A Soldier assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Ft. Bragg, N.C., was presented the German army’s highest for foreign soldiers Sept. 12.Staff Sgt. Jonathon Zapien, a special forces Soldier assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C., was presented the highest award the German army can grant a foreign soldier Sept. 12.
Zapien, 25, from Houston, Texas, was deployed with the German Special Forces Command to Afghanistan from June to October 2005. While there, he acted as the sole liaison between the German unit and other coalition forces in the region.
He provided communications support, directed air support, went on regular patrols with the unit and on one occasion played an essential part in saving the life of a German soldier who was injured during an improvised explosive device attack, by calling in air and ground medical support.
German Minister of Defense Gen. Wolfgang Schneiderhan presented the Ehrenmedaille (honor medal) to Zapien on behalf of the German Special Forces Command. This is the first time German Special Forces has presented an award to a foreign soldier.
The German general, whose son was serving as a medical officer in Afghanistan during the same period, said that Zapien played a critical role on a strong and decisive team and “displays exemplary dedication and an exceptional sense of duty … a sensational warrior with a very soldier-like attitude.”
Army Gen. William E. “Kip” Ward, U.S. European Command deputy commander, also attended the ceremony and echoed comments from Schneiderhan, saying that we are all “truly brothers and comrades in arms. I know Staff Sgt. Zapien will display this award proudly on his uniform.”
Zapien said it was a great honor to receive the award and that he is “accepting it for all the other Soldiers who do amazing things everyday. I’m grateful to receive this on their behalf.” [Army]
It is sometimes forgotten that the expression “brother-at-arms†is one that transcends national boundaries; that worthy causes of great consequence inevitably bridge cultural divides. For no one is that more true than for soldiers fighting through life and death situations on a daily basis. For Staff Sgt. Zapien, his dedication to his German brothers-at-arms earned him Germany’s Ehrenmedaille, or “honor medal,†the highest award the German army can give to a foreign soldier. The Ehrendmedaille was presented by the German minister of defense and marked the first time German Special Forces has given an award to a foreign soldier.
Zapien, a member of the U.S. Army’s 3rd Special Forces Group, was attached to the German Special Forces Command operating in Afghanistan from June to October 2005. While there, he acted as a liaison between the German unit and other Coalition forces in the region – and he filled many other roles for the unit, whether during regular patrols or while directing air, medical, and communications support during combat operations.
Oftentimes, the unit was called upon to conduct sensitive and dangerous missions; however, the team also took part in country-building operations, such as providing security during Afghanistan’s parliamentary elections. During one incident, the team was out on a combat reconnaissance mission in eastern Afghanistan when they were hit with an IED attack, severely injuring one of the German soldiers. Zapien quickly called in air and ground medical support, which saved the German soldier’s life. One German general said that Zapien played a critical role on a decisive team, ‘display[ing] exemplary dedication and an exceptional sense of duty.’Â The general added that he is ‘a sensational warrior with a very soldier-like attitude.’Â
For his support and actions, the German Special Forces Command presented Zapien the Ehrenmedaille on Sept. 12, 2006.
‘They were an exceptional group of soldiers,’Â Zapien said of his German counterparts. ‘It was far beyond your average soldier, even a cut above special operations.’Â
John Tomassi, a spokesman for the U.S. European Command, said Zapien was credited with helping save the life of a German soldier by calling in air and ground medical support during one combat operation.
‘On my last rotation, I lost two friends when I was there,’Â Zapien said. ‘This really should go more to them.’
‘There are a lot of soldiers who on a daily basis do a lot of things but don’t receive any awards. I’m receiving this on behalf of them.’Â
I really hate that these kinds of stories don’t get in the main stream media. Our Soldiers really ARE the best and the brightest and they serve with distinction and honor. They get far too little credit and appreciation for standing alone against our enemy in this war against those who would destroy our way of life.
With deepest gratitude for men like Staff Sgt. Jonathan A. Zapien!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Disclaimer: trackbacks to this post do not necessarily represent the opinions or standards of the Blue Star Chronicles.
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