President Trump has signed legislation clearing the way for Sergeant First Class Alwyn Cashe to be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
SFC Cashe was leading a route clearance patrol in the city of Daliaya, Iraq on October 17, 2005, when his M-2 Bradley hit an IED rupturing the fuel cell. Initially uninjured, Cashe re-entered the burning Bradley in order to rescue the 6 crewmen and an interpreter trapped in the rear of the vehicle.
Cashe rescued soldiers from the burning vehicle, returning multiple times to continue to pull troops from the burning vehicle, all the while afire himself. Cashe rescued 6 soldiers from the flames and refused medical evacuation until others were evacuated. The interpreter was killed in the action, with 10 soldiers wounded, 7 severely. Cashe was burned over 72% of his body. He succumbed to his injuries November 8, 2005 at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He was survived by his wife and children.