Cashe, Alwyn C.

The President of the United States, in the name of the Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Alwyn C. Cashe for his acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, while serving as a Platoon Sergeant with Company A, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Brigade, 3d Infantry Division in Salah Ad Din Province, Iraq on 17 October 2005, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

While on a night-time mounted patrol near an enemy laden village, the Bradley Fighting Vehicle which Sergeant First Class Cashe was commanding, was attacked by enemy small arms fire and an improvised explosive device which disabled the vehicle and caused it to become engulfed in flames. After extracting himself he set about extracting the driver who was trapped in the vehicle. After opening the driver’s hatch, Sergeant First Class Cashe and a fellow Soldier extracted the driver, extinguished the flames on him, and moved him to a position of relative safety. During the course of extinguishing the flames on the driver and extracting him from the vehicle, Sergeant First Class Cashe’s fuel soaked uniform ignited causing severe burns to his body. He then moved to the rear of the vehicle to continue in aiding his peers who were trapped in the troop compartment.

At this time, the enemy noted his movements and began to direct their fire on his position. When another element of the company engaged the enemy, Sergeant First Class Cashe seized the opportunity and moved into the open troop door and aided four of his peers in escaping the burning vehicle. Having extracted the four Soldiers, he noticed two other Soldiers had not been accounted for and he again entered the burning vehicle to retrieve them. Despite the severe second and third degree burns covering the majority of his body, Sergeant First Class Cashe persevered through the pain to encourage his fellow Soldiers and ensure they received needed medical care. When medical evacuation helicopters began to arrive, he selflessly refused evacuation until all of the other wounded Soldiers were first evacuated.

Sergeant First Class Cashe’s heroic actions, at the cost of his life, saved the lives of his teammates.

Born on July 13, 1970, Sergeant First Class Alwyn C. Cashe grew up in Oviedo, Florida, and enlisted in the U.S. Army on July 18, 1989 after graduating from Oviedo High School. He initially served two years in Korea, followed by nearly three years at Fort Lewis, Washington. He deployed in support of the Gulf War in 1991. In 1993, he became an infantryman and served another year-long tour in Korea. Sergeant First Class Cashe then served as a squad leader for two years at Fort Hood, Texas, and for two years in Germany. He graduated from Drill Sergeant School in 1998, and served two and a half years as a Drill Sergeant at Fort Benning, Georgia. He returned to Europe in February, 2001, as an operations noncommissioned officer for the 19th Battlefield Coordination Detachment, then served in Germany for two years as a squad leader in the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment. In April, 2004, Sergeant First Class Cashe served as a platoon sergeant in the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Benning, Georgia. He deployed in 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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