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Nationwide Medal of Honor Day, March 25, acknowledges U.S. army members who’ve carried out acts of heroism throughout their service.
On behalf of Congress, the President of the USA awards the Medal of Honor to army personnel with outstanding tales of braveness and dedication.
A 2015 Medal of Honor recipient – Florent “Flo” Groberg, a 40-year-old wounded veteran and retired U.S. Military captain – shared a type of unforgettable tales this week in an interview with Fox Information Digital.
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Groberg, a French immigrant who got here to America on the age of 11, stated he was first launched to the “world of evil” after his uncle was killed by a terrorist group in Algeria in 1996.
“That shook my world,” he stated. “It launched me to the world of ache.”
President Barack Obama cheers on Medal of Honor recipient retired U.S. Military Captain Florent “Flo” Groberg, left, within the East Room of the White Home in Washington, November 12, 2015. (REUTERS/Gary Cameron)
After the terrorist assaults of September 11, 2001 — seven months after he turned a U.S. citizen — Groberg stated he felt much more compelled to guard his folks and “be a part of the answer.”
Groberg graduated from the College of Maryland in 2006, then enlisted within the U.S. Military and deployed to Afghanistan in November 2009.
Groberg was confronted with a dilemma that may value some troopers their lives.
“I needed to be the perfect of the perfect,” he stated. “I absolutely understood the necessities of the place, which meant that someday I’d be in fight and must make selections.”
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“I began working as an officer and after sixteen months of coaching you’re in Afghanistan earlier than you understand it, main a group of 24 folks.”
Throughout his second Afghanistan tour in August 2012, Groberg was confronted with a dilemma that may value some troopers their lives.
‘Worst day of your life’
On August 8, 2012, Groberg led his crew by way of Kunar Province, Afghanistan. There had been deliberate assaults at that location by an Afghan terrorist group, together with two suicide bombers ready to strike one of many US Military items.
“Sadly, they picked us,” he stated. “It was an extremely robust management group that we have been overseeing, and they also noticed this as a primary alternative to do injury.”
On August 8, 2012, Groberg served as a private safety detachment commander throughout fight operations in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. (Semper Fi & America’s Fund)
The opposition created a distraction with bikes to cease the motion of Groberg’s unit, whereas one particular person approached the group sporting a suicide vest.
“I did not see it at first as a result of everybody was centered on the bikes,” he stated. “I had my platoon sergeant in entrance of me … and he was staring to the left, and I noticed him begin to increase his weapon.”
He added: “After which I noticed this man out of nowhere, about twenty ft away from us, strolling backwards, parallel and appearing in a darkish method.”
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Groberg stated the person “started strolling in the direction of us in a short time” — to which Groberg responded along with his personal “escalation of violence.”
He stated: ‘I ran in the direction of him. I stated some very good phrases that I would not repeat to my mom, and I hit him within the chest with my gun after I received to him.”
The Medal of Honor for retired U.S. Military Captain Florent “Flo” Groberg (not pictured) is seen earlier than the presentation within the East Room of the White Home in Washington on November 12, 2015. (REUTERS/Gary Cameron)
“Once I realized at that second that he was sporting a suicide vest, I simply grabbed him by the vest and pushed him as distant from everybody as shortly as potential, shouting, ‘Bomb! Bomb! Bomb!’ After which I threw him on the bottom.”
The soldier stated that every one he might take into consideration at that second was defending his ‘brothers’ from the risk.
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“You do not take into consideration the implications of that motion,” he stated. “You are enthusiastic about doing all of your job.”
The bomb exploded after Groberg pushed the bomber to the bottom, throwing the soldier about thirty ft into the air.
He wakened “a couple of minutes later” to the sight of his foot “pointing in the direction of him” and an uncovered fibula.
President Obama awards the Medal of Honor to retired U.S. Military Captain Florent “Flo” Groberg, left, within the East Room of the White Home in Washington, DC, on November 12, 2015. (REUTERS/Gary Cameron)
“I used to be bleeding all over the place,” he stated. “I took my helmet off my head. It was free, (I) clearly had a fairly dangerous concussion… I knew I used to be in all probability within the kill zone.”
Groberg was capable of maneuver himself out of the kill zone till SFC Brian Brink grabbed him by the vest and took him to a medic – who saved his life by making use of a tourniquet to cease the bleeding.
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The soldier’s second of braveness — the choice to sort out the suicide bomber — all got here right down to the “love of brotherhood and sisterhood,” he stated.
“I speak loads concerning the significance of affection in battle,” he stated. “I went into the battle with loads of hatred and anger in the direction of the enemy.”
“I absolutely understood the necessities of the place, which meant that someday I’d be in fight and must make selections.”
