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Ladies and gentlemen , please stand for 

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the arrival of the official party . The 

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29th Secretary of Defense , the 

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Honorable Pete Hegseth , Sergeant Major 

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Eric J . Gerasi , United States Army 

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retired , Colonel Myron Reinke , United 

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States Army retired , former commander 

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of 2nd squadron , 2nd striker Cavalry 

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Regiment , Baghdad , Iraq 2007 to 2008 . 

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And Colonel Michael Steele , United 

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States Army retired , former commander 

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of 3rd Brigade , 101st Airborne 

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Division , Samar , Iraq 2005 to 2006 . 

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Please remain standing for the 

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presentation of colors , the national 

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anthem sung by Sergeant First Class 

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Adam Strube , and the invocation by 

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Chaplain Stephen Servants . 

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Uh Oh 

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Oh , free . Oh , 

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Oh say can you see . 

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by the dawn's early 

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light what so proudly 

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we at the 

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twilight's last gleaming whose 

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stripes and bright stars 

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through the 

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or the ramparts we watched 

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were so gallantly 

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streaming and the rockets 

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red . the bombs bursting . 

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Gave proof through the 

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night that our flag was still 

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there . Oh say does 

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that star spangled back . 

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And yet we or the 

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And of the free . and 

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the Oh A 

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Oh 00 . 

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Do so . 

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Good morning . I invite you to join me 

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in prayer . Eternal Father , we gather 

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today with grateful hearts thankful for 

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the joy and peace you bring as we turn 

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to you . We have come together to 

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celebrate the promotions of Captain 

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Matthew Bartlett and Captain Clarence 

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Dingman to the rank of Major . We give 

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thanks for their leadership , exemplary 

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service , and the sacrifices they have 

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made in serving their country . Thank 

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you for their spouses and families that 

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supported them along the way . In 

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addition to celebrating these 

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promotions , we also gather to honor 

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Command Sergeant Major Eric Gerasi as 

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he is awarded the Distinguished Service 

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Cross for his heroic leadership and 

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actions in combat against al Qaeda in 

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Iraq . You , Father , are honored by 

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his faith which sustained him during 

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the trials of battle , his unwavering 

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work ethic , selflessness , 

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valor . And warrior spirit . 

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Thank you for watching over him and the 

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warriors who stood beside him . We 

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invite your spirit to guide and bless 

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this ceremony . May all we say and do 

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bring honor and glory to you . In your 

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mighty and sacred name we pray . Amen . 

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Ladies and gentlemen , please be seated . 

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Good morning and welcome to today's 

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honorary promotion ceremony for Captain 

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Matthew Bartlett and Captain Clarence 

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Dingman to the rank of Major in the 

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Distinguished Service Cross Award 

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ceremony to honor Sergeant Major Eric 

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Gerasi , we extend a warm welcome to 

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all family , friends , and colleagues 

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who've joined us today . 

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The honorary promotion ceremony . 

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Attention to orders . In consideration 

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of a lifetime of commitment to this 

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nation , trust and confidence in the 

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patriotism , valor , fidelity , and 

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abilities of Captain Matthew Bartlett 

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and Captain Clarence Dingman , we do 

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hereby appoint them in the United 

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States Army to the honorary grade of 

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Major as such from this 18th day of 

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March 2025 . By order of the 

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secretary of the Army . 

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Ladies and gentlemen , Majors Dingman 

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and Bartlett . 

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Ladies and gentlemen , this concludes 

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today's promotion ceremony . The 

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Secretary of Defense welcomes you to 

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the Distinguished Service Cross Award 

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ceremony in in honor of Sergeant Major 

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Eric J . Gerasi , United States Army 

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retired . 

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It is my honor to introduce two of 

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Sergeant Major Gerasi's former 

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commanders who will make a few remarks . 

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First , we will hear from Colonel Myron 

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Roenicke , United States Army retired . 

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Secretary Hag Seth . General George 

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Our distinguished guests . Men of Eagle 

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Company and the 2nd squadron , 2nd 

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cavalry Regiment . Family members and 

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colleagues . And so Major Garasy . 

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I am deeply honored to be here this 

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morning as we award the Distinguished 

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Service Cross to Command Sergeant Major 

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retired Eric J . Gerasi . 

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My name is Myron Reenicke . And I 

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commanded the 2nd squadron , 2nd 

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cavalry regiment during the squadron's 

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deployment to Iraq from August of 2007 . 

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Until October of 2008 . 

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And my purpose this morning is simple . 

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I am here to say thank you . However 

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inadequately but most sincerely . 

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First , I'd like to thank God from whom 

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all blessings flow . And I thank God 

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for sending Master Sergeant Eric Gerasi 

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to my squadron . Eric arrived in Vilsse , 

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Germany unexpectedly . In the middle of 

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a winter's night during a snowstorm . 

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Because how else would Eric arrive ? 

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The command sergeant Major and I gladly 

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welcomed him as we were not yet at full 

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strength . We had just moved as a rest 

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stationing mission with the entire 

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cavalry regiment from Fort Lewis , 

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Washington to Vilsack , Germany , only 

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6 months before . And we had 2 of our 

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5 authorized first sergeants on hand . 

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We quickly realized that Eric's 

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leadership and experience would greatly 

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benefit our young formation . And so we 

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assigned him as the Eagle Company first 

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sergeant . Where he immediately began 

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to prepare his soldiers for our 

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upcoming deployment to Iraq . 

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And I'd like to thank those soldiers , 

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non-commissioned officers and officers 

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of Eagle Company . Thank you for 

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your trust in First Sergeant Gerasi's 

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leadership , experience , and guidance 

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as you tirelessly trained and prepared 

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for deployment . And then worked with 

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urgency and without sleep . 

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To prepare your combat outpost defense 

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ahead of assuming control of your 

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assigned battle space in East Rashid , 

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Baghdad . Thank you 

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especially . For your cohesive 

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bravery and courage under fire 

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during the desperate defense of your 

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outpost on the 4th of September 

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2007 . Your actions 

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that day are in keeping with the finest 

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examples and traditions of the American 

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soldier throughout our nation's history . 

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And I am humbled and proud to have been 

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your commander . Thank you . 

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I'd like to say thank you to our senior 

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leaders , both military and civilian . 

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Who continually endorsed and advocated 

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for the upgrade of this award . Despite 

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repeated setbacks and disapprovals . 

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At every turn you reaffirm your support 

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for Sergeant Major Gery to be properly 

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recognized for his heroic leadership 

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and actions in combat . Although nearly 

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18 years later , This day would not 

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be possible without your advocacy , 

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encouragement , and assistance . Thank 

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you very much . 

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And finally , my personal thanks to you , 

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Eric . Your demonstrated care for 

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your soldiers through tough , realistic 

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training and tireless preparation and 

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rehearsals were the precursors to 

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victory . Upon occupation 

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of combat outpost Blackfoot . Your 

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immediate assessment of the tactical 

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situation anticipated the very attack 

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that was to come . In the 

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absence of your commander . You 

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personally coordinated the fence of the 

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outpost while simultaneously directing 

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the fires of attack aviation and 

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sending reports back to me . 

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Your leadership and courageous actions 

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under fire decisively defeated a 

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complex attack against a determined 

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enemy . And numerically superior enemy . 

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Without the loss of a single American 

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soldier's life . Eric , for this , I am 

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most grateful , and I owe you a debt 

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that I can never repay . Thank you . 

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September 4th could have been a tragic 

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day . The enemy was hoping to achieve a 

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spectacular event that would 

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reverberate around the world . In an 

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attempt to influence American public 

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opinion against the war in Iraq . 

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Their success would have demoralized 

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the entire squadron and our families 

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back home at the very start of a 

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grueling 15 month combat deployment . 

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Instead , Eagle Company's victory 

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inspired confidence throughout the 

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squadron . And marked the beginning of 

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a campaign that led to the defeat of al 

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Qaeda in East Raided and enabled the 

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return of the city to local governance 

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and Iraqi sovereignty . For 

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its collective actions in Baghdad from 

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September 2007 to May 2008 . 

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The Cougar Squadron was awarded the 

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Valorous Unit Award . And so today , 

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Eric , we finally gathered to fully 

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recognize your valor on that pivotal 

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day in Iraq . 

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Thankfully , we will never know what 

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the outcome might have been had you not 

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arrived to us on that dark , cold , 

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snowy night in Germany . May God 

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continue to bless you and watch over 

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you . And may God bless the soldiers of 

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the 2nd Cavalry Regiment . And the 

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United States Army . Always ready , 

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second to none . Thank you . 

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Ladies and gentlemen , Colonel Michael 

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Steele , United States Army retired . 

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First and foremost , Clarence and Matt , 

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congratulations . That is so long 

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overdue . 

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Secretary Hex . General George 

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All of you rockasons . 

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And all you normal people . 

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Eric , look at that . That is a 

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testimony to you . 

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Somebody told me this room had never 

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been filled . What a shame . What a 

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shame because we ought to be 

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recognizing men like this . And fill in 

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this room all the time . 

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I recognize nobody came here today to 

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hear me speak . Everybody came to hear 

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the secretary and hear Eric speak , and 

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so I'll be brief . First and foremost , 

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I want to thank God . For allowing me 

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to be an American . And to live in the 

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greatest country on earth . 

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And I want to thank God for allowing me 

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to be here today . One of the things 

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that . The secretary and I share in 

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common among many things is our belief 

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in God and our faith in the Lord Jesus 

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Christ . I've been a Christian for 44 

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years , and I make it a habit that any 

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time I travel or I speak , always 

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remember to thank God for His mercy in 

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my life and the extraordinary blessings 

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he's , he's bestowed on me . Today 

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It has been a long time coming . The 

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day that we collectively recognize Eric 

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Gara for his heroism and for his 

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gallantry . 

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But there's a sad aspect . There's a 

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bad aspect to the day as well , that it 

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took 18 years for a Warriors award to 

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be accepted , to be processed , to be 

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00:21:17,480 --> 00:21:19,758
approved , and for him to be presented . 

279
00:21:19,758 --> 00:21:20,780
18 years . 

280
00:21:27,770 --> 00:21:30,030
I am exceedingly grateful , Mr . 

281
00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:33,000
Secretary and Chief , for your actions 

282
00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:34,778
to make sure that we properly . 

283
00:21:35,489 --> 00:21:37,600
Recognized Eric today . Thank you for 

284
00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:41,439
that . But the sad truth is that 

285
00:21:41,439 --> 00:21:43,800
there are hundreds of other young men . 

286
00:21:44,790 --> 00:21:47,012
Who've done the right thing , picked up 

287
00:21:47,012 --> 00:21:49,234
their rifles , and they've run into the 

288
00:21:49,234 --> 00:21:51,512
darkness and done our nation's bidding . 

289
00:21:51,512 --> 00:21:53,679
And yet they're still waiting on being 

290
00:21:53,679 --> 00:21:56,739
recognized . I can't tell you how 

291
00:21:56,739 --> 00:21:59,069
encouraged I am , Chief , that you're 

292
00:21:59,069 --> 00:22:00,958
in charge of the army , and you , 

293
00:22:00,958 --> 00:22:03,069
Secretary Hag said , you're in charge 

294
00:22:03,069 --> 00:22:05,390
of the military , two men who have a 

295
00:22:05,390 --> 00:22:07,849
well deserved reputation for unfettered 

296
00:22:07,849 --> 00:22:10,270
fairness and justice , and I know that 

297
00:22:10,270 --> 00:22:12,492
you're both working hard to ensure that 

298
00:22:12,492 --> 00:22:15,420
these men who are still waiting . Will 

299
00:22:15,420 --> 00:22:17,660
be appropriately recognized in the 

300
00:22:17,660 --> 00:22:21,439
future . I arrived this morning pretty 

301
00:22:21,439 --> 00:22:23,829
early , got held up as security . Some 

302
00:22:23,829 --> 00:22:25,385
Navy guys down there were . 

