Promotions and Awards.

From the DoD email bag today:

First up - the story that wasn't fit for the NYT:

Navy Seal, Medal of Honor Recipient, to be Inducted Into the Hall of Heroes

The White House announced Thursday that Navy Lt. Michael P. Murphy will be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in combat June 27 to 28, 2005, while leading a special reconnaissance mission deep behind enemy lines in the Hindu Kush of Afghanistan.

President Bush is expected to present the Medal of Honor to Lt. Murphy's parents at a ceremony at the White House on Oct. 22, 2007. Media interested in covering this event should contact the White House Office of Media Affairs at (202) 456-5238.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England will induct Murphy into the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon in a ceremony Oct. 23 at 11 a.m. EDT. The Pentagon ceremony will add his name to the roster in the Hall of Heroes, the Defense Department's permanent display of record for all recipients of the Medal of Honor. Media representatives who want to cover the Hall of Heroes induction ceremony on Oct. 23 may contact Navy public affairs at (703) 697-5342.

At 6 p.m. on the same day, Adm. Gary Roughead, chief of naval operations, will present the Medal of Honor flag to the parents of Lt. Murphy in a ceremony at the Navy Memorial. Congress ordered the creation of the Medal of Honor flag commemorating the sacrifice and blood shed for freedom. Media interested in attending this ceremony please call the Navy Memorial at (202) 380-0718.

Murphy is the first armed forces service member to receive the Medal of Honor for combat in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He is also the first Navy service member to receive the Medal of Honor for actions in the Global War on Terror and the third armed forces service member to receive the Medal of Honor since the beginning of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

More information about Murphy's life and career can be found at http://www.navy.mil/moh/mmurphy/index.html .

On to living heroes.

1st Engineer Battalion's Staff Sergeant Gene Deleon (Bronze Star w/V) and Sergeant Norman Inch (Silver Star).

How 'bout these hard chargers?

'DIEHARD' SOLDIERS RECEIVE SILVER, BRONZE STAR MEDALS

By Capt. Rebecca Walsh
1st Eng. Bn.

At a ceremony on Forward Operating Base Q West in Iraq, Sgt. Norman Inch was awarded a Silver Star for his actions while serving in Northern Iraq with the 1st Engineer Battalion "Diehards." The Silver Star is awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States.

Inch, a combat engineer, was conducting a routine route clearance mission when an improvised explosive device struck another vehicle in his patrol wounding four of his comrades and leaving them trapped inside the vehicle. Without hesitation, Inch and his team dismounted from their
vehicle, exposing themselves to enemy fire, as they moved to the disabled vehicle to provide aid to the wounded Soldiers. Faced with continuous small arms fire and the threat of around 30 armed insurgents approaching their location, Inch instructed his team to return fire at the approaching enemy, killing several of them. Upon arriving at the destroyed vehicle, Inch used his back to hold the heavily-armored, 300-pound door open for nearly 20 minutes as the four
wounded Soldiers were removed and carried to a protected area. Inch remained vigilant and continued to fire his weapon against approaching enemy forces despite the precarious position of the destroyed vehicle, continual exposure to enemy fire and his own physical efforts to keep
the door open.

Inch's squad leader, Staff Sgt. Gene Deleon was awarded a Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device for his actions during the same patrol. Deleon instantly began making complex tactical decisions once he learned the patrol leader had been wounded. He assessed the situation and maneuvered vehicles in his patrol to shield Inch's team from enemy fire as they extracted their comrades. Deleon coordinated air support and reinforcements, which allowed the patrol the ability to focus on caring for the wounded.

The actions of Inch and Deleon were admirable, but both noncommissioned officers said there were several heroes on patrol day and the combined efforts of each Soldier helped save the lives of four of their brothers.

Hooah!

Lastly, a promotion.

Army Col. Rhonda L. S. Cornum has been nominated for promotion to the grade of brigadier general. Cornum is currently serving as chief, Department of Surgery, Ireland Army Community Hospital, Fort Knox, Ky.

Congrats, Colonel. Name sound familiar? It should.