Florent Groberg

Florent Groberg
Nickname(s) Flo
Born (1983-05-08) May 8, 1983
Poissy, France
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 2008–2015
Rank Captain
Unit 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
Battles/wars Operation Enduring Freedom
War in Afghanistan
Awards Medal of Honor
Bronze Star (2)
Purple Heart

Florent Ahmed Groberg (born May 8, 1983) is a medically retired French American military officer and civilian employee of the U.S. Department of Defense. Born in France to an American father and French-Algerian mother, he became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2001.[1] He renounced his French citizenship prior to joining the U.S Army in 2008.[2] He served in the U.S. Army during the War in Afghanistan, where in August 2012, he was severely injured attempting to thwart a suicide bomber. On November 12, 2015, Groberg received the Medal of Honor for his heroic action in Afghanistan.

Early life and education

Florent Groberg was born in Poissy, France, near Paris, on May 8, 1983.[3] He is the son of American Larry Groberg, originally from Indiana, and Klara Groberg, who is French, of Algerian descent. Larry Groberg was a businessman and his job took him around the world. The family lived in the Paris region until Florent was 6, then moved to Spain and back to France. He did not speak English until he was 11 years old.

When Groberg was in middle school, his family moved to the Chicago area before they settled in Potomac, Maryland, where he continued his studies in French at Lycée Rochambeau in Bethesda, Maryland, before graduating from nearby Walter Johnson High School in June 2001. Groberg became a naturalized U.S. citizen on February 27, 2001. Groberg attended the University of Maryland, College Park and competed in varsity track and cross country.[4] In May 2006, Groberg graduated from the University of Maryland with a bachelor's degree in criminology and criminal justice.[3]

Military career

Junior officer

Groberg entered the Army in July 2008 and attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He received his commission as an infantry officer on December 4, 2008. After completing Infantry Officer Basic Course, Mechanized Leaders Course, US Army Airborne and US Army Ranger Schools, he was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado, as a platoon leader.[3]

In Afghanistan

Florent Groberg patrols the city streets of Asadabad, Afghanistan, on Feb. 9, 2010.

In November 2009, he deployed to Afghanistan as part of Task Force Lethal, with responsibility for the Pech River Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province.[3]

Upon returning home in June 2010, he continued serving as a platoon leader until he was reassigned as an infantry company executive officer from October 2010 to November 2011. He was then assigned as the brigade personal security detachment commander for 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. He deployed again to Kunar Province, Afghanistan, in February 2012, with Task Force Mountain Warrior. He was promoted to captain in July 2012.[3]

On the morning of August 8, 2012, Groberg served as a personal security detachment (PSD) commander for Task Force Mountain Warrior — responsible for the safety of 28 coalition and Afghan National Army (ANA) personnel, including several principals: two brigade commanders, two battalion commanders, the brigade command sergeant major, a battalion command sergeant major and an ANA battalion commander.[5]

The patrol's escort mission included moving on foot from Forward Operating Base Fiaz to the provincial governor's compound in Asadabad, Kunar, Afghanistan for a weekly security meeting.

Andrew Mahoney and Florent Groberg

As the patrol advanced towards the governor's compound, they reached the choke point along the route, a small bridge spanning a canal feeding the Kunar River. The patrol halted near the bridge as two motorcycles approached from the opposite direction. The motorcyclists began crossing the bridge, but stopped midway before dismounting and retreating in the opposite direction.

As the patrol observed the motorcyclists, Groberg also spotted a lone individual near the left side of the formation, walking backwards in the direction of the patrol. The individual did not cause immediate alarm as there were other local civilians in the area.

However, when the individual made an abrupt turn towards the formation, Groberg saw he was wearing a suicide vest. He rushed the suspect and shoved him away from the patrol.[5] Groberg, aided by fellow soldier Sgt. Andrew Mahoney, grabbed the suicide bomber and physically dragged him away from the formation.[3][5]

Groberg with President Obama, his parents Klara and Larry Groberg, and friend, Matthew Sanders, on September 11, 2012 at Walter Reed National Medical Center.

