Soldier Receives Silver Star

A Fort Jackson, S.C.-based soldier received the Silver Star medal in a June 11 ceremony, for heroism he displayed during a July 13, 2008, firefight in the town of Wanat, in Afghanistan’s Nuristan province. Staff Sgt. Sean Samaroo, now with the 4th Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment, and members of his squad were monitoring a vehicle checkpoint near their base when 200 enemy fighters launched an assault of a vehicle patrol consisting of 30 U.S. and coalition troops. While Samaroo and his comrades defended the checkpoint from attackers, he was hit with shrapnel and was bleeding. Nevertheless, he refused to leave his position until reinforcements arrived. Although nine U.S. soldiers died and 27 more were wounded, as well as four Afghan soldiers, his fellow soldiers believe casualties would have been higher if not for Samaroo’s actions.