Soldier’s Lesser Award Questioned

Deputy Defense Secretary Robert O. Work has ordered an investigation to determine why a soldier who had been recommended for the Medal of Honor instead received a Silver Star. Sgt. 1st Class Earl D. Plumlee’s superiors and comrades all believed the soldier deserved the nation’s highest honor for valor in combat, the Washington Post’s Dan Lamothe reported Sept. 8. Army Secretary John McHugh did not approve the Medal of Honor, opting to award the Silver Star to the soldier instead. Work instructed Defense Department Inspector General Jon T. Rymer to determine if the Army’s Senior Decorations Board acted improperly in overriding the recommendations of senior service officers that Plumlee should receive the Medal of Honor, the Post reported. Official records show that Plumlee fended off attackers wearing suicide vests during combat operations on April 23, 2013, at Forward Operating Base Ghazni in Afghanistan. He was serving with 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) at the time. Plumlee rescued a wounded comrade from attackers and directed others to assist in his rescue as well, then led a search of the area to determine that no more attackers were present once the fight had ended.