Groberg tackled the suicide bomber, who then detonated his device, sending Groberg flying 15 to 20 feet away. A second suicide bomber, who was hidden behind a small structure, instantly detonated his device; according to the Army, he detonated prematurely because of Groberg's actions to stop the first bomber. Three U.S. military personnel and a U.S. Foreign Service Officer from the U.S. Agency for International Development were killed and several others were injured.[5]

Despite the loss of life, Groberg's actions prevented the bombers from detonating their devices as planned, which could have killed many more on the patrol.[5]

As a result of his actions, Groberg sustained the loss of 45 to 50 percent of his left calf muscle with significant nerve damage, a blown eardrum, and a mild traumatic brain injury. Groberg spent his recovery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center from August 2012 through May 2015. He was medically retired from Company B Warriors, Warrior Transition Battalion, as a captain, on July 23, 2015.[6]

Medal of Honor

Florent Groberg received the Medal of Honor on November 12, 2015.

For his August 2012 actions, Groberg received the Medal of Honor, the highest military honor in the United States. Groberg is the 19th recipient of the Medal of Honor after the Vietnam War, the first foreign-born recipient since the Vietnam War and the 10th living recipient. President Barack Obama awarded the Medal of Honor to Groberg on November 12, 2015 at a ceremony at the White House.[6][7]

In a Veterans Day post the day before the ceremony, Obama shared a video about Groberg on Facebook, with the words:

...Flo's team was in Afghanistan, escorting American and Afghan military leaders to a local security meeting when they were approached by a suicide bomber. He jumped into action to protect his team, saving the lives of his fellow servicemembers.

[8][9]

Personal life

Groberg has a cousin living in France, named Anthony, who is a soldier of the 93e régiment d'artillerie de montagne within the French Army. When Groberg was wounded, he was repatriated to Europe and his cousin Anthony joined him at his bedside.[10]

Awards and decorations

Groberg has been awarded the following:[11]

Width-44 scarlet ribbon with width-4 ultramarine blue stripe at center, surrounded by width-1 white stripes. Width-1 white stripes are at the edges.

 Width-44 purple ribbon with width-4 white stripes on the borders
Width-44 myrtle green ribbon with width-3 white stripes at the edges and five width-1 stripes down the center; the central white stripes are width-2 apart

Width=44 scarlet ribbon with a central width-4 golden yellow stripe, flanked by pairs of width-1 scarlet, white, Old Glory blue, and white stripes
Width-44 ribbon with width-6 central ultramarine blue stripe, flanked by pairs of stripes that are respectively width-4 emerald, width-3 golden yellow, width-5 orange, and width-7 scarlet
1st row Combat Infantryman Badge
2nd row Medal of Honor Bronze Star Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster Purple Heart
3rd row Meritorious Service Medal Army Commendation Medal Army Achievement Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
4th row National Defense Service Medal Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three bronze campaign stars Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
5th row Army Service Ribbon Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 1 NATO Medal
6th row Ranger Tab Basic Parachutist Badge
7th row 12th Infantry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
8th row Army Meritorious Unit Commendation
9th row 4th Infantry Division CSIB

See also

References

  1. ↑ "A Real Running Hero: The Flo Groberg Story". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  2. ↑ Lamothe, Dan (2015-11-10). "After confronting a suicide bomber, this soldier must swap running for the Medal of Honor". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Leipold, J.D. (October 14, 2015). "Groberg to receive Medal of Honor for actions in Afghanistan". Army News Service. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  4. ↑  . "Florent Groberg Biography – Maryland Terrapins Athletics – University of Maryland Terps Official Athletic Site". Umterps.com. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Tan, Michelle (October 14, 2015). "Army captain to receive Medal of Honor for valor in Asadabad". Army Times. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  6. 1 2 Gibbons-Neff, Thomas (October 14, 2015). "This Army captain will get the Medal of Honor for tackling an Afghan suicide bomber". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Remarks by the President in Medal of Honor Presentation to Captain Florent Groberg, United States Army" (Press release). White House Press Secretary. November 12, 2015. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Profile in Courage: President Honors Heroic Immigrant Soldier (Video)". American News X. November 11, 2015. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  9. ↑ Obama, Barack (November 12, 2015). ""One of the most humbling parts of my job is serving as Commander-in-Chief..."". Facebook. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Official Facebook page of the French Army". Facebook. November 12, 2015. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Captain Florent Groberg Medal of Honor Nominee". Army.mil Features. United States Army. Retrieved 17 October 2015.

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