends Bradley 377 00:21:31,556 --> 00:21:34,916 Speaker 1: ran over an ied an explosive device that could have 378 00:21:34,916 --> 00:21:39,076 Speaker 1: been put there hours or even days before. That's not combat. 379 00:21:40,116 --> 00:21:42,316 Speaker 1: If Brito wanted to put his hero up for the 380 00:21:42,316 --> 00:21:46,196 Speaker 1: greatest of military honors, he needed to know more about 381 00:21:46,196 --> 00:21:51,036 Speaker 1: what happened on that black October night. Alwend Cash had 382 00:21:51,076 --> 00:21:53,916 Speaker 1: fought to the death for his men, and now Brito 383 00:21:54,356 --> 00:21:56,156 Speaker 1: was going to fight for him. 384 00:21:56,516 --> 00:21:59,276 Speaker 3: I just did not know the process. Thought I did, 385 00:21:59,476 --> 00:22:01,076 Speaker 3: but did not know the process. 386 00:22:01,556 --> 00:22:03,636 Speaker 1: He had no idea. What a feat of endurance it 387 00:22:03,716 --> 00:22:20,036 Speaker 1: was going to be. We'll be right back. The success 388 00:22:20,116 --> 00:22:24,316 Speaker 1: of a Medal of honor recommendation hinges on the nomination package, 389 00:22:24,916 --> 00:22:30,436 Speaker 1: which takes an enormous amount of research, paperwork, witness statements, hundreds, 390 00:22:30,476 --> 00:22:34,956 Speaker 1: if not thousands of pages alone. Among military medals, the 391 00:22:34,996 --> 00:22:39,916 Speaker 1: medal of honor requires quote incontestable proof of the performance 392 00:22:39,996 --> 00:22:43,836 Speaker 1: of the meritorious conduct. That's one thing if you're a 393 00:22:43,836 --> 00:22:47,436 Speaker 1: professional historian. It's another if you're employed full time by 394 00:22:47,436 --> 00:22:52,036 Speaker 1: the United States Army, moving up the ranks protecting your country. 395 00:22:52,676 --> 00:22:56,436 Speaker 1: Bretto was learning on the job an Army officer with 396 00:22:56,516 --> 00:22:58,676 Speaker 1: a side gig as a detective. 397 00:22:58,876 --> 00:23:01,756 Speaker 3: So was honored to be part of it, a little 398 00:23:01,836 --> 00:23:05,796 Speaker 3: angry that it was taking long, partly because of my actions. 399 00:23:05,956 --> 00:23:09,076 Speaker 3: I own that and not understanding what had to be done. 400 00:23:10,476 --> 00:23:12,276 Speaker 3: I remember one time I even asked myself, Gee, why 401 00:23:12,276 --> 00:23:13,996 Speaker 3: didn't you talk to the right people the first time 402 00:23:14,076 --> 00:23:16,076 Speaker 3: they could tell you? And I met these folks as 403 00:23:16,076 --> 00:23:18,556 Speaker 3: I went up the ranks, said, was doing my job, 404 00:23:18,636 --> 00:23:19,316 Speaker 3: doing our job. 405 00:23:20,276 --> 00:23:22,916 Speaker 1: What Brito needed was for someone to give him evidence 406 00:23:23,156 --> 00:23:25,756 Speaker 1: that there had been a battle at the crash site, 407 00:23:25,996 --> 00:23:29,836 Speaker 1: proof that the soldiers were engaging the enemy. That meant 408 00:23:29,996 --> 00:23:34,836 Speaker 1: painstakingly interviewing every survivor he could find, prodding their memories. 