The Frontlines of Freedom e-newsletter just came out today, and it includes an error. The article regarding Americans receiving Germany’s highest award, the Gold Cross, was incomplete. It seems that there weren’t 3 soldiers who got the award, there were 14.
All the soldiers were members of the Army’s 12th combat aviation brigade. They are Capt. Robert McDonough, Chief Warrant Officer Steven Husted, Chief Warrant Officer Nelson Visaya, Chief Warrant Officer Jason Brown, Chief Warrant Officer Sean Johnson, Chief Warrant Officer Eric Wells, Staff Sgt Travis Brown, Sgt William Ebel, Gattis, Sgt. Steven Shumaker, Spc. Matthew Baker, Spc. Todd Marchese, and Spc. Gregory Martinez.
They received their Gold Cross medals during a ceremony in Kunduz, less than 10 kilometers from where the firefight took place. We honor them and their valor.