303
00:22:29,939 --> 00:22:32,329
But I , I got to speak to almost 

304
00:22:32,329 --> 00:22:36,329
everybody . And as I spoke to 

305
00:22:36,329 --> 00:22:38,440
everybody , there was a question that 

306
00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:40,551
kept coming to my mind . But I didn't 

307
00:22:40,551 --> 00:22:42,662
ask anybody and I , I just decided to 

308
00:22:42,662 --> 00:22:44,500
wait and ask you collectively . 

309
00:22:47,969 --> 00:22:50,459
Why Are you here ? 

310
00:22:54,920 --> 00:22:58,400
Why are you here ? We've got people 

311
00:23:00,489 --> 00:23:02,267
Unfortunately from California . 

312
00:23:04,349 --> 00:23:07,550
We've got somebody over here from From 

313
00:23:07,550 --> 00:23:09,670
Fort Fort Lewis , Fort Lewis , 

314
00:23:09,790 --> 00:23:12,068
Washington . if I use antiquated names , 

315
00:23:12,150 --> 00:23:15,489
I'm not sorry , I'm old . From Fort 

316
00:23:15,489 --> 00:23:19,089
Lewis , Washington . Met somebody today 

317
00:23:19,089 --> 00:23:21,479
from Idaho and I may be the only person 

318
00:23:21,479 --> 00:23:23,535
here . I didn't know people actually 

319
00:23:23,535 --> 00:23:25,590
lived in Idaho . I thought they were 

320
00:23:25,590 --> 00:23:29,150
just potatoes . Met somebody from 

321
00:23:29,420 --> 00:23:32,239
Denver , Colorado . Missouri . I saw 

322
00:23:32,239 --> 00:23:34,461
him a minute ago . Missouri . There you 

323
00:23:34,461 --> 00:23:36,869
go , Missouri . We've got people from 

324
00:23:37,089 --> 00:23:39,089
New Hampshire . I've only met a few 

325
00:23:39,089 --> 00:23:41,311
guys from New Hampshire , somebody from 

326
00:23:41,311 --> 00:23:44,680
Eric's small town , New York City . Got 

327
00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:46,800
quite a few people from Pennsylvania 

328
00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:48,967
today . Obviously a lot of people from 

329
00:23:48,967 --> 00:23:51,760
Virginia and from DC . Got a couple 

330
00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:54,670
people from South Carolina from North 

331
00:23:54,670 --> 00:23:56,892
Carolina . Doctor Hart , there's Doctor 

332
00:23:56,892 --> 00:23:59,059
Hart right at the back . Doctor Hart , 

333
00:23:59,059 --> 00:24:01,270
Colonel Hart is the Rockerson 

334
00:24:01,270 --> 00:24:03,839
regimental psychiatrist . See me after 

335
00:24:03,839 --> 00:24:06,006
this . I've got some new referrals for 

336
00:24:06,006 --> 00:24:09,770
you . We've got 

337
00:24:09,770 --> 00:24:12,010
about a company's worth of guys from 

338
00:24:12,010 --> 00:24:14,066
Fort Campbell , Kentucky . We've got 

339
00:24:14,066 --> 00:24:16,010
guys from Clarksville , Kentucky . 

340
00:24:16,010 --> 00:24:18,177
There's a guy over here from Alabama . 

341
00:24:18,177 --> 00:24:20,177
Somebody over here was from Texas . 

342
00:24:20,177 --> 00:24:22,180
Somebody is from Louisiana . I just 

343
00:24:22,609 --> 00:24:24,498
there , right there , Louisiana , 

344
00:24:24,498 --> 00:24:26,849
somebody from Mississippi . We've got 

345
00:24:26,849 --> 00:24:29,290
Ed Rogers , a mutual friend from , from 

346
00:24:29,290 --> 00:24:31,849
Miami for Eric and me , recognized as 

347
00:24:31,849 --> 00:24:33,930
probably the best 53 pilot in the 

348
00:24:33,930 --> 00:24:37,469
history of the Marine Corps . I met two 

349
00:24:37,469 --> 00:24:40,150
guys from Europe . Somebody's here from 

350
00:24:40,150 --> 00:24:43,969
Hawaii . We've got 

351
00:24:43,969 --> 00:24:47,339
officers . We've got non-commissioned 

352
00:24:47,339 --> 00:24:50,420
officers . We have junior enlisted . We 

353
00:24:50,420 --> 00:24:52,890
have former superiors , we have peers , 

354
00:24:53,099 --> 00:24:57,000
we have subordinates . We've 

355
00:24:57,000 --> 00:24:59,222
come here today from around the country 

356
00:24:59,222 --> 00:25:01,420
and from foreign countries to this 

357
00:25:01,420 --> 00:25:03,739
point in time , to this specific 

358
00:25:03,739 --> 00:25:05,961
location , and my question for you is , 

359
00:25:05,961 --> 00:25:07,017
why are you here ? 

360
00:25:12,329 --> 00:25:15,130
Are you here because Eric Gery has met 

361
00:25:15,130 --> 00:25:18,670
your expectations of leadership ? I'd 

362
00:25:18,670 --> 00:25:20,781
say no , that's not why you're here . 

363
00:25:21,380 --> 00:25:23,709
You see , you and you and I are here 

364
00:25:24,160 --> 00:25:27,160
because Eric Gery has exceeded our 

365
00:25:27,160 --> 00:25:29,920
expectations of leadership . We're here 

366
00:25:29,920 --> 00:25:32,800
because Eric is a fanatical soldier and 

367
00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:34,244
he's a fanatical leader . 

368
00:25:41,369 --> 00:25:41,949
I like 

369
00:25:45,670 --> 00:25:47,670
A fanatical soldier and a fanatical 

370
00:25:47,670 --> 00:25:49,670
leader , and I know I probably hurt 

371
00:25:49,670 --> 00:25:51,781
somebody's feelings by using the word 

372
00:25:51,781 --> 00:25:53,790
fanatic . I know we don't like that 

373
00:25:53,790 --> 00:25:56,430
word unless , unless we're talking 

374
00:25:56,430 --> 00:25:58,829
about sports , and then you can paint 

375
00:25:58,829 --> 00:26:01,051
yourself orange and go butt naked to an 

376
00:26:01,051 --> 00:26:03,270
NFL game and the announcer would say 

377
00:26:03,270 --> 00:26:05,381
our fans are the greatest . They're a 

378
00:26:05,381 --> 00:26:09,219
bunch of fanatics . We want more . But 

379
00:26:09,229 --> 00:26:11,340
when it comes to things that matter . 

380
00:26:11,989 --> 00:26:15,390
Like Serving our nation in uniform , 

381
00:26:15,880 --> 00:26:19,719
we've been slowly . Conditioned to 

382
00:26:19,719 --> 00:26:23,560
accept unemotional . Apathetic 

383
00:26:24,369 --> 00:26:27,859
flaccid leadership . Our soldiers , Mr . 

384
00:26:27,869 --> 00:26:30,147
Secretary , those soldiers in the back , 

385
00:26:30,270 --> 00:26:32,492
they want , and more importantly , they 

386
00:26:32,492 --> 00:26:36,239
deserve fanatical leadership . And that 

387
00:26:36,239 --> 00:26:38,719
is what Eric Garsey is . Eric Gery is a 

388
00:26:38,719 --> 00:26:42,089
fanatical leader . We're here today 

389
00:26:42,089 --> 00:26:44,449
because Eric has the is a kind of 

390
00:26:44,449 --> 00:26:47,219
impassioned leader . That we all want 

391
00:26:47,219 --> 00:26:49,349
to follow . We're here because Eric 

392
00:26:49,349 --> 00:26:51,979
Gery inspires us . 

393
00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:56,229
Think for a minute . What would happen 

394
00:26:56,229 --> 00:26:59,069
if we had 335 million ? 

395
00:27:00,010 --> 00:27:03,920
Citizens Who are fanatical and 

396
00:27:03,920 --> 00:27:07,170
unapologetic . About being Americans . 

397
00:27:09,760 --> 00:27:11,816
I'll hazard a guess and say we would 

398
00:27:11,816 --> 00:27:13,871
never have a recruiting problem ever 

399
00:27:13,871 --> 00:27:17,239
again . Listen , I have had 

400
00:27:18,729 --> 00:27:20,680
I've had the honor , I've had the 

401
00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:22,791
privilege to serve with some of the . 

402
00:27:24,079 --> 00:27:27,170
The bravest And the toughest men on 

403
00:27:27,170 --> 00:27:31,079
earth . And as I think back of the 

404
00:27:31,079 --> 00:27:33,079
warriors who have been in my life . 

405
00:27:37,890 --> 00:27:41,790
Men who I aspire to be . Men who 

406
00:27:41,790 --> 00:27:43,569
I desire to emulate . 

407
00:27:45,949 --> 00:27:48,339
One of those at the top of that list . 

408
00:27:49,699 --> 00:27:52,489
Is Eric Garasy . Eric Garasy is the 

409
00:27:52,489 --> 00:27:56,430
quintessential American soldier . Eric , 

410
00:27:56,510 --> 00:28:00,380
I thank God for you . And I thank God 

411
00:28:00,550 --> 00:28:02,717
for all you other fanatics that are in 

412
00:28:02,717 --> 00:28:06,410
the room . I am honored to be here , 

413
00:28:06,449 --> 00:28:10,359
but more importantly , I'm honored 

414
00:28:10,359 --> 00:28:13,900
to be your friend . This 

415
00:28:13,900 --> 00:28:16,699
nation owes you an extraordinary debt 

416
00:28:16,699 --> 00:28:19,849
of gratitude . For your honorable 

417
00:28:19,849 --> 00:28:22,489
service to this nation under the most 

418
00:28:22,489 --> 00:28:26,109
difficult of circumstances . And I hope 

419
00:28:27,020 --> 00:28:29,920
And I pray That God will continue to 

420
00:28:29,920 --> 00:28:32,229
bless you in the future . 

421
00:28:35,020 --> 00:28:37,489
And for all you Roxannes here , you 

422
00:28:37,489 --> 00:28:41,449
need to know I am proud of each and 

423
00:28:41,449 --> 00:28:44,140
every one of you . And more importantly , 

424
00:28:45,300 --> 00:28:46,300
I love you . 

425
00:29:05,540 --> 00:29:07,540
Ladies and gentlemen , our host for 

426
00:29:07,540 --> 00:29:09,540
today's ceremony , the twenty-ninth 

427
00:29:09,540 --> 00:29:11,596
Secretary of Defense , the Honorable 

428
00:29:11,596 --> 00:29:12,596
Pete Hegseth . 

429
00:29:22,199 --> 00:29:23,921
Colonel , you were wrong about 

430
00:29:23,921 --> 00:29:25,969
something . I did come to hear you 

431
00:29:25,969 --> 00:29:29,939
speak . And so did this crowd , 

432
00:29:30,630 --> 00:29:32,908
um , it's an absolute honor to be here . 

433
00:29:33,530 --> 00:29:35,380
Uh , I was in with , uh , Connor 

434
00:29:35,380 --> 00:29:37,859
McGregor yesterday . I was in the Oval 

435
00:29:37,859 --> 00:29:40,859
Office a couple days ago . I mean every 

436
00:29:40,859 --> 00:29:43,060
meeting you can conceive of , none of 

437
00:29:43,060 --> 00:29:45,579
them make me nervous this does . 