409 00:23:35,196 --> 00:23:38,156 Speaker 1: But that meant forcing people to relive a night that 410 00:23:38,236 --> 00:23:40,716 Speaker 1: they may not have wanted to relive, where many had 411 00:23:40,716 --> 00:23:48,196 Speaker 1: been badly wounded, to revisit chaos, confusion, explosions, all under 412 00:23:48,236 --> 00:23:52,996 Speaker 1: the shadow of darkness. General Britto submitted Alwyns pack. At 413 00:23:52,996 --> 00:23:57,276 Speaker 1: once it was rejected. A second time it was rejected, 414 00:23:57,636 --> 00:24:01,996 Speaker 1: sacrificing hours that turned into days, and then days that 415 00:24:02,116 --> 00:24:06,036 Speaker 1: stretched to years. Britto searched for every last bit of 416 00:24:06,076 --> 00:24:11,476 Speaker 1: testimony for over a decade, and then came a stroke 417 00:24:11,516 --> 00:24:11,876 Speaker 1: of luck. 418 00:24:12,756 --> 00:24:15,916 Speaker 3: A noncommissioned officer that I'd been trying to reach for many, many, 419 00:24:15,916 --> 00:24:19,756 Speaker 3: many years, who had first hand witness knowledge of what happened. 420 00:24:19,836 --> 00:24:22,436 Speaker 3: I found him should be embarrassed to see this. But 421 00:24:22,476 --> 00:24:25,636 Speaker 3: in octoberfest we were attending a Fortpenning, Georgia, and I 422 00:24:25,716 --> 00:24:28,876 Speaker 3: approached him and said, hey, would you be willing to 423 00:24:28,876 --> 00:24:29,836 Speaker 3: provide your account? 424 00:24:30,876 --> 00:24:34,436 Speaker 1: Britto had run out of options. This was his last chance. 425 00:24:34,996 --> 00:24:37,556 Speaker 1: He had tried to get testimony from the veteran before, 426 00:24:37,676 --> 00:24:41,756 Speaker 1: to no avail. The man hadn't replied he was battling PTSD. 427 00:24:42,156 --> 00:24:45,676 Speaker 1: To go back was just too painful. But there he was, 428 00:24:45,916 --> 00:24:50,036 Speaker 1: face to face with Brito by sheer chance. Britto said, 429 00:24:50,956 --> 00:24:53,476 Speaker 1: just tell me what you saw that night, said. 430 00:24:53,316 --> 00:24:55,236 Speaker 3: You write it. I'll give you write in a pen 431 00:24:55,316 --> 00:24:57,076 Speaker 3: on a napkin. We'll get it done. And he did. 432 00:24:57,796 --> 00:25:00,916 Speaker 1: And what did the soldier confirm that in all of 433 00:25:00,916 --> 00:25:05,036 Speaker 1: the confusion of that October night he had heard guns firing, 434 00:25:05,636 --> 00:25:10,436 Speaker 1: bullets pinging off the burning Bradley. It been an ambush, 435 00:25:10,916 --> 00:25:11,996 Speaker 1: it was combat. 436 00:25:13,076 --> 00:25:17,036 Speaker 3: And that account coupled with everything else, I cut it 437 00:25:17,076 --> 00:25:21,676 Speaker 3: to the point of where the true requirements of witness statements, 438 00:25:21,956 --> 00:25:24,876 Speaker 3: concept sketches, you name, it was all there. Then I 439 00:25:24,956 --> 00:25:25,596 Speaker 3: just had to wait. 440 00:25:27,596 --> 00:25:31,596 Speaker 1: Sixteen years after that red Knight sky in Iraq, on 441 00:25:31,636 --> 00:25:36,636 Speaker 1: December sixteenth, twenty twenty one, President Joe Biden awarded all 442 00:25:36,756 --> 00:25:40,716 Speaker 1: In Cash the Medal of Honor. His wife Tomorrow was 443 00:25:40,756 --> 00:25:42,636 Speaker 1: there to receive it on his behalf. 444 00:25:43,796 --> 00:25:46,876 Speaker 8: Sergeant Cash and his family gave everything for our country. 