Purple Hearts awarded to 3-1 Cav. Regt. Soldiers

Photo By Staff Sgt. James Hutto | Staff Sgt. Sean Kane, front, from San Jose, Calif., a squad leader in 2nd platoon, Company B, 3rd Squadron,1st Cavalry Regiment, currently attached to Company D, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, and Spc. David Menillo, from Fairfield, Conn., the medic for 2nd platoon, show their medals to their platoon mates following a ceremony at Combat Outpost Cashe Nov. 29. Both Soldiers received Purple Heart medals for injuries they received when a suicide bomber attempted to kill members of their squad Aug.18 at a Concerned Citizens Meeting in Jisr Diyala.  

11.30.2007

Story by Spc. James Hutto 

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

By Spc. Ben Hutto
3rd BCT, 3rd Inf. Div. PAO

COMBAT OUTPOST CASHE, Iraq – Two Soldiers from 2nd platoon, Company B, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, were awarded Purple Heart medals during a ceremony at Combat Outpost Cashe Nov. 29.

Staff Sgt. Sean Kane, from San Jose, Calif., a squad leader in 2nd platoon, and Spc. David Menillo, from Fairfield, Conn., the medic for 2nd squad, were both praised by Maj. Andrew Koloski, from Juneau, Alaska, the executive officer of 3-1st Cav. Regt., for their actions Aug. 18 when they sustained injuries during a suicide bomber attack at a Concerned Local Citizens meeting in Jisr Diyala.

First Lt. Mike Barth, from El Segundo, Calif., the platoon leader for 2nd squad, witnessed the incident and was on hand to recognize his two Soldiers.

"The amazing thing about the whole situation was that, despite being injured, both Soldiers kept doing their jobs and maintained a high level of professionalism throughout the whole incident," Barth said. "I'm extremely proud of both of them."

Kane thanked everyone for their support, but admitted that the award was something that he was not looking to receive during his current tour in Iraq.

"This is definitely an award that I didn't want to receive, but I'll take it," Kane said. "I'm just glad it wasn't worse."

Menillo explained that at the time he didn't really know that he was injured. His duties as a combat medic caused him to focus on the job at hand and help Kane.

"It happened so fast that I didn't really have time to realize it," he said. "I was dazed, but the adrenaline kicked in and I just did my job. I knew my body was all in one piece so I wasn't too worried."

After the ceremony, Soldiers from Company D, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, which the squad is currently attached to, - filed by and congratulated the two Soldiers on their awards.

"Both guys are outstanding Soldiers and deserve the awards they received," Barth said. "I'm just thankful that they are still with us and the incident wasn't fatal."

The 3-1st Cav. Regt. and 1-15th Inf. Regt. are assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Benning, Ga., and have been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom V since March.

• Date Taken: 11.30.2007
• Date Posted: 12.03.2007 14:13
• Story ID: 14364