December 25, 2021 Issue, Page 8 of 8

Page Text

8 Community December 25, 2021 “This recognition has been a long time coming” Merritt graduate awarded the Medal of Honor in White House ceremony By Shonda Little ghanistan when he and his and reengaged the enemy. In- Following the Medal of group came under attack from tense enemy fire once again Honor ceremony, Plumlee ac- In a White House ceremony multiple enemy combatants forced the two soldiers to tem- knowledged that he believed on December 16, President Joe armed with rifles and suicide porarily withdraw. Undeterred that he might die that August Biden awarded three American vests. The suicide bombers had and resolute, Plumlee joined a day in Afghanistan. soldiers the nation’s highest detonated a 400-pound truck small group of American and Plumlee said that he was military decoration for valor. bomb. coalition soldiers moving from humbled to be honored next Among the decorated he- Plumlee and five fellow cover to counterattack the in- to Cashe and Celiz, who died roes was 41-year-old United special operations soldiers filtrators. As the coalition forc- from injuries they received on States Army Master Sgt. Earl drove two vehicles toward the es advanced, Plumlee engaged the battlefield. D. Plumlee. He was joined in detonation site as this attack an insurgent to his front-left,” “It’s an astounding weight this honor by Sgt. 1st Class occurred. a press release on www.Army. to carry,” Plumlee said of now Alwyn Chase, 35, and Sgt. 1st “Using his body to shield mil stated. being forever linked in history Class Christopher Celiz. Both the driver from enemy fire, Plumlee then carried a to the two fallen heroes. Chase and Celiz received the Plumlee exited the vehicle wounded soldier to safety Due to past service, Plum- award posthumously. while simultaneously drawing while rendering first aid. lee has also been awarded the Born in Clinton, Plumlee his pistol and engaging an in- “Afterwards, he organized Purple Heart and Bronze Star. attended Sayre Public School surgent 15 meters to the vehi- three coalition members in He enlisted in the Okla- and Merritt Public School. He cle’s right. Without cover and a defensive stance as he me- homa National Guard in 1998 enlisted in the military before with complete disregard for his thodically cleared the area, while attending Merritt High graduating from Merritt High safety, he advanced toward the remained in a secure posture School. School in 2000. enemy force, engaging mul- and continued to scan for any After graduation, Plumlee “This recognition has been tiple insurgents with only his remaining threats,” the Army’s enlisted in the United States too long in coming — delayed pistol. Upon reaching cover, he report added. Marine Corps, which included In an uncredited photo shared to Plumlee's Wikipedia for you and your family as killed two insurgents. Plumlee Plumlee was praised for multiple voluntary deploy- page, the Merritt graduate and American hero is seen re- well,” the president said while left cover and continued to ad- placing himself in “extreme ments to Iraq. ceiving the Medal of Honor from President Joe Biden. recognizing Plumlee. “No one vance along. Moving onward, danger to protect his team and During his 2008 deploy- will ever forget how you sprang he engaged several combatants the base, and to defeat the en- ment, he was recognized as attack, Plumlee said, “The into the chaos. It was probably into action when the enemy at- at close range. Under intense emy.” the Marine Corps Recon Team strongest emotion I had from Leader of the year. the proudest moment of my tacked our base.” energy fire, Plumlee temporar- Plumlee had previously that day was the last time we On August 28, 2013, Plum- ily withdrew to cover, where been awarded the Silver Star In 2009, Plumlee joined the were pushing down and had re- career. Just to be with those lee was serving in the Army’s he joined another soldier. for his bravery before Presi- United States Army within the ally gotten organized. We were guys, at that time, on that day, special forces at the Forward Plumlee, ignoring his injuries, dent Biden upgraded that to special forces. moving as a really aggressive, Operating Base Ghazni in Af- quickly regained his bearings the Medal of Honor. Recalling that fateful 2013 synced up stack, moving right was just awesome.” Mason Tucker, Welding student received a 2nd quarter Outstanding Attitude Award. Pictured with Welding In- J’Lynn Hodnett, Health Careers student received 1st quar- Jamie Farrell, Cosmetology student received an Outstand- structor, Greg Hartman ter Perfect Attendance Award and Outstanding Student ing Attitude Award for 1st and 2nd quarter. Pictured with Award. Pictured with Health Careers Instructor, Kylee Cosmetology Instructor, Bill Helton Chapman. Isabella Gordon, Business Technology student received 2nd quarter Outstanding Attitude Award. Pictured with Business Technology Instructor, Susanne Silk Kate Carnes, Cosmetology student received a 2nd quarter Kelsea Madrid, Cosmetology student received a 2nd quar- Outstanding Attitude Award. Pictured with Cosmetology ter Outstanding Student Award. Pictured with Cosmetol- Instructor, Bill Helton ogy Instructor, Bill Helton Hope Jackson, Cosmetology student received Outstand- ing Student Awards. Pictured with Cosmetology Instruc- tor, Bill Helton Blanca Villegas, Health Careers student received 1st and 2nd quarter Outstanding Attitude Awards. Pictured with Alan Rodriguez, Welding student received a 2nd quarter Health Careers Instructor, Kylee Chapman Outstanding Attitude Award. Pictured with Welding In- structor, Greg Hartman Britny Chavira, Business Technology student received an Outstanding Attitude Award and an Outstanding Student Award. Pictured with Business Technology Instructor, Su- sanne Silk Austen Terry, Criminal Justice student received 1st and 2nd quarter Perfect Attendance Awards, Outstanding Stu- dent Awards and 1st quarter Outstanding Attitude Award. Pictured with Criminal Justice Instructor, Sarah Pierce. WTC Awards Allison Cleveland , Cosmetology student received a 2nd quarter Outstanding Student Award. Pictured with Cos- metology Instructor, Bill Helton Ava Bunting, Criminal Justice student received a 2nd Not pictured: Gerson Villa, Welding student received 1st quarter Outstanding Attitude Award. Pictured with Weld- quarter Outstanding Attitude Award. Pictured with Crimi- ing Instructor, Greg Hartman nal Justice Instructor, Sarah Pierce