The nation’s highest military honor is to be awarded today to a former Army captain who heroically tackled a suicide bomber while serving in Afghanistan.
Florent Groberg, 32, is credited with saving fellow soldiers’ lives with his actions in August 2012. He was badly injured in the attack, which killed four people.
The ceremony takes place Thursday morning at the White House and marks only the 10th time a living service member has received the Medal of Honor for actions in Afghanistan or Iraq. Seven more were posthumously awarded the medal.
Groberg deployed to Afghanistan’s Kunar Province in November 2009 and again in February 2012. He was helping lead an escort for a meeting with an Afghan provincial governor when his unit encountered the bomber. Groberg, with assistance from another soldier in the security detail, Sgt. Andrew Mahoney, tackled him to the ground where the bomber’s vest detonated.
Groberg spent nearly three years recovering at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and endured more than 30 surgeries.
Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald spoke about Groberg during a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. He said Groberg is emblematic of the sacrifices made by every generation of veterans.
“Captain Groberg acted in a manner that saved the lives of many of his comrades. Tragically, he could not save them all,” McDonald said. “When he was informed last month that he would receive the Medal of Honor, he said, and I quote, ‘This medal belongs to them. It’s my mission to tell everyone thank you for recognizing me, but this does not belong to me. It belongs to them. That’s how I’m coping with it mentally.’ ”
The Associated Press contributed to this article
A true hero. Far more honorable and greater than our athletes or actors.
or the Musim in chief.
It would be nice may be even better if someone else besides the president had this honor to do. Say maybe the chaplain of the Military branch instead who should understand this so much better!!!☺
Hero’s never look to be one. Its thrust upon them and they do their best to take care of what ever needs to be done.
Good for him, but what about the other guy? The report stated with the assistance of Sgt. Andrew Mahoney, why did he only get a Silver Star? Because he isn’t an officier, or is there more to the story? Why one and not the other? Can someone please explain this to me!!!!
You will have to buy the book to get “the rest of the story”…
It’s probably just a matter of black and white. Mahoney should have also gotten the same medal. Oh Well I guess we’ll have to read the book.
Good Question!!
I really don’t know ether maybe one was white and the other black. It’s just a thought. Ponder it.
A true hero. Acts immediately by instinct without any thought for himself. Well done Sir. Captain Groberg is lucky he’s an American. If he was British he’d be medically discharged and given a Blue Badge so he can park, usually free in Disabled parking bays, and small pension and made to fend for himself for the rest of his life. The British Ministry of Defence should be sacked and made to live in rented houses and see how they like it. I should know. I was seriously injured (spinal injuries. Very painful.) at the age of 27 and 45 years later still in a great deal of pain and having to survive on pensions. Lucky Americans have more respect from their people and much better treatment. Good luck Captain! You deserve it!
What about Sgt. Andrew Mahoney?
Was he injured? Did he get a medal?
I AM SURPRISED THAT HE GOT 30 SURGERIES TO REPAIR ALL HIS WOUNDS FOR HIS HEROIC ACTION. SURELY, HE RECEIVED THEM AT A VA FACILITY. I AM SO GLAD THAT THEY AT THE VA FOUND THE TIME TO DO SO. MY HOPE IS THAT THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF ALL OUR WOUNDED ,TAKE CARE OF THE BACKLOG FOR THOSE HONORABLE SERVICE MEMBERS THAT NEED TREATMENT,BUT THEY ARE PROBABLY TOO BUSY COUNTING THEIR ILL-GOTTEN BONUSES AT THE VA AND “NOT” TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS!
It was an heroic act on Captain Groberg’s part, and what he had to endure through those thirty surgeries had to be an almost endless ordeal to him. Hopefully, he’s functioning well by now, but he will probably be getting medical attention for some time to come. I wish the A.P. report would have also included information concerning Sgt. A. Mahoney, who also participated in subduing the homicide/suicide bomber. I didn’t want to presume anything regarding Sgt. Mahoney’s state of being. We are fortunate as a nation, to have such men who volunteer and serve of their own free will, “Above and beyond the call of duty.”
To ask why they do it has an immediate answer….They just do it. These brothers in arms are selfless heroes. May God bless them all.
Mahoney? Those Irish always seem to be part of history. I recently read that the Irish lead the numbers in foreign born who have earned the Medal of Honor.
He is a quiet hero and belongs to the world. He is not an actor nor a jerk politician boasting and full of lies and we need more of him
and my very best always
“SOLDIERS FOLLOW ORDERS ,A WARRIOR DOES HIS DUTY!”
I watched the presentation by His Royal Hindness BHO who looked pizzed like he didn’t get all the honors himself.
A very moving ceremony well deserved, what injuries did the Sgt receive? God bless them both. I wish them and their families well and how proud to be associated with both men.
This Captain is well worthy of this HONOR . ////////////////////////////////////////////
Selective Reporting by the Media, as governed by the Fed led by BHO. These boys “just do it” as we all have down thru the yrs, when “Uncle Sam ” calls, These Political Hacks are a temporary nuisance, they’ll go away, BUT the heroes stay.
i camn just tell you how proud i m on behalf of Captain GROBERG, and the same time i am very sorry about the need for 30 surgical interventions.,as a sequel of his deeds.
He’s a real HERO.
Yours faithfully, A.R.