Posted on 09/26/2006 2:21:12 PM PDT by RDTF
On September 13, 2006, at a solemn ceremony at the U.S. Navy’s “Lone Sailor” Memorial in our Nation’s capital, a crowd of 300 friends, family, and warriors gathered to watch and hear the Secretary of the Navy, Donald C. Winter, honor the lives and sacrifices of our two most recent Navy Cross heroes by presenting posthumous medals to the wives of Gunner’s Mate Second Class (Sea, Air and Land (SEAL)) Danny P. Dietz, and Sonar Technician Second Class (SEAL) Matthew G. Axelson, United States Navy.
-snip-
Petty Officers Dietz and Axelson were part of a four-man Special Reconnaissance ground element with Naval Special Warfare Task Unit, Afghanistan from 27 to 28 June, 2005. “Operation Red Wing” was the name given to their mission to kill or capture senior Taliban militia leader, Ahmad Shah, in the rugged, 10,000-foot terrain of the Hindu Kush mountains near Asadabad, Konar Province, Afghanistan.
“On 28 June 2005, the element was spotted by Anti-Coalition Militia sympathizers, who immediately revealed their position to Taliban fighters. As a result, the element directly encountered the enemy. Demonstrating exceptional resolve, and fully understanding the gravity of the situation and their responsibility to their teammates, Petty Officers Dietz and Axelson fought valiantly against the numerically superior and positionally advantaged enemy force. The ensuing firefight resulted in numerous enemy personnel killed, with both Dietz and Axelson being wounded by enemy fire.”
(Excerpt) Read more at sftt.org ...
ping
“Ignoring his injuries and demonstrating exceptional composure, Petty Officer Axelson advised the teammate closest to him to escape while he provided cover fire. With total disregard for their own lives and thinking only of their teammate’s survival, Petty Officers Dietz and Axelson continued to attack the enemy, eliminating additional militia fighters, until they were mortally wounded by enemy fire.”
Sounds like a citation for a Medal of Honor all right.
Let's just hope everyone else sees it that way.
Exactly...simply, "Wow"
May all of our fallen warriors rest in peace. Semper Fi
No different thant the New York Times in many ways.
God Bless them ALL. The reason the Stars and Stripes are still flying is because of these people and all the others. We are one nation under God because of them defending America. God Bless them and All of their families.
I thought that Special Operations guys were not eligible for medals such as these? I thought these acts were expected of them as elite troops. I don't know, maybe that was just one commander's philosophy.
Unfortunately we can't shoot the traitorous idiots at the New York Times.
I've had old Marines, after a couple of adult beverages, tell me how tough Pendleton and Lejune were in the 40's and 50's. There point was good natured ribbing of who the "toughest" Marines were and the battles fought.
However the warrior spirit lives in the new Corp, the Army and it sure as heck lives on in the SEAL community.
My head is bent and there are a couple of tears in my eyes for the brave men that gave there lives so that my family and I could sleep safely tonight.
Thank you so very much.
bttt
ROGER THAT!
Condolences, and that we may never forget their sacrifices.
Every SEAL I've ever met will tell you it sounds like just another day at the office. Man for man they are without a doubt the most outstanding individuals I've ever come across.
No branch of the service demands your life...only that you follow legal orders and do your best to accomplish the mission....
As an example the 2 snipers in Somalia knew that there was little hope but thought that just maybe they could hold out till they were reinforced... Their mission was the pilot. they gave their lives in order to accomplish their mission. They "earned" the Medal of Honor...
from link:
The sole surviving teammate, whose name has been withheld to protect his identity, also received the Navy Cross for his actions during Operation Red Wing. From my research, rumors have it that team-leader Lt. Murphy is being posthumously considered for the Medal of Honor for his actions. The bodies of Dietz, Axelson, and Murphy were recovered, as were bodies from those aboard the crashed Chinook.
I think maybe we are reluctant to award the MOH to anyone who survives today because we don't want to make them targets for jihadis. The first DSC awarded for Afghanistan was awarded anonymously to an SF captain (at least according to a story in Army Times). Now I understand that SF guys need to remain anonymous, but I also think that there is a school of thought that says that these guys would be at risk from terrorist attacks if they got the big awards while alive and while the war continues. Just my $.02.
Could have been a New York Times reporter, or possibly and AP photographer that tipped them off. (just a little sarcasm there).
bump
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