Groberg continued, “And I noticed that the ability of battle for us, as a preventing drive, is the clear understanding of what real love is, which is the love of brotherhood and sisterhood, the thought that you’re keen to die for any love. different, irrespective of who you’re.”
And “since you put on that uniform, you discover a approach to be taught from one another, to understand one another, to like one another to the purpose the place you’re keen to die for one another.”
Medal of Honor recipient, retired U.S. Military Captain Florent “Flo” Groberg listens to the nationwide anthem after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch earlier than the beginning of the Washington Nationals vs. St. Louis Cardinals sport at Nationals Park on Might 29, 2016 in Washington, D.C. (Rob Carr/Getty Pictures)
Whereas Groberg survived a horrific encounter that day, the veteran stated the worst a part of the incident was the lack of 4 Individuals within the blast. They have been killed by ball bearings deployed by the bomb.
These troopers embrace U.S. Military Command Sgt. Main Kevin J. Griffin, Main Thomas E. Kennedy of the USA Military, Main Walter D. Grey of the USA Air Power and USAID International Service Officer Ragaei Abdelfattah.
“These have been 4 nice people who have been nowhere close to the explosion,” he stated. “And I used to be alive after I was actually on prime of the man who exploded.”
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Groberg stated: “It is modified my life, as you may think about – however I am right here right now alive (and) I get the prospect to say these names, which is an important factor on the earth to me, other than my household. “
In 2015, President Obama introduced Groberg with the Medal of Honor for his heroism. Nonetheless, the veteran admitted it “wasn’t a very good day.”
He informed Fox Information Digital: “None of what you do within the army is about one particular person. It is at all times concerning the group and the mission.”
President Obama hugs Medal of Honor recipient retired U.S. Military Captain Florent “Flo” Groberg within the East Room of the White Home in Washington, November 12, 2015. (REUTERS/Gary Cameron)
“And so, if you have been singled out and put within the highlight for the worst day of your life, but in addition for one thing the place you felt such as you failed as a result of 4 boys died, I felt a little bit little bit of disgrace.”
Groberg spoke with President Obama about highlighting the 4 males who misplaced their lives and invited their households to attend the ceremony.
“My Medal of Honor will not be mine,” he stated. “It represents these 4 guys as a result of they’re those who made the last word sacrifice.”
The highway to restoration
Because of the blast, Groberg suffered a traumatic mind damage and was left utterly deaf in his left ear. He solely has 50% of his left calf left.
This triggered numbness under the knee and on the underside of his foot, forcing him to be taught to stroll once more.
Amongst different “minor accidents,” Groberg cited the toll of psychological sickness, together with PTSD, which he has been capable of fight along with his assist group, he stated.
“Publish-traumatic stress is one thing that nearly each battle fighter will get and goes by way of,” he stated. “And it’s a must to determine it, as a result of battle modifications you.”
He added: “I suffered loads of survivor’s guilt, loads of blame. I used to be suicidal early in my restoration and primarily due to the medicines they gave me.”
All through his restoration, Groberg, who at present lives in Dallas, Texas, stated the assist from his spouse Carsen has helped him probably the most.
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“I am going to always remember: The primary night time I had the prospect to sleep subsequent to her is the primary night time in over two years I slept with out Ambien or sleeping capsules,” he stated.
“I used to be like, ‘This lady, she’s totally different.’ So it is clear that I married her.”
Groberg additionally referred to as out the Semper Fi & America’s Fund, a nonprofit group that assists and helps wounded veterans and their households.
The Grobergs have a 15-month-old son. Flo Groberg joked that he has “an excessive amount of of me in him.” (Semper Fi & America’s Fund)
The fund contacted Groberg whereas he was nonetheless recovering at Walter Reed Military Medical Heart in Washington, D.C., to debate his post-military ambitions.
Working with the fund gave Groberg the chance to recuperate financially. He was capable of purchase a automobile at a “dramatically” decrease value.
“For me, it was about preventing an evil that needed to harm the USA of America.”
“How blessed we’re that there’s a company just like the fund that’s dedicated to our trigger,” he stated.
“They always remember it, and it’s the greatest illustration of our nation.”
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Groberg added, “For me, it was about preventing an evil that needed to harm the USA of America. And it was the perfect job I ever had in my life.”
He additionally famous, “So now that I am residence and I’ve a company just like the fund that is there to assist us… it is one thing that I am actually blessed to have.”
For extra life-style articles, go to www.foxnews.com.com/life-style.
Angelica Stabile is a way of life author for Fox Information Digital.
Medal of Honor Day: Recipients speak about tackling suicide bombers in Afghanistan to guard ‘brothers’ of the army
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