They are Sgt. 1st class Christopher Celiz, an Army Ranger who was killed after crossing between Taliban fighters in Afghanistan and a U.S. Helicopter evacuating wounded soldiers in 2018, Master Sgt. Earl Plumlee was a Special Forces soldier, who fought against Taliban insurgents following a massive attack on Afghanistan in 2013. Alwyn Cashe, 35 years old, died in Iraq after rescuing soldiers from a burning vehicle.
Three of them will be honored at a White House ceremony Dec. 16.
According to the White House, Cashe will be the first Black U.S. soldier to receive the Medal of Honor in recognition of actions taken since Vietnam.
In October 2005, he was patrolling near Samarra in Iraq when the Bradley Fighting Vehicle that he was commanding was set on fire by small arms fire and an unexploded roadside bomb. Cashe saved six of his fellow soldiers from the charred wreckage, and suffered severe burns.
Cashe, a Florida native, died at Texas Hospital from burns the next month. Three soldiers he pulled out of the flaming vehicle also died.
Celiz, 32 years old, was leading an operation in Afghanistan to clear an area of enemy troops in Paktia Province when his team was attacked.
A medical evacuation helicopter was attempting to rescue a casualty when it came under heavy enemy fire.
Celiz was exposed to intense fire while leading the evacuation. Celiz was there to help the crew and the casualty as he loaded them into the helicopter.
Celiz was injured as the helicopter lifted off. Celiz was not seriously injured but he motioned for the helicopter to take off rather than to load him up and risk more casualties.
Celiz, a South Carolina native, enlisted in Army in 2006.
Plumlee was serving in Ghazni (Afghanistan) when the base came under attack. Insurgents blew a sixty foot breach in its perimeter wall.
Ten insurgents dressed in Afghan National Army uniforms and suicide vests entered the breach. Plumlee, five Special Operations personnel mounted two vehicles and raced to the location of the explosion.
Two insurgents were killed by him, one using a well-placed bomb and the other with precision sniper fire. He engaged many others at close range.
One insurgent set off a suicide vest at one point during the battle and mortally wounded a U.S. soldier.
Plumlee ran to the injured soldier, carried him to safety, and gave first aid.
He currently serves with the 1st Special Forces Group, Fort Lewis (Washington).
