Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel

    Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 France bestows high honors on National Guard, active duty Green Berets By Army Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhil
                National Guard Bureau
 WASHINGTON - They are men used to seeing their  deeds pass as unrecognized as their battlefield movements, but Monday five  National Guard and one active duty Special Forces Soldier took the limelight  here to receive a French award roughly equivalent to the Silver Star. The six were honored with the Croix de la Valeur Militaire  in a private ceremony at the French Ambassador’s Residence attended by senior  leaders including Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, the Army chief of staff nominated  to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Army Maj. Gen.  Timothy Kadavy, deputy director of the Army National Guard. “I am  deeply honored to ... pay tribute to six most outstanding American Soldiers from  the United States Army and the Army National Guard who distinguished themselves  while fighting the Taliban and Al Qaida elements in Afghanistan,” said French  Ambassador François Delattre. “Through their outstanding bravery and engagement in combat,  they fought at the risk of their own lives to assist French Soldiers, their  brothers in arms, who experienced a barrage of fire from the enemy.” The five National Guard Soldiers supported a French regiment  executing a mission in and around the Uzbeen Valley in Afghanistan in 2009; the  active duty Soldier was recognized for similarly heroic action in the same  region a year earlier. “They were trying to get at the French operating in the valley,”  said Army National Guard Capt. Thomas Harper, one of the awardees. “We  prevented that from happening, allowing them to conduct their mission.” Created in 1956 by the French government to reward  extraordinary deeds of bravery carried out as part of security and law  enforcement operations, the Croix de la Valeur Militaire – or French Cross of  Military Valor – is one of the most respected decorations in the French  military, Delattre said. Those recognized Monday: Active  duty Army Maj. Richard Nessel of the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne).  “Your courage honors you as well as your country; your exemplary service  deserves to be commended,” Delattre told him.
    Army  National Guard Capt. Thomas Harper, Master Sgt. David Nuemer, Sgt. 1st Class  Ryan Ahern; Staff Sgt. Casey Roberts and Sgt. Ryan Meister. “You demonstrated  the highest military qualities and sense of duty,” Delattre told them. “You  distinguished yourselves. Your outstanding conduct alongside French forces, ...  your remarkable bravery in the face of danger in the combat zone, and your  superb combatant qualities deserve to be commended.” “It’s a huge honor for all of us,” said Harper, a  traditional Guard member who has been on active duty most of the last decade  and was joined Monday by his parents and sisters. “They’re completely  overwhelmed,” he said. “We don’t normally look for this kind of recognition; I  don’t think they’ve ever even been to one of my military school graduations.” The recognition of the Guard members reflects the Guard’s contributions  to the Total Force, Dempsey said. “The last three award ceremonies I’ve been to happen to have  been National Guard Soldiers,” he said. “We’re really one Army. It’s a signal  that, as we go forward in a new fiscal environment, we have to maintain faith  with all three components of our Army – active, Guard and Reserve. “It’s a great credit to the young men and women who serve. I  couldn’t be more proud of our Army in general – but tonight is a night for five  of these six Soldiers in particular who happen to be National Guard.” The National Guard has Special Forces in 18 states. While  they train and deploy just as active duty Soldiers, Guard members must also  balance civilian lives and careers. There are five active duty Special Forces  Groups and two in the National Guard. “We’re in the right  place at the wrong time,” quipped Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Steven Duff,  deputy commander, U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne). “We’re  everywhere. We can do whatever is necessary, and it shows that the caliber of  our Soldiers are just as good as anybody else. “We are part of the operational force. Given the proper  predictability in our force generation model, we can accomplish any mission  that’s given.” “It says a lot about our units and our dedication to duty  and the training that we’ve undergone, as well as the maturity of our  Soldiers,” Harper said. “It’s a great honor,” said Ahern, a laser physicist in his  civilian career who has spent four of the last 10 years deployed or recovering  from combat-related injuries. Ahern’s parents, wife and daughter accompanied him. “They  see the newspaper stories,” he said. “They hear abstract descriptions of what  you’ve done. But they don’t really see it firsthand, nor do they see  recognition, so this is a really good opportunity.” A full narrative of the exact events that earned the six  their awards Monday cannot be shared here. But there is one: It tells of men surrounded, wildly  outnumbered and pinned down for hours. Of men who fought on despite severe  injuries. Of lifesaving buddy aid under withering, accurate fire – and of  declined opportunities to be medically evacuated in order to stay in the fight  until the last man was out safe. None of the Green Berets mentioned any of this Monday. The Quiet Professionals stepped briefly into the light to  accept honors; said almost nothing of battles fought in Afghanistan and in  hospitals; shook hands with senior leaders who had come to thank them and, by  extension, all they serve alongside; shared the moment with parents, wives and  children who rarely get to share what they do – and slipped back into the night  as modestly and quietly as they arrived. “We had kind of a tough fight those last few days in  Afghanistan,” Harper said. “We were just happy to be alive. We really didn’t  expect this kind of honor. It’s pretty overwhelming, I’ll tell you. “We’re very quiet in what we do. We don’t expect  recognition. We don’t look for it. This has been a little much for us today, ...  but we’re happy that we could be here and that the French felt they could give  us this extreme honor.” Among those present: Navy Adm. Eric Olson, commander, U.S.  Special Operations Command; Army Lt. Gen. John Mulholland, commanding general,  U.S. Army Special Operations Command and Army Lt. Gen, Richard Zahner, deputy  chief of staff for intelligence.
 SHARE
 PRINT
 Croix de la Valeur Militaire
  U.S. Army Special Operations Command on Facebook
  U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) on Facebook
  Army Gen. Martin  Dempsey
  Navy Adm. Eric  Olson
  Army Lt. Gen. John Mulholland
  Army Lt. Gen. Richard Zahner
  Army Maj. Gen. Timothy Kadavy
  Army Brig. Gen. Steven Duff
 
 38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise
 By Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry,
  Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska
 By 156th Wing
  NY Army Guard Band Performs for Netherlands King and Queen
 By Eric Durr,
  More
 38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise Guard News • 4 hours ago
 Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska Guard News • 5 hours ago
 Air National Guard Conducts Sentry Savannah Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 Hawaii Air National Guard Hosts Sentry Aloha Joint Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 National Guard, US Army North, FEMA Train for Hurricane Response Guard News • yesterday
 2024 (195)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil