Why SFC Alwyn C. Cashe Deserves The Medal of Honor

I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and my Father was a Veteran of the US Army. He enlisted with The 69th Inventory Division during World War II when he was 17 years old, and the experience changed his life forever.

A US Flag always flew in front of our home, and it still does. He and our Mother raised us with an appreciation of the sacrifices that so many make to protect the freedoms that we enjoy and often take for granted.

I've been designing copper cuff bracelets for several years, and on occasion I've quietly provided one to honor or memorialize a member of our armed services. I'm deeply moved when a customer shares his or her personal story of love and loss with me. I know that the sacrifices made by the members of our armed services extend beyond themselves to their families and loved ones at home, and I appreciate all that each of them do on our behalf.

Recently I was moved to tears and humbled beyond words when I was asked to create a bracelet to honor Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn C. Cashe and several of his Brothers. These men are true American Heroes, and their story is nothing short of amazing. Please take a few minutes to read the request that I received, and please also consider visiting the Facebook Page that's been established in support of Sgt. Cashe deserving The Medal of Honor. 
 

The note describes why I'm honoring my brother.

 I've had the great honor of serving as SFC Alwyn Cashe's last platoon leader. On the faithful night of 17 OCT 2005, I witnessed SFC Cashe's heroic actions as he saved the lives of several Soldiers from a burning bradley vehicle. SFC Cashe's actions gave Soldiers the opportunity to say goodbyes to their families and he is an American Hero.

I would like congress to remove the 2 year nomination process associated with the Medal of Honor in order to expedite SFC Cashe's MoH recommendation. (Sergeant First Class Alwyn C. Cashe's Medal of Honor narrative is at the end of this note)
I will never forget the service ofSgt. 1st Class Alwyn C. Cashe, 35, of Oviedo, Florida.Cashe died at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX from wounds suffered October 17, 2005 in Samarra, Iraq. He was on patrol in a Bradley Fighting Vehicle when an improvised explosive devise detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to 1st Battallion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. Died on November 8, 2005.

Staff Sgt. George T. Alexander, Jr., 34, of Clanton, Alabama.Alexander died at Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, of injuries sustained in Samarra, Iraq, on October 17, 2005 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Bradley Fighting Vehicle. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. Died on October 22, 2005.

Sgt. Michael T. Robertson, 28, of Houston, Texas.Robertson died at Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas of injuries sustained in Samarra, Iraq, on October 17, 2005 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Bradley Fighting Vehicle. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. Died on October 25, 2005.

Spc. Darren D. Howe, 21, of Beatrice, Nebraska.Howe died at Brooke Army Medical
Center in San Antonio, Texas, of injuries sustained in Samarra, Iraq, on October
17, 2005 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Bradley Fighting
Vehicle. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. Died on November 3, 2005.

Spc. Ray Salerno, 27, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Salerno died in Texas, of injuries sustained in Samarra, Iraq, on October 17, 2005 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Bradley Fighting Vehicle. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. Died on July, 16
2006.

Iraqi Interpreter died in Samarra, Iraq, on 17 October, of injuries sustained in Samarra, Iraq, on October 17, 2005 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Bradley Fighting Vehicle. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division.

Sgt. Gary Mills recovered from the burn injuries he sustained in Samarra, Iraq, on October 17, 2005 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Bradley Fighting Vehicle. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd
Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division.

SFC Douglas Dodge recovered from the burn injuries he sustained in Samarra, Iraq, on October 17, 2005 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Bradley Fighting Vehicle. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division.

SGT Daniel Connelly survived the October 17, 2005 attack with no major injuries. He was SFC Cashe's Bradley Fighting Vehicle gunner.
 

Sergeant First Class Alwyn C. Cashe's Medal of Honor narrative:

Sergeant First Class Alwyn C. Cashe, United States Army, distinguished himself by exceptional gallantry in action in the face of violence while serving as the platoon 1h sergeant of 151 Platoon, Alpha Company (Hard rock). 151 Battalion, 15 Infantry Regiment, based at FOB Mackenzie, Salah a Din Province, Iraq.On 17 October 2005 , SFC Alwyn Cashe's heroic actions saved the lives of six of his fellow Soldiers.

At approximately 1915 hrs, his platoon departed the forward operating base along Route Jaime to conduct a route clearance operation along a supply route that ran through the town of Duliaya; a town adjacent to the FOB.After traveling about 4-5 kilometers, the lead Bradley fighting vehicle, of which SFC Cashe was in the gunner's hatch, struck a vehicle detonated IED placed across the route at grid MC 25377243. The blast ignited the fuel cell causing fuel to spew throughout the vehicle igniting a fire and causing the vehicle to roll to a stop. Also, from the forward left flank of the blast site, the platoon received enemy small-arms fire.

Soaked with fuel himself, SFC Cashe managed to dismount from the vehicle and assist the driver, SPC Howe, whose uniform was on fire. SFC Cashe extinguished the flames on SPC Howe.Six soldiers and an interpreter were in the troop compartment of the burning vehicle. Flames had engulfed the vehicle and were darting from the weapons ports. One of the soldiers in the back of the vehicle attempted to open the hatch door in an attempt to help the soldiers escape. The flames intensified and everyone inside
was aflame.

Without regard for his personal safety, SFC Cashe rushed to the back of the vehicle, managed to help open the door and began to pull the soldiers out, one at a time. In doing this, the flames totally gripped his fueled soaked uniform causing severe, painful burns. Despite this pain, he bravely continued to pull his troops out of the vehicle and feverishly worked to put their flames out.

As the chaos continued, SFC Cashe noticed that the platoon medic was still inside. He rushed back to the vehicle, reached through the flames and pulled out the medic. All this despite being on fire himself. Within moments, a trail vehicle arrived and assisted with the CASEVAC.

Although severely burned, SFC Cashe bravely continued to take control of the situation as besthe could. Shortly thereafter, the company first sergeant, 1SG Chris Mackenzie, accompanied by medics and other soldiers from the company arrived and began to evacuate the severely burned soldiers, the worst of which was SFC Cashe. The FOB helipad served as the LZ/PZ for the air evacuation. Badly burned, all six soldiers were alive when they were air evacuated. The interpreter did not survive the blast and was immediately transported to the battalion morgue.

Throughout the nightmarish ordeal, ten soldiers were injured. Six of the ten were treated at the Balad Hospital. Five of those six, including SFC Cashe were later evacuated through Landstuhl to the burn center in San Antonio, Texas. Sadly, over the next few weeks, four of the six died of wounds.

Despite being the most severely injured with 2nd and 3rd degree burns over 72% of his body, SFC Alwyn Cashe endured while his soldiers were alive. He suffered through painful surgeries, infections, organ failure and loss of body parts as he continued to be the consummate Platoon Sergeant to his Soldiers. SFC Alwyn Cashe died of his wounds on 8 November 2005. He was the last of those so severely injured that terrible night to die. SFC Cashe's selfless and gallant actions allowed the loved ones of these brave soldiers to spend precious time by their sides before each succumbed to their dreadful injuries.

Although he is no longer with us, SFC Alwyn C. Cashe is the type of hero that historians will write about.His actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military heroism and reflect greatly upon himself and the US Army.

Georgia On My Mind

I continue to "enjoy the journey" to and from my shows, and last week's was an especially memorable one. My participation in The Telfair Art Museum Show provided me with the impetus for my first visit to Savannah.

My adventure is probably best told in a series of photos. While they won't capture everything, hopefully they'll provide you with a glimpse of the beauty that surrounded me and the eclectic experience that I had during my time there. You'll also find a few more photos from the road on my Facebook Page.

In addition to these photos, my favorite memories are definitely of the people I met along the way. My customers who shared their stories, their memories, and their generous spirits...the girl scouts who performed in my booth a song that they wrote about Spanish Moss...the talented artists...the volunteers and show organizers who epitomized the legendary hospitality of Savannah...the police officers who guarded us and our creations around the clock during our visit...and "Christine Sullivan" who kept me company as I rolled up my little corner of the street.

It was a memorable trip all around, and I'm already looking forward to a return visit.

Recapturing My Life and My Free Time Since Artist Alley

Since closing Artist Alley at the end of August, friends have been asking, "What have you been doing with all of your free time?!?!?" To be honest, I haven't had that much of it yet. As someone who genuinely likes to be busy, this is a good thing, indeed!

In the past few months, I've been cleaning and organizing my home, my studio, and my storage space. This is a work in process, and I expect that it will continue for quite some time. I have so many treasures and so many great ideas dancing in my head. Now I'm working to ensure that my digs are conducive to fully exploring each and every one of them.

I've spent time with family and friends. For me right now, this translates into more time at home with the ones I love. I savored an evening with friends and a First Friday Opening in Southern Pines...as a guest! Ken and I traveled to Greenville, NC for a weekend wedding, and we dilly-dallied through The State Fair and Vollis Simpson's whirligig farm along the way. I enjoyed a lively meeting with The Carolina Mixed Media Art Guild, a gallery-hopping day trip with mixed media artist Amy Smith and her kiddos, and a play date in the envy-inducing studio of of the talented Jeanne Rhea. (I've been posting photos of all of these adventures on my Facebook Page, and I hope to share more details here soon too.)

I've also been creating like a madwoman; I've been volunteering two days each month at Artist Gallery of Southern Pines; and I've joined The Carolina Artists' Colony in Sanford. And in the midst of all of this, I'm working to increase the inventory of my creations at the galleries who represent my work. This task often fell to the bottom of my to-do list during my days at Artist Alley, and I'm making slow and steady progress toward rectifying the situation. I'm ever so grateful for the nurturing women who own these galleries. They have been oh so patient with me, and my future blog posts will provide more details about each and every one of their creative spaces and the manner in which they support their fellow artists.

In the past month, I've been up and down the road bound for shows in Norcross, Georgia; Holden Beach; North Carolina; and Atlanta; Georgia. This weekend brings a trip to Savannah for a show at Telfair Art Museum, and I'm so looking forward to it! Each show has been an absolute treat, and in Holden Beach I had the privilege of spending time in the company of one of my favorite artists, Mary Neligan and her family. Mary and her husband Richard create the funky fish that adorn the walls of my home, and her family welcomed me into their home with open arms.

(This photos shows Mary's first-ever funky fish

as it's displayed outside of her sister's front door.)

During this time, I'm also rediscovering something that's been missing in my life...moments of solitude, grace, and gratitude. I'm listening to music again, and I've caught myself singing along. I'm pausing to be in the moment, and I'm taking photos along the way. I've shed a few tears at the sheer beauty that surrounds me, and I've found myself smiling for no reason at all. Dare I say it? Amidst the chaos, a bit of peace is creeping back into my life, and I'm ever so grateful for it.

It's a lovely way to spend my free time.

Final Call for Springfest 2011

The Southern Pines Business Assocation has issued a final call for Springfest 2011 on April 30th. If you'd like to participate... food vendors, non-profits, member businesses and artists may obtain an application by emailing spbainfo@southernpines.biz or by calling (910) 315-6508.

Hope to see you there!

The Best of Intentions...and an Update Concerning Ken's Recovery

As I read my last post, I had a little chuckle at my good intentions to post more frequently. Life happens, and between the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011, it seems to be happening at record speed in our family.

My dear husband, Ken, recently had a heart attack. He's only 38 years old, and it came as quite a shock to all of us. He'd attended multiple fires that afternoon, and he was relaxing at home afterward. He and Alan had just finished watching a movie, and thankfully, he suspected exactly what was happening to him at the time. They immediately set out for our local fire station, about two blocks from our house, because Ken knew that help would be on hand there. Alan dialed 911 along the way, and Ken received immediate medical attention upon arrival.

Within a half hour or so of the onset of pain, Ken was in heart cath surgery, and a stent was being placed. Several days in the ICU were followed by a few in a regular room, and he's "resting" comfortably at home now. (I say "resting" because his definition of the word and mine often differ, and we've had to call the doctor to clarify the same. :-) )

Testing during this time confirmed that only a single artery was blocked, and the doctor not-so-fondly referred to this condition as a "widow-maker" because of its role of providing blood supply to the largest muscle in the heart. After early testing, the doctor was optimistic as to the extent of the damage to Ken's heart, and he credits this optimism to the speed with which he received treatment. We should have a more specific prognosis after Ken's follow-up appointment in mid-March, and we're hopeful that we'll continue to receive good news.

This entire experience has been a blessing in our lives, and it served as a wake-up call to us and to many of those we love. We're grateful for the immediate response of our 911 Personnel, Firefighters, Paramedics, other Public Safety Personnel, and their Families. We're grateful that Ken landed in the capable hands of the most amazing doctor in our county's heart center, which was just opened in February. And we're grateful for the friends, family, nurses, volunteers, and clergy who continue to surround us with their love, prayers, and concern.

Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, messages, and acts of kindness during this time. Thank you for loving us and for holding us close in your hearts. We're humbled, and "thank you" doesn't nearly begin to cover all that we'd like to say. Today I'm hoping to make progress on proper responses to each of you, and I appreciate your patience with my delayed responses.

Where does the time go?!?!?

Where does the time go?!?!?! Periodically I ask myself this question, and I'm never seem to be pleased with my answers. This is one of those times. :-)

Soooo... instead of over analyzing this perplexing question...or trying to give you the play-by-play on all that's been happening in my world... I'm going to try to begin again right here, right now.

Thank you for bearing with me during my quiet time, and I'm really looking forward to catching up with all that I've missed in your world too!