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Army Captain A-Stan to be Awarded MOH
GSPatton
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Posted: Thursday, October 15, 2015 - 06:46 AM UTC
A former U.S. Army Captain will be awarded the Medal of Honor next month for heroic actions during combat in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, in 2012, the White House announced on Wednesday.
Retired Capt. Florent A. Groberg, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, was a personal security detachment commander for his brigade commander, Col. James Mingus, when he moved to stop a suicide bomber's attack. At the time Groberg, then a first lieutenant, was assigned to Task Force Mountain Warrior.

Groberg and another soldier, Sgt. Andrew Mahoney, threw the man to the ground, where he exploded a vest filled with explosives and ball bearings. Both soldiers were injured by the blast, which also killed four other Americans.

Groberg sustained a serious wound to his left leg. Both men were awarded the Purple Heart and Mahoney was awarded the Silver Star.
Killed in the attack were Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin Griffin, Maj. Thomas Kennedy, Air Force Maj. Walter D. Gray, and Ragaei Abdelfattah, a representative of the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Groberg was hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center from August 2012 until May 2015, according to the White House. He was medically retired on July 23, 2015.

Groberg was born in Poissy, France, on May 8, 1983. He became a naturalized U.S. Citizen on February 27, 2001, and graduated from Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda, Maryland in June 2001.

The ceremony will take place in November.
GSPatton
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Posted: Monday, December 07, 2015 - 09:45 PM UTC
The Official MOH Citation:

Captain Florent A. Groberg distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Personal Security Detachment Commander for Task Force Mountain Warrior, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, during combat operations against an armed enemy in Asadbad, Kunar Province, Afghanistan on August 8, 2012. On that day, Captain Groberg was leading a dismounted movement consisting of several senior leaders to include two brigade commanders, two battalion commanders, two command sergeants major, and an Afghanistan National Army brigade commander. As they approached the Provincial Governor’s compound, Captain Groberg observed an individual walking close to the formation. When the individual made an abrupt turn towards the formation, he noticed an abnormal bulge underneath the individual’s clothing. Selflessly placing himself in front of one of the brigade commanders, Captain Groberg rushed forward, using his body to push the suspect away from the formation. Simultaneously, he ordered another member of the security detail to assist with removing the suspect. At this time, Captain Groberg confirmed the bulge was a suicide vest and with complete disregard for his life, Captain Groberg again with the assistance of the other member of the security detail, physically pushed the suicide bomber away from the formation. Upon falling, the suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest outside the perimeter of the formation, killing four members of the formation and wounding numerous others. The blast from the first suicide bomber caused the suicide vest of a previously unnoticed second suicide bomber to detonate prematurely with minimal impact on the formation. Captain Groberg’s immediate actions to push the first suicide bomber away from the formation significantly minimized the impact of the coordinated suicide bombers’ attack on the formation, saving the lives of his comrades and several senior leaders. Captain Groberg’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty at the risk of life are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect credit upon himself, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division and the United States Army.