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FORT KNOX, Ky., - Selfless service, one of the key tenets by which all soldiers are trained to live their lives, is defined by the Army as “putting the welfare of the Nation, the Army, and your subordinates before your own.” Recently, Command Sgt. Maj. Jose Vega, command sergeant major of the 158th Infantry Brigade based at Camp Shelby, Miss., was rewarded for doing just that, putting his life on the line in order to save the lives of his soldiers.
To hear others speak of his actions in Afghanistan when he and his patrol found themselves caught in the middle of an old Russian mine field, one would think Vega is a shining example of a real-life hero.
Vega, however, disagrees. In his own words, in fact, he’ll tell you that he did what he was obligated to do, nothing else.
“I didn’t do anything that my soldiers did not do on a daily basis over there,” said Vega, humbly.
“If I have to accept the award, I’ll accept it on behalf of all those guys I served with.”
The event in question occurred on June 28, 2006, when Vega, then command sergeant major of the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, was in a convoy that found itself caught in mine field strewn with anti-tank and anti-personnel mines. One vehicle struck an anti-tank mine, injuring five soldiers.
An air evacuation for the injured was ordered, but the problem that had to be solved before anyone could be evacuated was how to get the injured soldiers safely out of the mine field and to the landing zone. The injured couldn’t wait for an engineer sweep to arrive.
Vega took it upon himself to sweep a lane, hopping into his own vehicle and leading the way for the vehicle carrying the injured. Vega used himself as a buffer, driving through 400 meters of an active mine field in order to ensure that the following vehicle did not strike any mines.
Unfortunately, one of the injured soldiers, Cpl. Aaron Griner, was killed, but the other four’s lives were saved in part by Vega’s selfless action that day.
"I’m just thankful I was at least able to get [Griner] home.” Vega said at the ceremony, fighting through tears.
When asked whether he was worried about being in a minefield, Vega responded that the safety of his soldiers was his primary concern.
“I wasn’t worried about being in the minefield. I wanted to get my guys out and get Cpl. Griner and the other wounded soldiers [evacuated],” said Vega.
Last week Vega came to Fort Knox, Ky., to receive a Bronze Star Medal with Valor from Lt. Gen. Benjamin Freakley, Fort Knox commanding general, who in 2006 was the commanding general of the 10th Mountain Division, Vega’s division at the time.
Vega’s dedication to selfless service stands as an inspiration for all soldiers that hear his story: the story of a man who selflessly put his life on the line to help his soldiers.
| Date Taken: | 10.06.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 10.18.2010 13:13 |
| Story ID: | 58339 |
| Location: | FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY, US |
| Web Views: | 93 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Selfless service earns Bronze Star with Valor, by MSG Ben Navratil, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