438
00:29:47,500 --> 00:29:49,500
Uh , it makes me nervous because it 

439
00:29:49,500 --> 00:29:52,310
matters . Makes me nervous because it's 

440
00:29:52,310 --> 00:29:54,750
in front of peers , it's in front of 

441
00:29:54,750 --> 00:29:57,670
people that I admire . People who were 

442
00:29:57,670 --> 00:30:00,530
with me shoulder to shoulder . In 

443
00:30:00,530 --> 00:30:03,119
combat on the battlefield when 

444
00:30:03,119 --> 00:30:05,530
everything mattered , when it was all 

445
00:30:05,530 --> 00:30:08,170
on the line . All that mattered was who 

446
00:30:08,170 --> 00:30:10,770
you were with , what you were capable 

447
00:30:10,770 --> 00:30:13,380
of together . What the mission was in 

448
00:30:13,380 --> 00:30:15,602
front of you , who had your back behind 

449
00:30:15,602 --> 00:30:18,689
you . Uh , and so , Colonel , uh , I 

450
00:30:18,689 --> 00:30:20,745
wanna , I wanna thank you for always 

451
00:30:20,745 --> 00:30:22,856
having our back . Colonel Mike Steele 

452
00:30:22,856 --> 00:30:24,911
always had our back and we knew it . 

453
00:30:25,089 --> 00:30:27,256
And I knew it from the first speech he 

454
00:30:27,256 --> 00:30:29,256
gave at Fort Campbell up on a stage 

455
00:30:29,256 --> 00:30:31,930
just like this . You guys remember it . 

456
00:30:38,150 --> 00:30:42,069
Put Patton to shame . Uh , it , it is 

457
00:30:42,069 --> 00:30:44,180
a privilege and it is an honor , uh , 

458
00:30:44,229 --> 00:30:46,173
to stand in front of all of you to 

459
00:30:46,173 --> 00:30:49,099
honor , uh , one man . Eric Ey , I knew 

460
00:30:49,099 --> 00:30:51,210
him as First Sergeant Eric Gy . A lot 

461
00:30:51,210 --> 00:30:54,119
of you knew him as the same . Uh , who 

462
00:30:54,680 --> 00:30:57,619
changed my life . Changed a lot of your 

463
00:30:57,619 --> 00:30:59,739
lives . That's why this this room is 

464
00:30:59,739 --> 00:31:02,329
packed . With people who were impacted 

465
00:31:02,329 --> 00:31:05,189
by him . Yet I know when you talk to 

466
00:31:05,189 --> 00:31:07,245
him , and I've talked to him today , 

467
00:31:07,245 --> 00:31:09,467
and a lot of you have and we'll talk to 

468
00:31:09,467 --> 00:31:11,689
him throughout the day , he will simply 

469
00:31:11,689 --> 00:31:13,800
say , as he always does , this is not 

470
00:31:13,800 --> 00:31:15,911
about me , this is about all of you . 

471
00:31:16,079 --> 00:31:18,135
This is about what we did together . 

472
00:31:18,859 --> 00:31:21,026
And , and I give a lot of speeches and 

473
00:31:21,026 --> 00:31:23,192
I stand on a lot of stages and I get a 

474
00:31:23,192 --> 00:31:25,303
lot of applause and I and I and every 

475
00:31:25,303 --> 00:31:28,030
time I speak . Basically what I think 

476
00:31:28,030 --> 00:31:31,229
about is this room . I think about the 

477
00:31:31,229 --> 00:31:34,430
men that I see out here , many faces 

478
00:31:34,430 --> 00:31:36,430
that are very familiar to me that I 

479
00:31:36,430 --> 00:31:39,060
haven't seen in a very long time , uh , 

480
00:31:39,229 --> 00:31:41,449
who were there for me and with me when 

481
00:31:41,449 --> 00:31:43,671
it mattered most and the fact that they 

482
00:31:43,671 --> 00:31:46,280
never get the applause . They never get 

483
00:31:46,280 --> 00:31:48,239
the headlines . They never get the 

484
00:31:48,239 --> 00:31:50,183
bright lights . They never get the 

485
00:31:50,183 --> 00:31:52,128
microphones . No one's heard their 

486
00:31:52,128 --> 00:31:54,183
story . No one's familiar with their 

487
00:31:54,183 --> 00:31:56,183
story . No one's pinned an award on 

488
00:31:56,183 --> 00:31:58,350
them and if they got it , maybe it was 

489
00:31:58,350 --> 00:32:00,517
sent to them to the mail clerk like it 

490
00:32:00,517 --> 00:32:03,430
was the first time to Eric Geri , um , 

491
00:32:03,640 --> 00:32:05,584
literally his Silver Star was sent 

492
00:32:05,584 --> 00:32:08,199
through the mail to a mail clerk , uh . 

493
00:32:09,280 --> 00:32:11,447
They didn't get the recognition . They 

494
00:32:11,447 --> 00:32:13,630
didn't get the praise , uh , and I 

495
00:32:13,630 --> 00:32:15,741
remember that every time I stand this 

496
00:32:15,741 --> 00:32:17,890
is not about me . I'm not I'm nothing 

497
00:32:17,890 --> 00:32:20,810
special . I'm a soldier who served 

498
00:32:20,810 --> 00:32:23,510
under . Extraordinary leadership . 

499
00:32:24,609 --> 00:32:27,430
And who is this is and more honored 

500
00:32:27,430 --> 00:32:29,541
today than any other opportunity I've 

501
00:32:29,541 --> 00:32:31,652
had at the Pentagon thus far to stand 

502
00:32:31,652 --> 00:32:33,874
on this stage with fellow soldiers with 

503
00:32:33,874 --> 00:32:35,986
the men of Eagle Company , the men of 

504
00:32:35,986 --> 00:32:37,930
Charlie Company , the men of those 

505
00:32:37,930 --> 00:32:40,479
units . Who understand what the stakes 

506
00:32:40,479 --> 00:32:43,040
were . Understand how significant those 

507
00:32:43,040 --> 00:32:45,469
moments were we'll never forget them 

508
00:32:45,800 --> 00:32:49,579
are shaped , uh . In every possible 

509
00:32:49,579 --> 00:32:52,869
way since then about them . And just 

510
00:32:52,869 --> 00:32:54,925
like we look at the Medal of Honor , 

511
00:32:54,925 --> 00:32:56,869
when someone receives the Medal of 

512
00:32:56,869 --> 00:32:59,202
Honor and you say , you know what , yes , 

513
00:32:59,202 --> 00:32:58,349
that's an award for one individual , 

514
00:32:58,430 --> 00:33:00,263
but it really is an award for my 

515
00:33:00,263 --> 00:33:03,800
generation for for what we did . I know , 

516
00:33:04,099 --> 00:33:06,310
like you , that's how I feel for Eric 

517
00:33:06,310 --> 00:33:09,319
Geri receiving this award today . Long 

518
00:33:09,319 --> 00:33:13,209
overdue . Injustice of multitudes of 

519
00:33:13,209 --> 00:33:16,180
injustices . I served upon him and 

520
00:33:16,180 --> 00:33:20,089
other men he served with . And uh I 

521
00:33:20,089 --> 00:33:22,410
remember when we first sort of hatched 

522
00:33:22,410 --> 00:33:24,466
maybe the opportunity that something 

523
00:33:24,466 --> 00:33:26,577
like this could be possible . It felt 

524
00:33:26,577 --> 00:33:28,354
so distant , so impossible , so 

525
00:33:28,354 --> 00:33:31,420
unlikely , so improbable . We felt like 

526
00:33:31,420 --> 00:33:33,531
on behalf of those men that he served 

527
00:33:33,531 --> 00:33:35,864
with , we have to do something about it . 

528
00:33:35,864 --> 00:33:38,349
Because each one of us has a not one 

529
00:33:38,349 --> 00:33:40,516
Eric Garriy story we have lots of Eric 

530
00:33:40,516 --> 00:33:44,349
Garriy stories . Um , you know , mine , 

531
00:33:44,469 --> 00:33:46,989
I showed up as a brand new first 

532
00:33:46,989 --> 00:33:49,211
lieutenant to the unit just a few weeks 

533
00:33:49,211 --> 00:33:51,433
before we mobilized to go to Kuwait for 

534
00:33:51,433 --> 00:33:54,579
pre-mo . I was a National Guard , 

535
00:33:55,109 --> 00:33:58,390
Ivy League , Wall Street non-anger 

536
00:33:58,390 --> 00:34:00,790
qualified platoon leader who had not 

537
00:34:00,790 --> 00:34:03,160
deployed before . How do you think Eric 

538
00:34:03,160 --> 00:34:05,327
Garasi looked at me when I showed up ? 

539
00:34:09,469 --> 00:34:11,636
I was even wearing the wrong uniform , 

540
00:34:11,636 --> 00:34:13,879
the old BDUs , because I was in a 

541
00:34:13,879 --> 00:34:15,899
National Guard uniform . This guy 

542
00:34:15,899 --> 00:34:17,955
looked me up and down and was like , 

543
00:34:17,955 --> 00:34:20,469
who the hell is this guy ? Uh , the 

544
00:34:20,469 --> 00:34:22,580
only one and the only person that had 

545
00:34:22,580 --> 00:34:24,802
vouched for me was at that time Captain 

546
00:34:24,802 --> 00:34:26,858
Hart , Captain Dan Hart , uh , who's 

547
00:34:26,858 --> 00:34:29,389
now a , a colonel and , uh , incredible 

548
00:34:29,389 --> 00:34:31,449
human being , an amazing example for 

549
00:34:31,449 --> 00:34:33,282
many of us , had been my platoon 

550
00:34:33,282 --> 00:34:35,590
trainer at IOBC , and I , I'll spare 

551
00:34:35,590 --> 00:34:37,757
you the full story , but I was itching 

552
00:34:37,757 --> 00:34:39,923
to get , get involved , and he vouched 

553
00:34:39,923 --> 00:34:42,146
for me and Colonel Steele signed off on 

554
00:34:42,146 --> 00:34:44,312
it and my unit did and soon enough I , 

555
00:34:44,312 --> 00:34:46,146
I found myself at . Uh , at Fort 

556
00:34:46,146 --> 00:34:48,257
Campbell and doing everything I could 

557
00:34:48,257 --> 00:34:50,534
to sort of prove that I was capable of , 

558
00:34:50,534 --> 00:34:52,646
of , of being part of this incredible 

559
00:34:52,646 --> 00:34:55,939
unit . Uh , and Eric , as he was , he 

560
00:34:55,939 --> 00:34:58,699
was both my toughest critic and also my 

561
00:34:58,699 --> 00:35:01,840
best mentor at the same time . He gave 

562
00:35:01,840 --> 00:35:05,389
me a very affectionate nickname . It 

563
00:35:05,389 --> 00:35:06,667
was national garbage . 

564
00:35:14,969 --> 00:35:18,649
That I got to earn my way out of . In 

565
00:35:18,649 --> 00:35:22,419
real time , uh , and his expectations 

566
00:35:22,419 --> 00:35:25,090
were incredibly high because he had 

567
00:35:25,090 --> 00:35:26,923
been to combat he'd seen it , he 

568
00:35:26,923 --> 00:35:29,146
understood it . And he wanted to infuse 

569
00:35:29,146 --> 00:35:31,520
in us just like Colonel Steele this 

570
00:35:31,520 --> 00:35:34,310
understanding of in that moment you in 

571
00:35:34,310 --> 00:35:36,669
that crucible is when you are tested 

572
00:35:36,669 --> 00:35:38,725
and the only thing that prepares you 

573
00:35:38,725 --> 00:35:40,947
for that crucible is the training , the 

574
00:35:40,947 --> 00:35:43,225
realistic training time and time again , 

575
00:35:43,225 --> 00:35:45,447
iteration after iteration that prepares 

576
00:35:45,447 --> 00:35:47,613
you for that moment , that explosion , 

577
00:35:47,613 --> 00:35:47,590
that crack of the bullet . How do you 

578
00:35:47,590 --> 00:35:49,757
respond ? Will you get violent quickly 

579
00:35:49,757 --> 00:35:53,090
as is necessary . Uh , and so 

580
00:35:53,330 --> 00:35:55,669
he pounded that into my skull , 

581
00:35:56,169 --> 00:35:58,447
metaphorically and physically probably . 

