Posted on 09/28/2018 7:27:26 PM PDT by Rabin
A former medic with the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) that heroically fought his way up a mountain to render aid to his Special Forces teammates and their Afghan commando counterparts will receive the Medal of Honor.
The White House announced today that former Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Shurer II went above and beyond the call of duty April 6, 2008, while assigned to Special Operations Task Force -- 33 in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. He will receive the highest military award for valor at a White House ceremony… Shurer helped keep the large insurgent force at bay while simultaneously providing care to his wounded teammates. Shurer's actions helped save the lives of all wounded casualties under his care…
(Excerpt) Read more at army.mil ...
Go Airborn Specials.
Rab.
My rank no longer exists. Will they find one for me to wear if I’m ever awarded this medal?
Sounds like you were either a SP5 (as I was) or a SP6.I don't know about you but the bravest thing I ever did in uniform was eat Army chow so there'll be no MoH for me.
I don’t keep close track of such things but it seems to me that Army Medics and Navy Corpsmen get far,far more than their “share” of Medals of Honor.
Maybe Senator Blumenthal would like to meet a real fighting soldier?
Sp6. I actually liked Army food, for the most part. Was on separate rations overseas so I ate at the club and off post a lot. I did receive some medals but they weren’t up there with that one.
After being honorably discharged from the armed forces in May 2009, he began his career with the Secret Service as a special agent assigned to the Phoenix Field Office, later serving as a member of the Secret Service’s Counter Assault Team and assigned to the Special Operations Division, according to the White House press statement.
Shurer lives in Burke, Virginia, with his wife and two children
https://www.newsweek.com/ronald-shurer-special-forces-medal-honor-afghanistan-medic-1134373
Wow, I just read the entire story. It is incredible what this hero did to save his teammates.
By coincidence, I just finished reading the book No Way OUt’ by Mitch Weiss and Kevin Maurer that chronicles the battle of the Shok Valley by Sgt. Shumer’s SF unit and the Afghan SF trainees.
The book meticulously follows the trial by fire of each SF man of the unit during the firefight that lasted hours in unimaginable terrain. This was a battle that was prdered by high commands that called for the SF unit attachede to the Aftghans to fight uphill against entrenched defenders with superiour numbers on both sides of a narrow valley.
Total FUBAR and most of the US cadre got medals, but I think Sgt. Shumer is the only one with the Medal of Valor. I recommend this book highly if you are interested in the valor and spirit of our military men.
I had just enlisted in the Army when all specialist ranks SP5 or higher were done away with.
SP5’s became Sergeant E-5
SP6’s became Staff Sergeants
SP7’s became Sergeant First Class
and so on.
This occurred in the Spring of 1986.
I left in March of 1983.
My deep gratitude to Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Shurer II.
I am so glad the other heroes of this battle had him there!
“the bravest thing I ever did in uniform was eat Army chow”
Amen.
5.56mm
I went in Dec. ‘85.
Medal of Honor recipient, former Bragg medic to be buried in Arlington
Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Shurer, who died from cancer in May, served as a medic in Fort Bragg’s 3rd Special Forces Group. https://www.fayobserver.com/story/news/military/2020/10/26/medal-honor-recipient-buried-arlington-national-cemetery/6009122002/
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.