24/11/2025
Courage under fire!
DOL
His rifle jammed in the middle of an attack—so he drew a pistol and ran toward ten armed
insurgents.
On August 28, 2013, at Forward Operating Base Ghazni in Afghanistan, Master Sergeant Earl
D. Plumlee faced one of the most dangerous moments of the entire war. A massive explosion
ripped open a 60-foot breach in the base wall, and ten insurgents—disguised in Afghan army
uniforms—rushed in at once.
Plumlee didn’t retreat.
He accelerated.
He and five other Green Berets sped toward the breach, arriving just as gunfire erupted from
multiple directions. Before stepping out of his vehicle, Plumlee shielded his driver with his own
body, then sprinted straight into the fight.
His rifle jammed almost immediately.
But instead of pulling back, he drew his pistol and charged forward.
At close range, he engaged multiple attackers, moving from cover to cover under heavy fire.
When a teammate went down, Plumlee ran to him, carried him to safety, and provided lifesaving
first aid.
Then he went right back into the fight.
For his courage—unbroken, decisive, and focused entirely on protecting those around
him—Earl Plumlee was awarded the Medal of Honor on December 16, 2021.
A veteran of both the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Army Special Forces, Plumlee’s career
reflects decades of service, discipline, and quiet strength.
Story based on historical records. No hate or negativity toward any group.