582
00:35:59,560 --> 00:36:01,449
We trained , we trained more , we 

583
00:36:01,449 --> 00:36:03,560
trained more , we trained more , uh , 

584
00:36:03,560 --> 00:36:05,782
and it wasn't until that , you know , a 

585
00:36:05,782 --> 00:36:08,449
first couple initial operations , all I 

586
00:36:08,449 --> 00:36:11,760
cared when I came back . Basically was , 

587
00:36:12,010 --> 00:36:14,121
you know , did Eric Garriy , with the 

588
00:36:14,121 --> 00:36:15,954
first sergeant feel like we were 

589
00:36:15,954 --> 00:36:18,288
squared away like we did all right . Um , 

590
00:36:18,288 --> 00:36:20,454
nothing else mattered . It was the men 

591
00:36:20,454 --> 00:36:22,677
you were serving with and their , the , 

592
00:36:22,677 --> 00:36:24,843
the reality and the perception of your 

593
00:36:24,843 --> 00:36:26,954
leadership with them , were you going 

594
00:36:26,954 --> 00:36:29,010
to be there for you ? Were you gonna 

595
00:36:29,010 --> 00:36:31,177
bring the effects to bear on the enemy 

596
00:36:31,177 --> 00:36:33,232
necessary ? Were you prepared ? Uh , 

597
00:36:33,232 --> 00:36:35,454
were you overprepared ? Uh , were you , 

598
00:36:35,454 --> 00:36:37,621
uh , what was the , the , the word you 

599
00:36:37,621 --> 00:36:39,669
use is , were you fanatical about 

600
00:36:39,669 --> 00:36:42,149
preparing every single aspect that we 

601
00:36:42,149 --> 00:36:44,469
were doing because the goal , yes , it 

602
00:36:44,469 --> 00:36:46,636
was to accomplish the mission . But it 

603
00:36:46,636 --> 00:36:49,110
was to bring your boys home with you in 

604
00:36:49,110 --> 00:36:52,719
the process . It's we arranged 

605
00:36:52,719 --> 00:36:54,997
funerals for the other side , not ours . 

606
00:36:55,669 --> 00:36:57,725
Uh , and that was something that was 

607
00:36:57,725 --> 00:36:59,669
whether it was in Fort Campbell at 

608
00:36:59,669 --> 00:37:01,780
Kuwait and throughout . Our mission , 

609
00:37:01,860 --> 00:37:04,027
so it doesn't surprise me that when he 

610
00:37:04,027 --> 00:37:06,193
went to Eagle Company , he infused the 

611
00:37:06,193 --> 00:37:08,360
very same mentality . We're not taking 

612
00:37:08,360 --> 00:37:10,360
over a combat outpost . We're gonna 

613
00:37:10,360 --> 00:37:12,582
immediately improve the defense in real 

614
00:37:12,582 --> 00:37:14,527
time and guess what ? Joe is gonna 

615
00:37:14,527 --> 00:37:16,638
about it because we're gonna spend 36 

616
00:37:16,638 --> 00:37:18,800
hours without sleeping , without 

617
00:37:18,800 --> 00:37:21,320
resting . Am I right about that , sir ? 

618
00:37:21,479 --> 00:37:24,530
That's right about that , yeah . Yeah 

619
00:37:26,000 --> 00:37:29,889
He did Because he had been 

620
00:37:29,889 --> 00:37:33,199
there . He had seen it . He understood 

621
00:37:33,199 --> 00:37:35,199
what would happen once chaos rained 

622
00:37:35,199 --> 00:37:37,310
down on the entire formation , on the 

623
00:37:37,310 --> 00:37:39,199
entire platoon and the the entire 

624
00:37:39,199 --> 00:37:41,310
company . And in that moment , either 

625
00:37:41,310 --> 00:37:43,477
you were prepared or you weren't . And 

626
00:37:43,477 --> 00:37:46,429
Eric Geri went back again to combat 

627
00:37:46,429 --> 00:37:48,485
after the injustice that happened to 

628
00:37:48,485 --> 00:37:50,596
him on our rotation because he didn't 

629
00:37:50,596 --> 00:37:52,762
want it happening to another subset of 

630
00:37:52,762 --> 00:37:54,985
men if he could be a part of preventing 

631
00:37:54,985 --> 00:37:57,207
it and that's precisely what he did for 

632
00:37:57,207 --> 00:37:59,318
Eagle Company . That's precisely what 

633
00:37:59,318 --> 00:38:01,207
he did on that day in 2007 . It's 

634
00:38:01,207 --> 00:38:03,207
precisely why we are here today and 

635
00:38:03,207 --> 00:38:03,189
it's not just we're not just here 

636
00:38:03,189 --> 00:38:05,639
because of that day . Yes , that day is 

637
00:38:05,639 --> 00:38:07,806
incredibly meaningful and we will read 

638
00:38:07,806 --> 00:38:09,917
the citation today and I told my kids 

639
00:38:09,917 --> 00:38:11,917
this morning I said you listen up . 

640
00:38:11,917 --> 00:38:14,679
That's why they're here today . Read , 

641
00:38:14,870 --> 00:38:17,310
listen to that citation . Understood , 

642
00:38:17,750 --> 00:38:20,419
understand what men did . What a man 

643
00:38:20,419 --> 00:38:22,909
did , what a group of people did in a 

644
00:38:22,909 --> 00:38:25,699
far flung flung place , no one's ever 

645
00:38:25,699 --> 00:38:27,780
heard of at a time no one will ever 

646
00:38:27,780 --> 00:38:30,300
remember , in a way that shaped the 

647
00:38:30,300 --> 00:38:32,300
lives of those men that will change 

648
00:38:32,300 --> 00:38:35,189
them forever . And we ought to use a 

649
00:38:35,189 --> 00:38:39,110
forum like this as much as possible to 

650
00:38:39,110 --> 00:38:41,332
remind people of those special things , 

651
00:38:41,332 --> 00:38:43,388
to motivate future generations to be 

652
00:38:43,388 --> 00:38:45,443
willing to do the same . And what we 

653
00:38:45,443 --> 00:38:47,277
celebrate what we recognize is a 

654
00:38:47,277 --> 00:38:49,388
reflection of what we honor , what we 

655
00:38:49,388 --> 00:38:51,499
believe is is important , uh , and in 

656
00:38:51,499 --> 00:38:53,610
this case it's recognized the actions 

657
00:38:53,610 --> 00:38:55,777
of that day and undoing an injustice . 

658
00:38:56,719 --> 00:38:58,775
So we're here today because a lot of 

659
00:38:58,775 --> 00:39:00,997
men stood up for Eric Gi after he stood 

660
00:39:00,997 --> 00:39:03,120
up for them . They would not quit on 

661
00:39:03,120 --> 00:39:05,231
him , would not quit on the injustice 

662
00:39:05,231 --> 00:39:08,030
that was done to him saying we will 

663
00:39:08,030 --> 00:39:10,141
continue to push this forward because 

664
00:39:10,141 --> 00:39:13,250
we unders without naming names . We 

665
00:39:13,250 --> 00:39:14,972
understand the reason why this 

666
00:39:14,972 --> 00:39:16,972
particular packet , this particular 

667
00:39:16,972 --> 00:39:19,139
action , never quite made it up to the 

668
00:39:19,139 --> 00:39:21,570
top of the army , never quite made it 

669
00:39:21,949 --> 00:39:24,171
to the upper echelon , never quite made 

670
00:39:24,171 --> 00:39:26,227
it for signature , even though those 

671
00:39:26,227 --> 00:39:28,649
that were most directly involved that 

672
00:39:28,649 --> 00:39:30,760
saw it firsthand that were commanders 

673
00:39:30,760 --> 00:39:32,899
at the time all the way up to General 

674
00:39:32,899 --> 00:39:35,959
Odierno and General Petraeus signed off 

675
00:39:35,959 --> 00:39:38,530
on the actions that day merit a 

676
00:39:38,530 --> 00:39:40,669
distinguished Service cross . But it 

677
00:39:40,669 --> 00:39:42,669
was downgraded and it was sent to a 

678
00:39:42,669 --> 00:39:44,613
mail clerk . And we all know why . 

679
00:39:45,300 --> 00:39:49,100
Today That changes . Today 

680
00:39:49,590 --> 00:39:51,034
that wrong is not right . 

681
00:40:02,239 --> 00:40:04,350
I want to thank all the men and women 

682
00:40:04,350 --> 00:40:06,572
that didn't stop that kept pushing that 

683
00:40:06,572 --> 00:40:09,120
weren't silent . I wanna thank , uh , 

684
00:40:09,360 --> 00:40:11,304
by the way , Senator Rubio and his 

685
00:40:11,304 --> 00:40:13,629
staff , now Secretary of State Rubio , 

686
00:40:14,260 --> 00:40:17,000
um , as a resident of Florida , they 

687
00:40:17,000 --> 00:40:19,199
took up the case when no one else was 

688
00:40:19,199 --> 00:40:21,421
really willing to move on it , and they 

689
00:40:21,421 --> 00:40:23,421
pushed and they kept pushing and we 

690
00:40:23,421 --> 00:40:25,588
pushed them a little bit and then they 

691
00:40:25,588 --> 00:40:27,810
kept pushing . Uh , and , and Secretary 

692
00:40:27,810 --> 00:40:30,143
Rubio sends his regards , uh , for sure , 

693
00:40:30,143 --> 00:40:32,199
as does the , uh , National Security 

694
00:40:32,199 --> 00:40:34,310
Adviser Mike Waltz , also a Floridian 

695
00:40:34,310 --> 00:40:36,477
who was , who was aware , uh , of this 

696
00:40:36,477 --> 00:40:38,643
case . General Petraeus submitted time 

697
00:40:38,643 --> 00:40:40,532
and time again recommendations to 

698
00:40:40,532 --> 00:40:42,588
reinforce the recommendation he made 

699
00:40:42,588 --> 00:40:44,810
made in real time as we resubmitted the 

700
00:40:44,810 --> 00:40:46,921
packet , how many times did we submit 

701
00:40:46,921 --> 00:40:49,143
the packet ? 15 I don't even know as we 

702
00:40:49,143 --> 00:40:51,366
resubmitted it again , the men of Eagle 

703
00:40:51,366 --> 00:40:53,255
Company . Who wrote another sworn 

704
00:40:53,255 --> 00:40:55,366
statement and another one and another 

705
00:40:55,366 --> 00:40:57,532
one with new information reminding the 

706
00:40:57,532 --> 00:40:59,643
folks who had disapproved it why this 

707
00:40:59,643 --> 00:41:01,629
was worthy of recognition . So 

708
00:41:01,629 --> 00:41:04,590
throughout this process . The men I 

709
00:41:04,590 --> 00:41:06,757
look at and see out here , the men and 

710
00:41:06,757 --> 00:41:08,812
women , but the men that served with 

711
00:41:08,812 --> 00:41:12,120
Eric . Never forgot what he did for 

712
00:41:12,120 --> 00:41:14,479
them and with them . And as a result 

713
00:41:14,479 --> 00:41:16,919
this audience never forgot about what 

714
00:41:16,919 --> 00:41:19,280
Eric did and wanted to see a day like 

715
00:41:19,280 --> 00:41:21,750
today and I'll never forget it was I 

716
00:41:21,750 --> 00:41:25,000
don't know a year ago or so I thought 

717
00:41:25,000 --> 00:41:26,889
man wouldn't that be incredible ? 

718
00:41:27,209 --> 00:41:29,153
Wouldn't that be incredible if you 

719
00:41:29,153 --> 00:41:31,649
actually got this thing . And President 

720
00:41:31,649 --> 00:41:34,520
Trump won and we were able to present 

721
00:41:34,520 --> 00:41:38,340
you the DSC . And then sure enough , 

722
00:41:39,510 --> 00:41:41,732
Couple of months after that , President 

723
00:41:41,732 --> 00:41:43,989
Trump wins and he picks an Army major 

724
00:41:43,989 --> 00:41:45,822
to be his secretary of defense . 