445 00:25:47,556 --> 00:25:50,396 Speaker 8: The devotion to his memory in their years working to 446 00:25:50,436 --> 00:25:54,436 Speaker 8: make sure that his courage and selflesses were properly documented 447 00:25:54,476 --> 00:25:57,876 Speaker 8: and honored is a testament to the love he inspired 448 00:25:57,916 --> 00:26:01,556 Speaker 8: on the legacy left behind. Sergeant first Class Cash is 449 00:26:01,596 --> 00:26:03,956 Speaker 8: now the seventh individual to receive a Medal of Honor 450 00:26:04,356 --> 00:26:07,436 Speaker 8: for his actions and operation of RACKI Freedom and the 451 00:26:07,516 --> 00:26:10,356 Speaker 8: first African American to reach even since the Vietnam War. 452 00:26:12,236 --> 00:26:15,396 Speaker 1: General Gary Briddo was there too. Of course, I think 453 00:26:15,396 --> 00:26:18,756 Speaker 1: it's safe to say that nobody in the audience was 454 00:26:18,796 --> 00:26:19,876 Speaker 1: as thrilled as he was. 455 00:26:20,516 --> 00:26:23,636 Speaker 3: And I truth or lending told my wife at that moment, 456 00:26:24,236 --> 00:26:29,556 Speaker 3: you know, if I retired tomorrow, I'm happy because of this. 457 00:26:31,356 --> 00:26:33,876 Speaker 1: There are lots of tributes to Alwyn Cash out in 458 00:26:33,916 --> 00:26:38,236 Speaker 1: the world. The post office in his little hometown of Ovido, Florida, 459 00:26:38,276 --> 00:26:42,636 Speaker 1: is named after him. The Army Reserve Training Center in Sanford, 460 00:26:42,676 --> 00:26:45,316 Speaker 1: Florida is named in his honor too, So is the 461 00:26:45,316 --> 00:26:49,276 Speaker 1: memorial garden at Fort Stewart in Georgia. And just as 462 00:26:49,396 --> 00:26:52,676 Speaker 1: may General Briddo went to the ceremony that named the 463 00:26:52,836 --> 00:26:55,956 Speaker 1: entry gate to the training grounds at Fort Moore formerly 464 00:26:56,036 --> 00:27:01,956 Speaker 1: Fort Benning for Alwen, those monuments will last long after 465 00:27:01,996 --> 00:27:05,516 Speaker 1: the final man from Alwy's patoon is gone. But I'd 466 00:27:05,596 --> 00:27:09,196 Speaker 1: argue that the memorials that truly matter are the ones 467 00:27:09,316 --> 00:27:12,396 Speaker 1: you've been listening to. The voices of the men whose 468 00:27:12,436 --> 00:27:15,636 Speaker 1: lives he changed, the ones that painted portrait of the 469 00:27:15,676 --> 00:27:20,956 Speaker 1: soldier he was, and the extraordinary sacrifice he made. His 470 00:27:21,516 --> 00:27:22,116 Speaker 1: burden that. 471 00:27:22,116 --> 00:27:25,956 Speaker 7: He carried continually was we can bring everyone home, like 472 00:27:26,316 --> 00:27:28,836 Speaker 7: as if most are in an organization and you have 473 00:27:28,916 --> 00:27:31,636 Speaker 7: your teammates to your left and right. But he literally 474 00:27:31,636 --> 00:27:34,796 Speaker 7: felt as if he had been entrusted with the service 475 00:27:34,836 --> 00:27:36,716 Speaker 7: members that he was with in this cartoon, and in 476 00:27:36,796 --> 00:27:40,156 Speaker 7: that was the constant dan through everything that he said 477 00:27:40,316 --> 00:27:40,716 Speaker 7: ends it. 478 00:27:42,476 --> 00:27:45,956 Speaker 1: Saying that you'll walk through fire for someone is a cliche. 479 00:27:46,436 --> 00:27:50,796 Speaker 1: We've all heard it all in cash actually did it 480 00:27:50,876 --> 00:27:55,836 Speaker 1: not once, but five times. Sacrifice may not be the 481 00:27:55,876 --> 00:27:59,196 Speaker 1: element of heroism that's most valued by the Medal of Honor, 482 00:27:59,676 --> 00:28:02,916 Speaker 1: but unlike gallantry in battle, it's the thing that the 483 00:28:02,916 --> 00:28:06,996 Speaker 1: rest of us can actually relate to. We sacrifice in 484 00:28:07,156 --> 00:28:09,436 Speaker 1: little ways all the time, or at least we should. 