Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Friday, U.S. Reps. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.), Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.) and Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) announced U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper’s agreement that U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Alywn Cashe deserves to have his Silver Star upgraded to the Medal of Honor, the highest award for combat valor in the United States, for SFC Cashe’s heroism in Iraq in October 2005.

Secretary Esper’s support came after a letter from the three Members of Congress urging him to carefully review SFC Cashe’s case. Esper indicated he is prepared to recommend to the President that SFC Cashe be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, should Congress make a change to a federal law requiring the Medal of Honor is awarded within five years of the actions for the basis of the award.

“After giving the nomination careful consideration, I agree that SFC Cashe’s actions merit award of the Medal of Honor,” wrote Esper. “Before we can take further action with this nomination, Congress must waive this [five-year] time limit. Once legislation is enacted authorizing the President of the United States to award, if he so chooses, the Medal of Honor to SFC Cashe, I will provide my endorsement to the President.”

The Department of Defense is conducting a review of valor medals that were awarded in conflicts occurring after September 11, 2001 and multiple medals have been upgraded as a result of this review. The final decision about whether to award SFC Cashe the Medal of Honor rests solely with the President.

SFC Cashe was raised in Oviedo, Fla. In 2005, while deployed to Iraq, Cashe saved multiple soldiers after their fighting vehicle hit an improvised explosive device and caught fire. Cashe returned to the burning vehicle again and again to pull his soldiers out of the flames, all while he himself was on fire and exposed to incoming enemy gunfire. He later died as a result of his wounds.

Waltz and Crenshaw offered a successful floor amendment to the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act to waive the statute of limitations for Cashe’s Silver Star to be upgraded to the Medal of Honor and expressed congressional support for the upgrade.

“Alwyn Cashe’s extraordinary courage on behalf of his fellow soldiers, in the face of danger and death, embodies everything the Medal of Honor represents,” said Waltz. “Cashe is a Florida and American hero. He without a doubt deserves our nation’s highest honor — and I’m very glad Secretary Esper and our Department of Defense agree and recognize his heroic actions. Now Congress needs to act to waive the five year statute of limitations and allow the Department of Defense’s recommendation to move forward and proceed to the President to give final approval.”

“Alwyn was a hero in the purest and most profound sense. He gave his own life to save the lives of his fellow soldiers,” said Murphy. “I am overjoyed that the Secretary of Defense has determined that SFC Cashe’s actions merit the Medal of Honor, a conclusion I strongly share. I will work with my colleagues to swiftly grant the President the authority he needs to provide this valiant soldier with the recognition he earned.”

“Heroes are all around us but certain heroes stand out. One of those heroes is Sergeant First Class Alwyn Cashe. Alwyn Cashe’s actions saved his men’s lives. He risked his own life as he pulled them out of a flaming Bradley Fighting Vehicle and went back - again and again. From Secretary Esper’s statement, we are poised to fully recognize the full extent of his heroism by finally awarding him the Medal of Honor, our nation’s highest military award for bravery on the battlefield. I’m grateful for the hard work of Rep. Murphy and Rep. Waltz in honoring Alwyn Cashe and I look forward to doing all I can to honor Sergeant First Class Alwyn Cashe, because he is a hero and his story is one all Americans should know so we can look upon his example and aspire to the example he displayed.”

Waltz, Murphy and Crenshaw each have national security backgrounds. Waltz is currently a Colonel in the National Guard and served as an officer in the U.S. Army Special Forces, Murphy served as a national security specialist at the Department of Defense and Crenshaw served as an officer in the U.S. Navy SEALs.