725
00:41:46,729 --> 00:41:47,770
National garbage 

726
00:41:59,449 --> 00:42:01,860
And I remember talking to Eric , I said , 

727
00:42:01,959 --> 00:42:04,015
Eric , not only are we gonna get you 

728
00:42:04,015 --> 00:42:06,679
this award . But we're gonna pin it to 

729
00:42:06,679 --> 00:42:09,479
you , pin it on you in the bowels of 

730
00:42:09,479 --> 00:42:12,070
the Pentagon with everybody here with 

731
00:42:12,070 --> 00:42:14,149
you . And here we are today . 

732
00:42:23,080 --> 00:42:25,247
And now those of you that don't know , 

733
00:42:25,247 --> 00:42:27,413
most of you do , uh , one of the first 

734
00:42:27,413 --> 00:42:29,469
people I called when I was given the 

735
00:42:29,469 --> 00:42:31,358
honor by by President Trump to be 

736
00:42:31,358 --> 00:42:33,358
chosen for this position , uh , was 

737
00:42:33,358 --> 00:42:35,879
Eric . Eric has a way of sticking with 

738
00:42:35,879 --> 00:42:39,020
you in a good way . I thought , who the 

739
00:42:39,020 --> 00:42:41,729
hell it's a big job . Who do I call ? 

740
00:42:42,239 --> 00:42:44,295
One of the first people on my list . 

741
00:42:44,295 --> 00:42:46,517
Well , actually I should tell the story 

742
00:42:46,517 --> 00:42:50,330
first . I called Eric . 10 minutes , no , 

743
00:42:50,459 --> 00:42:52,620
2 minutes before the announcement hit 

744
00:42:52,620 --> 00:42:55,989
Fox News that I've been chosen . And 

745
00:42:55,989 --> 00:42:58,156
Eric , you know , I , I can't say what 

746
00:42:58,156 --> 00:43:01,169
he said on the phone . Because my kids 

747
00:43:01,169 --> 00:43:04,639
are here . But he went running into the 

748
00:43:04,639 --> 00:43:06,806
other room and , and sure enough Laura 

749
00:43:06,806 --> 00:43:08,830
Ingraham announced it and he almost 

750
00:43:08,830 --> 00:43:10,941
passed out . He couldn't believe it , 

751
00:43:10,941 --> 00:43:13,870
um but right soon after that as we were 

752
00:43:13,870 --> 00:43:16,060
talking I said Eric , if , if I'm 

753
00:43:16,060 --> 00:43:18,227
confirmed if this happens , I need you 

754
00:43:18,227 --> 00:43:20,649
to come with me . I need you there by 

755
00:43:20,649 --> 00:43:22,760
my side just like you were there with 

756
00:43:22,760 --> 00:43:24,982
us by our side by the way , Eric always 

757
00:43:24,982 --> 00:43:27,205
had a way of showing up when it was the 

758
00:43:27,205 --> 00:43:29,427
most difficult time , and that he's not 

759
00:43:29,427 --> 00:43:31,427
making it more difficult . He knows 

760
00:43:31,427 --> 00:43:33,427
it's your most difficult time , and 

761
00:43:33,427 --> 00:43:35,760
that's why he's not in the command post . 

762
00:43:35,760 --> 00:43:37,816
He's out in the field at your combat 

763
00:43:37,816 --> 00:43:39,929
out post on patrol on Christmas , on 

764
00:43:39,929 --> 00:43:42,096
the worst days when you're missing the 

765
00:43:42,096 --> 00:43:44,207
family the most . There's Eric Garasi 

766
00:43:44,207 --> 00:43:46,207
he's possibly wearing a Santa Claus 

767
00:43:46,207 --> 00:43:46,090
outfit . 

768
00:43:57,590 --> 00:43:59,701
With proper body armor as well , body 

769
00:43:59,701 --> 00:44:02,360
armor , of course . He was always there 

770
00:44:02,360 --> 00:44:04,527
for his men whenever they needed him , 

771
00:44:04,600 --> 00:44:06,656
uh , and when I called him he said , 

772
00:44:06,656 --> 00:44:08,767
sir , I will be there with you , uh , 

773
00:44:08,767 --> 00:44:10,933
through thick and thin . And sure sure 

774
00:44:10,933 --> 00:44:13,044
enough he was . He was sitting behind 

775
00:44:13,044 --> 00:44:12,919
me during the confirmation hearing . 

776
00:44:13,030 --> 00:44:14,863
You may have seen him . He's the 

777
00:44:14,863 --> 00:44:16,919
prettiest one of the bunch except my 

778
00:44:16,919 --> 00:44:20,020
wife . Uh , and I'll never forget , he 

779
00:44:20,020 --> 00:44:22,379
told me after that . Because I told 

780
00:44:22,379 --> 00:44:24,490
them I said don't buy an apartment in 

781
00:44:24,490 --> 00:44:26,435
DC till this process is done , you 

782
00:44:26,435 --> 00:44:28,435
never know so don't do it don't put 

783
00:44:28,435 --> 00:44:30,435
that pressure on me . Sure enough , 

784
00:44:30,435 --> 00:44:32,546
after the hearing , he went to me and 

785
00:44:32,546 --> 00:44:34,657
said , I bought my apartment two days 

786
00:44:34,657 --> 00:44:34,300
ago , sir . I didn't just didn't tell 

787
00:44:34,300 --> 00:44:37,320
you . I said I knew you were gonna nail 

788
00:44:37,320 --> 00:44:39,598
it . It was gonna be fine . I said you . 

789
00:44:40,280 --> 00:44:42,224
Uh , and sure enough , Eric Gar is 

790
00:44:42,224 --> 00:44:44,447
right down the hall from me , uh , from 

791
00:44:44,447 --> 00:44:46,724
the office of the Secretary of Defense . 

792
00:44:46,724 --> 00:44:48,836
And that is exactly the kind of voice 

793
00:44:48,860 --> 00:44:51,290
that we need inside the decision loop 

794
00:44:51,780 --> 00:44:54,060
inside the conversations about the 

795
00:44:54,060 --> 00:44:56,260
types of decisions being made for the 

796
00:44:56,260 --> 00:44:58,482
joint force for the armed forces of the 

797
00:44:58,482 --> 00:45:00,649
United States of America . Someone who 

798
00:45:00,649 --> 00:45:02,593
has been there , who's been in the 

799
00:45:02,593 --> 00:45:04,704
middle of it , who's never did it for 

800
00:45:04,704 --> 00:45:06,659
himself , always did it for others 

801
00:45:07,070 --> 00:45:09,629
thought of the troops in real time of 

802
00:45:09,629 --> 00:45:11,979
the impact on them and their families . 

803
00:45:12,149 --> 00:45:14,120
If you know him , he's the biggest 

804
00:45:14,120 --> 00:45:16,176
tough guy you've ever met , but he's 

805
00:45:16,176 --> 00:45:18,509
also the biggest softie you've ever met . 

806
00:45:18,669 --> 00:45:20,336
He's an amazing human being . 

807
00:45:28,689 --> 00:45:30,911
I can't tell you already how many times 

808
00:45:30,911 --> 00:45:33,133
he's come to me and said , hey , take a 

809
00:45:33,133 --> 00:45:35,300
look at this think about this , you're 

810
00:45:35,300 --> 00:45:37,411
missing that or he's see , like , you 

811
00:45:37,411 --> 00:45:37,090
know , he's he's reading the tea leaves 

812
00:45:37,090 --> 00:45:40,209
and sees an ambush up up ahead says 

813
00:45:40,209 --> 00:45:42,719
look around , put your head up . uh , 

814
00:45:42,770 --> 00:45:45,103
that's the kind of counsel that we need . 

815
00:45:45,103 --> 00:45:46,992
That's the kind of counsel that I 

816
00:45:46,992 --> 00:45:49,103
greatly value . Uh , it's an honor to 

817
00:45:49,103 --> 00:45:50,937
have you there . He's earned the 

818
00:45:50,937 --> 00:45:53,048
respect of our staff as you surprises 

819
00:45:53,048 --> 00:45:55,159
nobody , uh , in real time , and he's 

820
00:45:55,159 --> 00:45:57,270
gonna have a chance to shape the very 

821
00:45:57,270 --> 00:45:59,214
force . Uh , that he was a part of 

822
00:45:59,214 --> 00:46:01,437
shaping first as a private and then all 

823
00:46:01,437 --> 00:46:03,714
the way through command sergeant Major , 

824
00:46:03,714 --> 00:46:05,492
um , even the stuff he did more 

825
00:46:05,492 --> 00:46:07,437
recently down in Southcom has been 

826
00:46:07,437 --> 00:46:09,381
immediately valuable to what we're 

827
00:46:09,381 --> 00:46:11,830
doing , uh , across the force . So it 

828
00:46:11,830 --> 00:46:13,719
is the it's really the honor of a 

829
00:46:13,719 --> 00:46:15,830
career to be able to be here with all 

830
00:46:15,830 --> 00:46:17,886
of you . I look forward to getting a 

831
00:46:17,886 --> 00:46:19,941
chance to say hi to so many of you I 

832
00:46:19,941 --> 00:46:22,219
haven't seen in a long time . Um , And , 

833
00:46:22,290 --> 00:46:24,800
uh , It just feels good . 

834
00:46:25,729 --> 00:46:29,469
Sometimes the good guys win . And it 

835
00:46:29,469 --> 00:46:31,302
feels like today that happened . 

836
00:46:39,139 --> 00:46:41,250
So Eric , I wanna thank you . I wanna 

837
00:46:41,250 --> 00:46:43,306
thank your wife . I wanna thank your 

838
00:46:43,306 --> 00:46:45,417
family , some of which , uh , we were 

839
00:46:45,417 --> 00:46:47,528
able to get here at the last minute . 

840
00:46:47,528 --> 00:46:49,750
I'm glad we did . Thank you so much for 

841
00:46:49,750 --> 00:46:51,972
being here . I wanna thank my wife , my 

842
00:46:51,972 --> 00:46:53,695
kids for being here , the Army 

843
00:46:53,695 --> 00:46:55,861
secretary for being here as well . Dan 

844
00:46:55,861 --> 00:46:58,083
Driscoll , thank you . General George , 

845
00:46:58,083 --> 00:47:00,028
thank you so much for pushing this 

846
00:47:00,028 --> 00:47:02,195
through to the end and then as to echo 

847
00:47:02,195 --> 00:47:04,417
to finish where Colonel Steele properly 

848
00:47:04,417 --> 00:47:06,472
started , uh , I wanna thank my Lord 

849
00:47:06,472 --> 00:47:08,750
and Savior Jesus Christ . I think , uh . 

850
00:47:08,750 --> 00:47:11,083
Praise God from whom all blessings flow , 

851
00:47:11,083 --> 00:47:13,306
all good things , all bad things happen 

852
00:47:13,306 --> 00:47:15,361
for a reason . There is no Plan B in 

853
00:47:15,361 --> 00:47:17,580
our life . We're all here for a reason 

854
00:47:17,580 --> 00:47:20,270
orchestrated by him . And may we be 

855
00:47:20,270 --> 00:47:22,989
instruments for him during our time on 

856
00:47:22,989 --> 00:47:25,350
Earth . It's certainly how I , I see my 

857
00:47:25,350 --> 00:47:27,550
job on behalf of our country , God and 

858
00:47:27,550 --> 00:47:29,679
country , uh , and working alongside 

859
00:47:29,949 --> 00:47:32,070
men like Eric . So I'm honored to be 

860
00:47:32,070 --> 00:47:34,389
here with all of you today , grateful 

861
00:47:34,389 --> 00:47:36,870
for what you've done . And how about we 

862
00:47:36,870 --> 00:47:38,370
pin an award on this guy . 

863
00:47:53,229 --> 00:47:55,396
Colonel Michael Loconolo will now read 

864
00:47:55,396 --> 00:47:57,173
the Distinguished Service Cross 

865
00:47:57,173 --> 00:47:56,820
narrative . 

