A plaque honoring Medal of Honor recipient Retired Capt. Florent Groberg was added to the 4th Infantry Division Wall of Honor during a ceremony Dec. 21, 2015. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Craig Cantrell)
By Staff Sgt. Craig Cantrell
Fort Carson Public Affairs Office
The 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson honored the return of Retired Capt. Florent Groberg for the first time since he was awarded the Medal of Honor, during a ceremony at the “Iron Horse” headquarters Dec. 21, 2015.
Maj. Gen. Ryan F. Gonsalves, commanding general, 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson, honored Groberg by adding his Medal of Honor plaque to the Wall of Honor, next to the 24 previous recipients from the 4th Inf. Div.
“This ceremony is also a very rare and remarkable event in the 4th Infantry Division, as only the 25th occasion since 1917, that a Medal of Honor plaque has been hung in the division headquarters on this reverent wall,” said Gonsalves.
“As ‘Flo’s’ frame takes rank on this wall of honor, we look to his picture, his story and the stories of those he joins, not as idols or infallible men, but as the embodiment of Soldiers who answered the call to serve,” said Gonsalves.
Groberg sustained injuries during a suicide bomber attack in Asadabad, Kunar Province, Afghanistan, Aug. 8, 2012.
On that day, Groberg was leading a dismounted movement consisting of several senior leaders to include two brigade commanders, two battalion commanders, two command sergeants major and an Afghanistan National Army brigade commander.
As they approached the provincial governor’s compound, Groberg observed an individual walking close to the formation. When the person made an abrupt turn toward the formation, Groberg noticed an abnormal bulge underneath the individual’s clothing.
Groberg confirmed the bulge was a suicide vest and with complete disregard for his life, with the assistance of the other member of the security detail, he physically pushed the suicide bomber away from the formation.
Upon falling, the suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest killing four members of the formation and wounding numerous others.
Groberg sustained the loss of 45-50 percent of his left calf muscle with significant nerve damage, a blown eardrum and a mild traumatic brain injury.
He spent his recovery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, from August 2012 to May 2015.
He was medically retired from Company B, Warrior Transition Battalion, as a captain, July 23, 2015.
“As Captain Groberg’s plaque is about to take its place among fellow heroes, we pause and acknowledge his and the actions of his fellow Medal of Honor recipients, not because we cherish the unfortunate series of events that led to their acts of valor, rather we do it to remind ourselves of the values and attributes that form the foundation of patriotic service,” said Gonsalves.