"72% of his body was burned. 7 soldiers saved. 16 years before his country gave him the Medal of Honor. His name was Alwyn Cashe. On October 17, 2005, Sergeant First Class Alwyn Cashe's Bradley Fighting Vehicle was hit by an IED in Iraq and burst into flames. Cashe was drenched in fuel. His uniform caught fire. He went back into the burning vehicle again and again — pulling out six soldiers and an interpreter. Burns covered 72% of his body. He refused evacuation until every soldier was out. Cashe died three weeks later. He was 35. His first words when he could speak: "How are my boys?" He initially received a Silver Star. It took 16 years, an act of Congress and a new president before he was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2021 — the first Black service member to receive it for Iraq. His son later enlisted in the Army. His sister said: "He did what he did out of love for his men." Most people have never heard his name."