866
00:48:03,189 --> 00:48:06,030
First Sergeant Eric J . Gerasi , United 

867
00:48:06,030 --> 00:48:08,350
States Army , distinguished himself by 

868
00:48:08,350 --> 00:48:10,709
extraordinary heroism in action in the 

869
00:48:10,709 --> 00:48:12,820
performance of outstanding service to 

870
00:48:12,820 --> 00:48:15,550
the United States as first sergeant for 

871
00:48:15,550 --> 00:48:18,060
Eagle Company , 2nd squadron , 2nd 

872
00:48:18,060 --> 00:48:20,116
striker cavalry regiment assigned to 

873
00:48:20,116 --> 00:48:22,500
multinational division Baghdad , Iraq 

874
00:48:22,500 --> 00:48:26,189
on September 4 , 2007 during Operation 

875
00:48:26,189 --> 00:48:28,830
Iraqi Freedom . Eagle Company was 

876
00:48:28,830 --> 00:48:30,719
completing a relief in place of a 

877
00:48:30,719 --> 00:48:32,830
combat outpost in Al Hadar , southern 

878
00:48:32,830 --> 00:48:34,497
Baghdad to assume duty as the 

879
00:48:34,497 --> 00:48:36,989
squadron's main effort . Eagle 

880
00:48:36,989 --> 00:48:39,510
Company's operation was Al Qaeda in 

881
00:48:39,510 --> 00:48:42,000
Iraq's center of gravity plagued by 

882
00:48:42,000 --> 00:48:44,909
Sunni and Shia sectarian violence . On 

883
00:48:44,909 --> 00:48:47,239
September 3rd , the outgoing unit 

884
00:48:47,239 --> 00:48:49,989
departed the combat outpost . First 

885
00:48:49,989 --> 00:48:52,211
Sergeant Gerasi immediately established 

886
00:48:52,211 --> 00:48:54,322
the defense of the outpost as the top 

887
00:48:54,322 --> 00:48:56,378
priority for the company . Under his 

888
00:48:56,378 --> 00:48:58,489
guidance , the company worked day and 

889
00:48:58,489 --> 00:49:00,600
night . Sandbagging windows and guard 

890
00:49:00,600 --> 00:49:02,489
towers , repositioning key weapon 

891
00:49:02,489 --> 00:49:04,656
systems , installing bulletproof glass 

892
00:49:04,656 --> 00:49:06,822
for the towers and erecting camouflage 

893
00:49:06,822 --> 00:49:09,260
netting along the entire perimeter of 

894
00:49:09,260 --> 00:49:11,850
the outposts rooftop for concealment 

895
00:49:12,379 --> 00:49:14,490
during the morning of September 4th , 

896
00:49:14,490 --> 00:49:16,490
the company's executive officer was 

897
00:49:16,490 --> 00:49:18,379
located at Forward Operating Base 

898
00:49:18,379 --> 00:49:20,435
Falcon . Supervising the retrofit of 

899
00:49:20,435 --> 00:49:22,490
the company's vehicles , the company 

900
00:49:22,490 --> 00:49:24,712
commander and fire support officer were 

901
00:49:24,712 --> 00:49:26,823
also at forward operating base Falcon 

902
00:49:26,823 --> 00:49:28,935
as well , attending a meeting . First 

903
00:49:28,935 --> 00:49:30,990
Sergeant Gerasi was the only company 

904
00:49:30,990 --> 00:49:32,935
level leader at the outpost in the 

905
00:49:32,935 --> 00:49:35,101
early afternoon , the company received 

906
00:49:35,101 --> 00:49:36,935
orders to investigate a possible 

907
00:49:36,935 --> 00:49:38,879
vehicle-borne improvised explosive 

908
00:49:38,879 --> 00:49:41,046
device . while one of the platoons was 

909
00:49:41,046 --> 00:49:43,157
investigating the vehicle , they came 

910
00:49:43,157 --> 00:49:45,046
under enemy fire . First Sergeant 

911
00:49:45,046 --> 00:49:46,990
Gerasi deployed the quick reaction 

912
00:49:46,990 --> 00:49:48,823
force platoon . And successfully 

913
00:49:48,823 --> 00:49:50,879
controlled link up and extraction of 

914
00:49:50,879 --> 00:49:53,046
the platoon in contact killing 3 enemy 

915
00:49:53,046 --> 00:49:55,157
with no injuries to friendly forces . 

916
00:49:55,379 --> 00:49:57,379
Within 15 minutes after the platoon 

917
00:49:57,379 --> 00:49:59,601
returned to the outpost , it came under 

918
00:49:59,601 --> 00:50:03,419
a complex attack by between 120 and 150 

919
00:50:03,419 --> 00:50:06,050
determined . Enemy fighters . The enemy 

920
00:50:06,050 --> 00:50:08,250
initiated the attack by firing two 

921
00:50:08,250 --> 00:50:10,610
rocket propelled grenades and mortars 

922
00:50:10,610 --> 00:50:12,800
from approximately 100 m away , 

923
00:50:13,209 --> 00:50:15,431
followed by a heavy volume of fire from 

924
00:50:15,431 --> 00:50:18,659
AK-47 rifles , machine guns , rocket 

925
00:50:18,659 --> 00:50:20,899
propelled grenades , and sniper fire . 

926
00:50:21,939 --> 00:50:23,828
The enemy arrayed themselves in a 

927
00:50:23,828 --> 00:50:25,995
manner that allowed them to attack the 

928
00:50:25,995 --> 00:50:27,439
outpost from 3 directions 

929
00:50:27,439 --> 00:50:29,760
simultaneously . Once the firing began . 

930
00:50:30,090 --> 00:50:31,979
First Sergeant Gerasi immediately 

931
00:50:31,979 --> 00:50:34,201
requested an air weapons team and moved 

932
00:50:34,201 --> 00:50:36,201
to the roof . First Sergeant Gerasy 

933
00:50:36,201 --> 00:50:38,423
exposed himself to direct enemy fire by 

934
00:50:38,423 --> 00:50:40,701
moving from guard tower to guard tower , 

935
00:50:40,701 --> 00:50:42,812
assessing the situation and inspiring 

936
00:50:42,969 --> 00:50:45,191
the soldiers by calmly encouraging them 

937
00:50:45,191 --> 00:50:47,560
to keep up their rates of fire . At 

938
00:50:47,560 --> 00:50:49,479
this time , one of his soldiers , 

939
00:50:49,600 --> 00:50:51,767
Specialist Holly at Tower One received 

940
00:50:51,767 --> 00:50:54,719
a gunshot wound from enemy fire . First 

941
00:50:54,719 --> 00:50:56,840
Sergeant Gary Gerasi set the highest 

942
00:50:56,840 --> 00:50:59,199
example of personal bravery through his 

943
00:50:59,199 --> 00:51:01,399
demonstrated valor and calmness under 

944
00:51:01,399 --> 00:51:03,979
fire . Under direct enemy fire , First 

945
00:51:03,979 --> 00:51:05,709
Sergeant Gerasy quickly moved 

946
00:51:05,709 --> 00:51:08,000
Specialist Holly and controlled Holly's 

947
00:51:08,000 --> 00:51:10,111
evacuation while helping to carry the 

948
00:51:10,111 --> 00:51:12,570
soldier off of the roof . First 

949
00:51:12,570 --> 00:51:14,681
Sergeant Gerasi again returned to the 

950
00:51:14,681 --> 00:51:16,848
roof . This time directing the fire of 

951
00:51:16,848 --> 00:51:18,903
key weapon systems until the company 

952
00:51:18,903 --> 00:51:21,239
gained fire superiority . During this 

953
00:51:21,239 --> 00:51:23,183
time period , the air weapons team 

954
00:51:23,183 --> 00:51:25,183
arrived on station . First Sergeant 

955
00:51:25,183 --> 00:51:28,040
Gerasi gave the air weapons team . A 

956
00:51:28,040 --> 00:51:30,040
quick situation report and directed 

957
00:51:30,040 --> 00:51:32,262
soldiers to mark one of the known enemy 

958
00:51:32,262 --> 00:51:34,739
locations with a smoke grenade . Once 

959
00:51:34,739 --> 00:51:36,739
the air weapons team identified the 

960
00:51:36,739 --> 00:51:38,683
building , First Sergeant Gerasi , 

961
00:51:38,683 --> 00:51:40,628
acting as the on-scene commander , 

962
00:51:40,739 --> 00:51:42,906
authorized the helicopters to launch a 

963
00:51:42,906 --> 00:51:44,939
Hellfire missile into the enemy's 

964
00:51:44,939 --> 00:51:47,199
defensive position , crippling the 

965
00:51:47,199 --> 00:51:49,620
enemy during the subsequent low and 

966
00:51:49,620 --> 00:51:51,860
fire , First Sergeant Gerasi returned 

967
00:51:51,860 --> 00:51:54,090
to the forward area support team and 

968
00:51:54,090 --> 00:51:56,090
reassured the injured soldier while 

969
00:51:56,090 --> 00:51:58,090
receiving a report on his condition 

970
00:51:58,090 --> 00:51:59,868
from the squadron's physician's 

971
00:51:59,868 --> 00:52:01,979
assistant . Based on the condition of 

972
00:52:01,979 --> 00:52:04,146
the soldier in the fight at the time , 

973
00:52:04,146 --> 00:52:06,368
First Sergeant Gerasi directed that the 

974
00:52:06,368 --> 00:52:08,312
soldier be ground evacuated to the 

975
00:52:08,312 --> 00:52:10,534
twenty-eighth Combat Support Hospital . 

976
00:52:10,534 --> 00:52:12,368
This was done immediately by the 

977
00:52:12,368 --> 00:52:14,534
company's quick reaction force , which 

978
00:52:14,534 --> 00:52:16,534
First Sergeant Gerasi had activated 

979
00:52:16,534 --> 00:52:18,757
once the attack began . On his way back 

980
00:52:18,757 --> 00:52:20,923
to the rooftop , First Sergeant Gerasi 

981
00:52:20,923 --> 00:52:23,034
grabbed as many cans of ammunition as 

982
00:52:23,034 --> 00:52:25,090
he could carry and resupplied two of 

983
00:52:25,090 --> 00:52:27,034
the 50 caliber machine guns on the 

984
00:52:27,034 --> 00:52:29,201
rooftop . This action ensured they did 

985
00:52:29,201 --> 00:52:31,257
not run out of ammunition during the 

986
00:52:31,257 --> 00:52:33,479
firefight . As the quick reaction force 

987
00:52:33,479 --> 00:52:35,479
exited the outpost with the injured 

988
00:52:35,479 --> 00:52:38,290
soldier , the enemy increased their 

989
00:52:38,290 --> 00:52:40,810
fire in attempt to disrupt the 

990
00:52:40,810 --> 00:52:43,709
evacuation . First Sergeant Gerasy once 

991
00:52:43,709 --> 00:52:46,389
again . Rallied his company and ensured 

992
00:52:46,389 --> 00:52:48,556
the company gained and maintained fire 

993
00:52:48,556 --> 00:52:50,939
superiority . Yet again , First 

994
00:52:50,939 --> 00:52:52,995
Sergeant Gerasi coordinated with the 

995
00:52:52,995 --> 00:52:55,106
air weapons team to launch additional 

996
00:52:55,106 --> 00:52:57,106
Hellfire missiles and strafing runs 

997
00:52:57,106 --> 00:52:59,272
with their 30 millimeter cannons which 

998
00:52:59,272 --> 00:53:01,050
destroyed the enemy's remaining 

999
00:53:01,050 --> 00:53:03,909
defensive position . With this decisive 

1000
00:53:03,909 --> 00:53:06,800
action , Eagle Company successfully 

1001
00:53:07,189 --> 00:53:10,429
broke the will of the enemy's continued 

1002
00:53:10,429 --> 00:53:12,870
attack . First , Sergeant Gerasy 

1003
00:53:12,870 --> 00:53:14,370
immediately supervised the 

1004
00:53:14,370 --> 00:53:16,703
consolidation and reorganization of men , 

1005
00:53:17,030 --> 00:53:19,189
ammunition , and key weapon systems . 

