Medal of Honor: Alwyn C. Cashe – Iraq War – October 17, 2005

Name: Alwyn Crendall Cashe

Rank: Sergeant First Class

Branch: U.S. Army

War: Iraq War

Unit: Company A, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division

Date of Action: October 17, 2005

Location: Salah Ad Din Province, Iraq

Summary of Action

On the night of October 17, 2005, Sergeant First Class Alwyn Cashe was serving as a platoon sergeant during a mounted patrol near an enemy-held village in Salah Ad Din Province, Iraq. His Bradley Fighting Vehicle suddenly came under enemy small arms fire before an improvised explosive device detonated beneath the vehicle, disabling it and igniting an intense fire.

The explosion left members of the crew trapped inside the burning Bradley.

After managing to escape the wreckage himself, Sergeant First Class Cashe immediately turned back toward the vehicle. Without hesitation, he climbed to the driver's hatch and began attempting to free the trapped driver. Working alongside another soldier, he successfully pulled the driver from the flames.

During the rescue, burning fuel ignited Cashe's own uniform, inflicting severe second- and third-degree burns across much of his body.

Despite the unimaginable pain and life-threatening nature of his injuries, Sergeant First Class Cashe refused to stop.

Ignoring both his wounds and continuing enemy fire directed at his position, he moved to the rear troop compartment where additional soldiers remained trapped inside the burning vehicle. Seizing a brief opportunity when supporting forces engaged the enemy, Cashe entered the troop compartment and assisted four more soldiers in escaping the inferno.

Once those men had been rescued, he realized two soldiers were still missing.

For a third time, Sergeant First Class Cashe entered the burning Bradley to search for his remaining comrades.

By the time reinforcements arrived and established a casualty collection point, Cashe had sustained catastrophic burns over the majority of his body. Witnesses later recalled that despite his horrific injuries, he never complained or cried out in pain. Instead, he continually encouraged his soldiers and ensured that each received medical attention.

When medical evacuation helicopters arrived, Sergeant First Class Cashe refused treatment for himself until every other wounded soldier had been evacuated first.

His final concern was not his own survival, but the welfare of the men he had rescued.

Sergeant First Class Alwyn Cashe later succumbed to his wounds on November 8, 2005. For years, many believed his actions merited the nation's highest award for valor. Following an extensive review, his Distinguished Service Cross was upgraded to the Medal of Honor in 2021, making him the first African American recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions during the Iraq War.

His story remains one of extraordinary courage, selfless leadership, and devotion to his soldiers. In the finest tradition of the American noncommissioned officer, Sergeant First Class Alwyn Cashe lived the creed that leaders eat last—and, in his case, willingly gave everything so that others might live.

Medal of Honor Citation

ALWYN CRENDALL CASHE

Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, United States Army.

Unit: Company A, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division.

Place and date: Salah Ad Din Province, Iraq, October 17, 2005.

Citation:

Sergeant First Class Alwyn C. Cashe distinguished himself by acts of gallantry above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Platoon Sergeant with Company A, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division in Salah Ad Din Province, Iraq, on October 17th, 2005.

While on a nighttime 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 engulfed it in flames.

After extracting himself from the vehicle, Sergeant First Class Cashe 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, who was engulfed in the flames.

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 and caused severe burns to his body.

Ignoring his painful wounds, Sergeant First Class Cashe then moved to the rear of the vehicle to continue aiding his fellow soldiers 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 soldiers in escaping the burning vehicle.

Having extracted the four soldiers, Sergeant First Class Cashe noticed two other soldiers had not been accounted for and again entered the vehicle to retrieve them.

At this time, reinforcements arrived to further suppress the enemy and establish a Casualty Collection Point.

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, Sergeant First Class Cashe selflessly refused evacuation until all of the other wounded soldiers were evacuated first.

Sergeant First Class Cashe's extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.