Florent A Groberg
Florent A Groberg was born on the 8th of May, 1983, in Poissy, France, and lived in the Paris area until he was 6 when he moved to Spain and then back to France. When in middle school, Florent’s family moved to the Chicago area and then settled in Potomac, Maryland. He became a naturalized US citizen on the 27th of February, 2001 and four months later, graduated from Walter Johnson High School near Bethesda, Maryland. Florent went on to attend the University of Maryland, College Park and competed in track and cross country. He graduated with a bachelor of science degree in criminology and criminal justice in May of 2006 and shortly after, attended the US Marine Corps Officer Candidate School at Quantico, Virgina. Florent voluntarily withdrew from the program and went on to enter the US Army in June of 2008. He attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, and received his commission as an infantry officer on the 4th of December, 2008. Florent went on to complete Infantry Officer Basic Course, Mechanized Leaders Course, and Airborne and Ranger schools, and was then assigned to the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado, where he was a platoon leader in the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment.
Florent was deployed to Afghanistan in November of 2009 in Kunar Province and then again in February of 2012. It was during this deployment that we would be promoted to Captain and would serve as a personal security detachment for Task Force Mountain Warrior on the 8th of August, 2012. This detachment was responsible for the safety of 28 coalition and Afghan National Army personnel. In this group were two brigade commanders, three battalion commanders, the brigade sergeant major, a battalion sergeant major, and an ANA battalion commander. It was while on this patrol that Florent would earn the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:
Captain Florent A. Groberg distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Personal Security Detachment Commander for Task Force Mountain Warrior, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, during combat operations against an armed enemy in Asadbad, Kunar Province, Afghanistan on August 8, 2012. On that day, Captain 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, Captain Groberg observed an individual walking close to the formation. When the individual made an abrupt turn towards the formation, he noticed an abnormal bulge underneath the individual’s clothing. Selflessly placing himself in front of one of the brigade commanders, Captain Groberg rushed forward, using his body to push the suspect away from the formation. Simultaneously, he ordered another member of the security detail to assist with removing the suspect. At this time, Captain Groberg confirmed the bulge was a suicide vest and with complete disregard for his life, Captain Groberg again with the assistance of the other member of the security detail, physically pushed the suicide bomber away from the formation. Upon falling, the suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest outside the perimeter of the formation, killing four members of the formation and wounding numerous others. The blast from the first suicide bomber caused the suicide vest of a previously unnoticed second suicide bomber to detonate prematurely with minimal impact on the formation. Captain Groberg's immediate actions to push the first suicide bomber away from the formation significantly minimized the impact of the coordinated suicide bombers' attack on the formation, saving the lives of his comrades and several senior leaders. Captain Groberg's extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty at the risk of life are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect credit upon himself, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division and the United States Army.
Florent suffered a blown eardrum, a mild traumatic brain injury, and lost about 45 to 50 percent of his left calf muscle. He recovered at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center through May of 2015. After being medically retired from the Army in July of 2015, Florent received the Medal of Honor from President Obama on the 12th of November, 2015, becoming the 19th medal of Honor recipient after the Vietnam War, the first foreign born recipient since the Vietnam War, and the tenth living recipient. Florent A Groberg went on to graduate from the University of Maryland with a Master of Science in Management with a specialization in Intelligence Management.