485 00:28:10,116 --> 00:28:12,276 Speaker 1: When we give up a comfortable seat on the bus 486 00:28:12,436 --> 00:28:14,956 Speaker 1: for someone who needs it more, when we take a 487 00:28:14,956 --> 00:28:18,876 Speaker 1: few precious hours to help a struggling neighbor or a stranger. 488 00:28:19,476 --> 00:28:24,276 Speaker 1: Those small acts of sacrifice are testament to our shared humanity. 489 00:28:26,476 --> 00:28:28,996 Speaker 1: So I want you to picture that night in October 490 00:28:29,036 --> 00:28:32,596 Speaker 1: two thousand and five. A column of flame on the horizon, 491 00:28:33,036 --> 00:28:37,236 Speaker 1: a man returning again and again and again and again 492 00:28:37,356 --> 00:28:41,236 Speaker 1: to a burning vehicle to save the people inside. And 493 00:28:41,516 --> 00:28:44,876 Speaker 1: not in the silence of an empty desert, but in 494 00:28:44,956 --> 00:28:48,356 Speaker 1: the middle of an ambush under attack from a hidden enemy. 495 00:28:48,756 --> 00:28:52,436 Speaker 1: One last crucial detail that made all the difference in 496 00:28:52,476 --> 00:28:58,916 Speaker 1: the world. That is heroism by any definition, and that 497 00:28:59,076 --> 00:29:02,716 Speaker 1: sacrifice had a ripple effect. We've seen this over and 498 00:29:02,756 --> 00:29:05,956 Speaker 1: over again in stories about the Medal of Honor. Someone 499 00:29:06,036 --> 00:29:10,036 Speaker 1: commits an extraordinary act of courage and people become tied 500 00:29:10,076 --> 00:29:14,356 Speaker 1: to it in a powerful way. It changes them. Remember 501 00:29:14,396 --> 00:29:18,596 Speaker 1: Doug Mounroe, the Coastguard hero, and his best friend Mike Cooley, 502 00:29:18,836 --> 00:29:21,956 Speaker 1: who raised and lowered the flag at his grave every 503 00:29:22,036 --> 00:29:26,276 Speaker 1: day for forty years. What Gary Britdo did for Alwyn 504 00:29:26,636 --> 00:29:31,236 Speaker 1: echoes that theme. He sacrificed his time over more than 505 00:29:31,276 --> 00:29:36,516 Speaker 1: a decade to honor his fallen comrade. If you sacrifice 506 00:29:36,516 --> 00:29:41,156 Speaker 1: yourself for those who serve, those who serve will sacrifice 507 00:29:41,196 --> 00:29:58,276 Speaker 1: for you. Medal of Honor. Stories of Courage is written 508 00:29:58,316 --> 00:30:02,356 Speaker 1: by Meredith Rollins and produced by Meredith Rollins, Constanza Gallardo 509 00:30:02,876 --> 00:30:06,516 Speaker 1: and Izzy Carter. The show is edited by Ben Nadaph Haffrey, 510 00:30:06,756 --> 00:30:11,396 Speaker 1: Sound design and additional music by Gorski, recording engineering by 511 00:30:11,436 --> 00:30:16,196 Speaker 1: Nita Lawrence, fact checking by Arthur Gombert's original music by 512 00:30:16,396 --> 00:30:19,236 Speaker 1: Eric Phillips. If you want to learn more about our 513 00:30:19,236 --> 00:30:22,556 Speaker 1: Medal of Honor recipients, follow us on Instagram and Twitter. 514 00:30:23,076 --> 00:30:26,196 Speaker 1: We'll be sharing photos and videos of the heroes featured 515 00:30:26,196 --> 00:30:28,796 Speaker 1: on this show. We'd also love to hear from you 516 00:30:29,396 --> 00:30:31,876 Speaker 1: dm us with a story about a courageous veteran in 517 00:30:31,916 --> 00:30:34,916 Speaker 1: your life. If you don't know a veteran, we would 518 00:30:34,956 --> 00:30:38,316 Speaker 1: love to hear a story of how courage was contagious 519 00:30:38,636 --> 00:30:42,516 Speaker 1: in your own life. You can find us at Pushkinbonds. 520 00:30:43,796 --> 00:30:59,476 Speaker 1: I'm your host, Malcolm Babo