Dakota L Meyer, U.S. Marine Corps
Awarded the Medal of Honor
2001- present
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First Lt. Stephen Boada is shown near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in 2005. Boada was awarded the Silver Star medal after he repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire by hurling grenades into a cave to silence snipers who had ambushed his unit on May 8, 2005.
(Photo courtesy of Stephen J. Boada)
Justin Blazejewski received a back injury during his time served and started a business with other Veterans practicing yoga.
Tillman was offered $3.6 million to play football for the Arizona Cardinals in June 2002, but turned it down because of September 11 attacks and enlisted in the U.S. Army.
Sergeant Kimberling’s bravery and actions saved many lives by protecting a coalition force during an ambush in Qalat Province, Afghanistan.
My brother came home after serving our country physically unharmed, but he didn't survive. I am an advocate of peace. Peace is not what my brother felt when he took his own life by detonation. Today I honor my brother, Benjamin, and thank him up high for his service, his light and his life. He was 29. We've got miles and miles to go America. ------ from Rachel in Montana (2016)
Ben Cernick, U.S. Marines Corps
Patrick Daniel Tillman, U.S. Army
Awarded the Silver Star
and the Purple Heart
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SSgt Salvadore Guinta, U.S. Army Awarded the Medal of Honor
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Lance Cpl. Joshua Mooi entered direct line of eneny fire six times in an effort to remove badly injured Marines who had been ambushed.
Captain William Swenson, U.S. Army
Awarded the Medal of Honor
Justin Blazejewski, U.S. Marine Corps
Dakota Louis Meyer was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Ganjgal on September 8, 2009, in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. Meyer is the second youngest living Medal of Honor recipient, and the first living Marine in 38 years to be so honored.
(The same fierce battle as fellow recipient and Kentucky native, Captain William Swenson)
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The best of the Red White and Blue
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Lance Cpl. Joshua Mooi, U.S. Marine Corps Awarded the Navy Cross
Lance Cpl Abraham Tarwoe, U.S. Marine Corps
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First Lt. Stephen Boada, U.S. Marine Corps
Awarded the Silver Star medal
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Afghanistan & Iraq.
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Captain William Swenson was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Ganjgal on September 8, 2009, in Kunar Province, Afghanistan (the same fierce battle as fellow recipient and Kentucky native, Dakota Meyer).
Staff Sgt. Jason Kimberling, U.S. Air Force
Awarded a Bronze Star with Valor
and an Army Commendation Medal
Lance Corporal Tarwoe was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died April 12, 2012 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations.
Sgt Guinta awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley, an area called the Valley of Death. Giunta was the first living soldier since the Vietnam War to receive America’s highest honor.