1006
00:53:19,389 --> 00:53:21,500
Aware that ammunition was low , First 

1007
00:53:21,500 --> 00:53:23,500
Sergeant Gerasy radioed back to his 

1008
00:53:23,500 --> 00:53:25,445
soldiers on forward operating base 

1009
00:53:25,445 --> 00:53:27,556
Falcon and coordinated for a resupply 

1010
00:53:27,556 --> 00:53:29,611
of ammunition to be delivered to the 

1011
00:53:29,611 --> 00:53:31,722
outpost . This foresight prepared the 

1012
00:53:31,722 --> 00:53:33,889
company for a possible counterattack . 

1013
00:53:33,889 --> 00:53:35,778
Throughout the day and evening of 

1014
00:53:35,778 --> 00:53:38,139
September 4th , First Sergeant Eric J . 

1015
00:53:38,149 --> 00:53:40,810
Gerasi repeatedly subjected himself to 

1016
00:53:40,810 --> 00:53:43,750
intense , unrelenting enemy fire in 

1017
00:53:43,750 --> 00:53:45,830
order to evacuate a severely injured 

1018
00:53:45,830 --> 00:53:47,790
soldier while also directing the 

1019
00:53:47,790 --> 00:53:50,310
defense of the combat outpost by an 

1020
00:53:50,310 --> 00:53:52,310
infantry rifle company and an air 

1021
00:53:52,310 --> 00:53:54,532
weapons team during a fight that lasted 

1022
00:53:54,532 --> 00:53:57,399
over 6 hours . First Sergeant Gerasi 

1023
00:53:57,399 --> 00:53:59,343
heroically led his company in high 

1024
00:53:59,343 --> 00:54:02,040
intensity combat while simultaneously 

1025
00:54:02,040 --> 00:54:03,984
fulfilling the jobs of the company 

1026
00:54:03,984 --> 00:54:06,151
commander , the fire support officer , 

1027
00:54:06,151 --> 00:54:08,207
and the first sergeant . On numerous 

1028
00:54:08,207 --> 00:54:10,510
occasions he fearlessly exposed himself 

1029
00:54:10,510 --> 00:54:12,288
to direct enemy fire to instill 

1030
00:54:12,288 --> 00:54:14,600
confidence in his men , care for his 

1031
00:54:14,600 --> 00:54:18,139
wounded , and to destroy the enemy . As 

1032
00:54:18,139 --> 00:54:20,028
a direct result of First Sergeant 

1033
00:54:20,028 --> 00:54:22,250
Gerasi's preparation , leadership , and 

1034
00:54:22,250 --> 00:54:25,409
gallantry , Eagle Company killed 18 Al 

1035
00:54:25,409 --> 00:54:27,620
Qaeda fighters with no additional 

1036
00:54:27,620 --> 00:54:29,889
wounded soldiers . First Sergeant 

1037
00:54:29,889 --> 00:54:32,379
Gerasi's personal courage , uncommon 

1038
00:54:32,379 --> 00:54:34,340
valor , and selfless service 

1039
00:54:34,340 --> 00:54:36,659
contributed directly to the safety and 

1040
00:54:36,659 --> 00:54:38,899
evacuation of two wounded and the 

1041
00:54:38,899 --> 00:54:41,169
recovery of one fallen soldier . First 

1042
00:54:41,169 --> 00:54:43,225
Sergeant Gerasi , without regard for 

1043
00:54:43,225 --> 00:54:45,459
his personal safety . Courageously 

1044
00:54:45,459 --> 00:54:48,600
risked his life under enemy fire to 

1045
00:54:48,600 --> 00:54:51,129
save the lives of his fellow soldiers . 

1046
00:54:51,399 --> 00:54:52,399
God bless . 

1047
00:55:30,500 --> 00:55:32,778
Mr . Secretary , Sergeant Major Gerasi , 

1048
00:55:32,969 --> 00:55:35,302
please step forward to the center stage . 

1049
00:55:37,530 --> 00:55:40,199
Mrs . Gerriy Please join Secretary 

1050
00:55:40,199 --> 00:55:42,477
Hegseth in front of the flags on stage . 

1051
00:56:05,129 --> 00:56:07,185
Ladies and gentlemen , please remain 

1052
00:56:07,185 --> 00:56:09,240
standing for the presentation of the 

1053
00:56:09,240 --> 00:56:11,360
award . Attention to orders . The 

1054
00:56:11,360 --> 00:56:13,249
President of the United States of 

1055
00:56:13,249 --> 00:56:15,510
America , authorized by Act of Congress 

1056
00:56:15,510 --> 00:56:19,320
9 July 1918 amended by Act of 25 

1057
00:56:19,320 --> 00:56:21,320
July 1963 , has awarded the 

1058
00:56:21,320 --> 00:56:23,860
Distinguished Service Cross to First 

1059
00:56:23,860 --> 00:56:26,340
Sergeant Eric J . Geristy , Company E , 

1060
00:56:26,360 --> 00:56:28,199
second squadron , Second striker 

1061
00:56:28,199 --> 00:56:30,750
Cavalry Regiment . For extraordinary 

1062
00:56:30,750 --> 00:56:34,139
heroism in action on 4 September 2007 

1063
00:56:34,389 --> 00:56:36,333
during combat operations against a 

1064
00:56:36,333 --> 00:56:38,445
highly armed al Qaeda insurgent force 

1065
00:56:38,445 --> 00:56:40,389
in southern Baghdad , Iraq , First 

1066
00:56:40,389 --> 00:56:42,389
Sergeant Eric J . Gerasi repeatedly 

1067
00:56:42,389 --> 00:56:44,379
subjected himself to intense , 

1068
00:56:44,469 --> 00:56:46,550
unrelenting enemy fire in order to 

1069
00:56:46,550 --> 00:56:48,550
evacuate a severely injured soldier 

1070
00:56:48,550 --> 00:56:50,772
while also directing the defense of the 

1071
00:56:50,772 --> 00:56:52,989
combat outpost by both providing 

1072
00:56:52,989 --> 00:56:55,100
direction . To both an infantry rifle 

1073
00:56:55,100 --> 00:56:57,211
company and air weapons team during a 

1074
00:56:57,211 --> 00:56:59,378
fight that lasted over 6 hours , First 

1075
00:56:59,378 --> 00:57:01,600
Sergeant Gerasy set the highest example 

1076
00:57:01,600 --> 00:57:03,530
of personal bravery through his 

1077
00:57:03,530 --> 00:57:05,770
demonstrated valor and calmness under 

1078
00:57:05,770 --> 00:57:08,649
fire . First Sergeant Gerasy's valiant 

1079
00:57:08,649 --> 00:57:10,538
actions prevented enemy insurgent 

1080
00:57:10,538 --> 00:57:12,649
forces from overrunning the company . 

1081
00:57:13,129 --> 00:57:15,240
His actions were directly responsible 

1082
00:57:15,240 --> 00:57:16,907
for also preventing any other 

1083
00:57:16,907 --> 00:57:18,796
additional United States military 

1084
00:57:18,796 --> 00:57:20,740
casualties . First Sergeant Geri's 

1085
00:57:20,740 --> 00:57:22,889
actions under fire while serving to 

1086
00:57:22,889 --> 00:57:25,110
fill the roles of company commander , 

1087
00:57:25,489 --> 00:57:27,530
fire support officer , and first 

1088
00:57:27,530 --> 00:57:29,530
sergeant were performed with marked 

1089
00:57:29,530 --> 00:57:31,697
distinction and bravery . For Sergeant 

1090
00:57:31,697 --> 00:57:33,752
Gerasy's distinctive accomplishments 

1091
00:57:33,752 --> 00:57:35,474
are in keeping with the finest 

1092
00:57:35,474 --> 00:57:37,308
traditions of military service , 

1093
00:57:37,308 --> 00:57:39,586
reflect great credit upon upon himself . 

1094
00:57:39,689 --> 00:57:41,800
Second strike or cavalry regiment and 

1095
00:57:41,800 --> 00:57:43,911
the United States Army signed General 

1096
00:57:43,911 --> 00:57:45,967
Randy George , Chief of Staff of the 

1097
00:57:45,967 --> 00:57:48,290
Army , and Mr . Mark Averell , former 

1098
00:57:48,290 --> 00:57:50,012
acting secretary of the Army . 

1099
00:58:42,820 --> 00:58:45,280
Thank you , Mr . Secretary . Ladies and 

1100
00:58:45,280 --> 00:58:47,002
gentlemen , please be seated . 

1101
00:58:52,780 --> 00:58:54,891
Ladies and gentlemen , Sergeant Major 

1102
00:58:54,891 --> 00:58:55,891
Gerasi . 

1103
00:59:07,459 --> 00:59:09,939
A lot to follow , a lot going on in 

1104
00:59:09,939 --> 00:59:13,610
here . Hey , um , 

1105
00:59:14,000 --> 00:59:16,056
so I normally I'll , when I do these 

1106
00:59:16,056 --> 00:59:18,333
things , I'll write a bunch of remarks , 

1107
00:59:18,333 --> 00:59:21,590
um , try to keep myself on script . So 

1108
00:59:21,590 --> 00:59:23,812
I don't get uh out of my left and right 

1109
00:59:23,812 --> 00:59:26,034
sectors of fire which relate to some of 

1110
00:59:26,034 --> 00:59:28,550
you folks . But um what do you say ? 

1111
00:59:32,419 --> 00:59:34,530
What do you say with a room like this 

1112
00:59:34,530 --> 00:59:36,752
full of all your people you respect the 

1113
00:59:36,752 --> 00:59:40,620
most ? As this has been 

1114
00:59:40,620 --> 00:59:43,209
going on forever , it seems like , um , 

1115
00:59:43,500 --> 00:59:45,500
this is very surreal . I mean , the 

1116
00:59:45,500 --> 00:59:47,500
whole thing . Apparently I'm really 

1117
00:59:47,500 --> 00:59:49,611
good at showing up in the middle of a 

1118
00:59:49,611 --> 00:59:52,419
snowstorm in places . Which I totally 

1119
00:59:52,419 --> 00:59:54,699
forgot about that in Germany and then I 

1120
00:59:54,699 --> 00:59:57,500
get here and then the first PT run I've 

1121
00:59:57,500 --> 00:59:59,667
done it a long time with the secretary 

1122
00:59:59,667 --> 01:00:01,722
was in the middle of Warsaw , Poland 

1123
01:00:01,722 --> 01:00:03,833
and it's snowing . And I , you know , 

1124
01:00:03,833 --> 01:00:05,879
I'm like , I , I can't go that fast 

1125
01:00:05,879 --> 01:00:08,101
anymore , but I could still go a little 

1126
01:00:08,101 --> 01:00:10,268
bit and I ran up in front of him and I 

1127
01:00:10,268 --> 01:00:09,989
was like pick up the pace , old man , 

1128
01:00:10,439 --> 01:00:12,495
and he just kind of looks at me like 

1129
01:00:12,495 --> 01:00:14,495
what the hell are you can't believe 

1130
01:00:14,495 --> 01:00:16,606
you're still running ? So but um this 

1131
01:00:16,606 --> 01:00:18,659
is really an honor of a lifetime to 

1132
01:00:18,659 --> 01:00:20,770
continue and to serve , uh , continue 

1133
01:00:20,770 --> 01:00:22,992
to serve the country , serve the troops 

1134
01:00:22,992 --> 01:00:24,992
and serve the secretary . These are 

1135
01:00:24,992 --> 01:00:27,719
very hard jobs up here , um , and we're 

1136
01:00:27,719 --> 01:00:30,000
doing the best we can , but it's always 

1137
01:00:30,000 --> 01:00:32,167
for the troops . The one thing I wanna 

1138
01:00:32,167 --> 01:00:35,929
say is . Things go sideways combat , 

1139
01:00:36,500 --> 01:00:38,778
you , you could control certain things , 

1140
01:00:38,778 --> 01:00:41,111
a lot of things most you cannot control , 

1141
01:00:41,620 --> 01:00:43,739
but you're definitely gonna , we will 

1142
01:00:43,739 --> 01:00:46,659
have your back for all the troops , all 

1143
01:00:46,659 --> 01:00:48,979
the service members doing things on our 

1144
01:00:48,979 --> 01:00:51,146
country's behalf . You couldn't have a 

1145
01:00:51,146 --> 01:00:53,423
better leader than Secretary Hagg said , 

1146
01:00:53,423 --> 01:00:55,757
so I wanna give him a round of applause . 

1147
01:01:06,219 --> 01:01:08,275
So when he did call me , I just come 

1148
01:01:08,275 --> 01:01:10,497
back from being down range . I think we 

1149
01:01:10,497 --> 01:01:12,810
come back from Trinidad , and I do , I 

1150
01:01:12,810 --> 01:01:14,929
was , I was very surprised . I had a 

1151
01:01:14,929 --> 01:01:17,090
bunch of commentary and I remember 

1152
01:01:17,090 --> 01:01:19,146
saying to him I was like , hey , you 

1153
01:01:19,146 --> 01:01:21,257
gotta bring people up there you could 

1154
01:01:21,257 --> 01:01:23,312
trust . Um , this is gonna be a very 

1155
01:01:23,312 --> 01:01:25,368
difficult job . They're gonna try to 

1156
01:01:25,368 --> 01:01:27,423
kill you when you get there . So and 

1157
01:01:27,423 --> 01:01:29,479
he's like , yeah , uh , you know , I 

1158
01:01:29,479 --> 01:01:31,646
need you to go up there with me and my 

1159
01:01:31,646 --> 01:01:33,590
response was , I don't know if you 

1160
01:01:33,590 --> 01:01:32,610
remember this . I was like , well , I 

1161
01:01:32,610 --> 01:01:34,832
wasn't talking about me . I was talking 

1162
01:01:34,832 --> 01:01:36,888
about other people , you know . So , 

1163
01:01:37,250 --> 01:01:41,189
but uh . We'll , we'll skip over 

1164
01:01:41,189 --> 01:01:43,411
the rest of that because it's , I don't 

1165
01:01:43,411 --> 01:01:45,467
wanna traumatize everybody in here . 

1166
01:01:46,010 --> 01:01:47,954
You know , awards like this , uh , 

1167
01:01:47,954 --> 01:01:50,177
Medals of Honor , the Service Crosses , 

1168
01:01:50,280 --> 01:01:52,639
Silver Stars , they're presented to 

1169
01:01:52,639 --> 01:01:55,020
individuals . But they're earned by 

1170
01:01:55,020 --> 01:01:58,689
teams . That's by each and every one of 

1171
01:01:58,689 --> 01:02:01,020
you in here . Whether you're supporting 

1172
01:02:01,020 --> 01:02:03,379
somebody down range , what you were , 

1173
01:02:03,489 --> 01:02:06,149
you were there . So what I'd like to do 

1174
01:02:06,149 --> 01:02:09,260
is . See how many people from Eagle 

1175
01:02:09,260 --> 01:02:11,316
Company survived Saint Patty's Day . 

1176
01:02:11,320 --> 01:02:12,320
Please stand up . 

1177
01:02:26,189 --> 01:02:28,300
Please stay standing , Fernando , get 

1178
01:02:28,300 --> 01:02:30,510
it back . Nobody said you guys could 

1179
01:02:30,510 --> 01:02:32,454
sit down yet . I'm up here . I'm a 

1180
01:02:32,454 --> 01:02:34,343
sergeant major again for at least 

1181
01:02:34,343 --> 01:02:36,979
another hour . Any other members from 

1182
01:02:36,979 --> 01:02:39,146
the 2nd cavalry regiment , 2nd striker 

1183
01:02:39,146 --> 01:02:40,701
cavalry , please stand up . 

1184
01:02:53,729 --> 01:02:55,840
I like everybody from Charlie Company 

1185
01:02:55,840 --> 01:02:57,959
3187 . Please stand up . 

1186
01:03:14,199 --> 01:03:16,199
Anyone else who served in the 101st 

1187
01:03:16,199 --> 01:03:18,255
Airborne with us , please stand up . 

1188
01:03:32,399 --> 01:03:34,399
Any other veterans or other those , 

1189
01:03:34,419 --> 01:03:36,419
those of you that I served with all 

1190
01:03:36,419 --> 01:03:38,641
over the place , you know who you are , 

1191
01:03:38,641 --> 01:03:41,800
7th group , SEAL Team 4 , all NSW folks , 

1192
01:03:41,919 --> 01:03:42,919
please stand up . 

1193
01:03:57,760 --> 01:03:59,816
And everyone else still serving or a 

1194
01:03:59,816 --> 01:04:02,149
veteran , please stand to be recognized . 

1195
01:04:15,209 --> 01:04:17,489
And finally , any Gold Star families , 

1196
01:04:17,570 --> 01:04:18,570
please stand up . 

1197
01:04:31,219 --> 01:04:33,459
So although this medal has been awarded 

1198
01:04:33,459 --> 01:04:35,820
to me , it belongs to all of you . 

1199
01:04:37,199 --> 01:04:38,199
Thank you . 

1200
01:04:47,889 --> 01:04:50,056
And for all the troops we have serving 

1201
01:04:50,056 --> 01:04:52,278
all over the place that anybody's gonna 

1202
01:04:52,278 --> 01:04:54,222
see this . I'm sure it will become 

1203
01:04:54,222 --> 01:04:56,445
memes or something later on Duffel Blog 

1204
01:04:56,445 --> 01:04:59,550
maybe uh we're praying for you all . 

1205
01:04:59,800 --> 01:05:02,120
We're extremely proud of everything you 

1206
01:05:02,120 --> 01:05:04,360
do for the country . This goes for 

1207
01:05:04,360 --> 01:05:06,600
everyone else here standing . America 

1208
01:05:06,600 --> 01:05:08,879
will be proud if they knew all the 

1209
01:05:08,879 --> 01:05:11,046
sacrifice , everything you've done for 

1210
01:05:11,046 --> 01:05:13,268
each other during the most difficult of 

1211
01:05:13,268 --> 01:05:15,739
circumstances . You fought extremely 

1212
01:05:15,739 --> 01:05:19,350
well . Risk it all for your brother and 

1213
01:05:19,350 --> 01:05:21,406
sister on your left and your right . 

1214
01:05:21,739 --> 01:05:25,689
Thank you . Please 

1215
01:05:25,689 --> 01:05:26,689
sit down . 

1216
01:05:31,139 --> 01:05:33,195
I would go into the national garbage 

1217
01:05:33,195 --> 01:05:36,000
story , but I don't , I , I . I'll , 

1218
01:05:36,080 --> 01:05:38,247
I'll share this one story and then I'm 

1219
01:05:38,247 --> 01:05:40,358
gonna get away from here . So we were 

1220
01:05:40,358 --> 01:05:42,413
doing this , I was spending a lot of 

1221
01:05:42,413 --> 01:05:44,524
quality time with the media , and one 

1222
01:05:44,524 --> 01:05:46,747
of the reporters asked me , did we have 

1223
01:05:46,747 --> 01:05:48,969
any nicknames for the secretary and I , 

1224
01:05:48,969 --> 01:05:51,080
I was just thinking that I was like , 

1225
01:05:51,080 --> 01:05:53,419
I'm not gonna say nothing . So I was 

1226
01:05:53,419 --> 01:05:55,475
like , I don't wanna get that to get 

1227
01:05:55,475 --> 01:05:55,459
out until the next thing he'll be 

1228
01:05:55,459 --> 01:05:57,515
getting asked that in the hearings , 

1229
01:05:57,515 --> 01:05:59,737
which were interesting . So , uh , once 

1230
01:05:59,737 --> 01:06:01,848
again , thank you everybody that came 

1231
01:06:01,848 --> 01:06:03,959
here . uh , thank you for what you've 

1232
01:06:03,959 --> 01:06:06,070
done for the country . uh , God bless 

1233
01:06:06,070 --> 01:06:07,737
you all . God bless America . 

1234
01:06:33,610 --> 01:06:35,666
Ladies and gentlemen , please remain 

1235
01:06:35,666 --> 01:06:37,721
standing for the singing of the army 

1236
01:06:37,721 --> 01:06:39,554
song , the benediction , and the 

1237
01:06:39,554 --> 01:06:41,443
departure of the official party . 

1238
01:06:56,870 --> 01:06:59,760
March sing a song . 

1239
01:07:00,750 --> 01:07:04,649
Along with the army of the free , 

1240
01:07:05,020 --> 01:07:07,649
count the prey . count the 

1241
01:07:08,979 --> 01:07:11,709
who have fought to victory 

1242
01:07:13,219 --> 01:07:17,169
with the army and proud of . We 

1243
01:07:17,169 --> 01:07:19,760
are the army and proudly proclaim . 

1244
01:07:21,030 --> 01:07:23,580
First to fight for the right and to 

1245
01:07:23,580 --> 01:07:26,260
build the nation's might , and the army 

1246
01:07:26,260 --> 01:07:30,060
goes rolling along , proud of all 

1247
01:07:30,060 --> 01:07:32,620
we have done fighting till the battle's 

1248
01:07:32,620 --> 01:07:36,570
won and the army goes rolling along . 

1249
01:07:37,020 --> 01:07:40,239
Then it's high , high . The army's on 

1250
01:07:40,239 --> 01:07:43,270
its way . Count off the cadence loud 

1251
01:07:43,270 --> 01:07:46,540
and strong . We 

1252
01:07:46,540 --> 01:07:50,209
go , you will always know that the army 

1253
01:07:50,209 --> 01:07:52,610
goes rolling along . 

1254
01:08:00,010 --> 01:08:01,954
Almighty God , as we conclude this 

1255
01:08:01,954 --> 01:08:04,010
ceremony , we ask for your continued 

1256
01:08:04,010 --> 01:08:06,010
blessings upon all who are gathered 

1257
01:08:06,010 --> 01:08:08,540
here today . May the courage , 

1258
01:08:08,760 --> 01:08:10,927
selflessness , and unwavering devotion 

1259
01:08:10,927 --> 01:08:13,159
to duty exemplified by those who fought 

1260
01:08:13,159 --> 01:08:15,669
for our freedom inspire us to live 

1261
01:08:15,679 --> 01:08:18,240
lives of purpose and service . 

1262
01:08:20,100 --> 01:08:22,839
We ask for your divine protection over 

1263
01:08:22,839 --> 01:08:25,006
all who wear the uniform of our nation 

1264
01:08:25,439 --> 01:08:29,359
and those who support them . Grant them 

1265
01:08:29,359 --> 01:08:32,279
the courage to face adversity , the 

1266
01:08:32,279 --> 01:08:35,758
strength to persevere . And the peace 

1267
01:08:35,758 --> 01:08:37,869
that comes from knowing you are their 

1268
01:08:37,869 --> 01:08:40,720
constant refuge . Let your grace and 

1269
01:08:40,720 --> 01:08:44,029
wisdom guide us all as we go forth from 

1270
01:08:44,029 --> 01:08:46,629
this place , committed to upholding the 

1271
01:08:46,629 --> 01:08:49,689
values of faith , duty and integrity . 

1272
01:08:50,379 --> 01:08:52,712
In your holy and righteous name we pray . 

1273
01:08:52,930 --> 01:08:53,930
Amen . 

1274
01:08:59,910 --> 01:09:03,599
Thank you chaplain . Please remain 

1275
01:09:03,599 --> 01:09:05,488
standing for the departure of the 

1276
01:09:05,488 --> 01:09:07,321
official party and distinguished 

1277
01:09:07,321 --> 01:09:06,559
visitors .