Ronald J Shurer II
Ronald was born on the 7th of December, 1978 in Fairbanks, Alaska. Most of his childhood was spent in Tacoma, Washington, when his father was stationed at McChord Air Force Base. Both of his parents were in the US Air Force and he went on to graduate from Rogers high School in Puyallup, Washinton in 1997. Ronald then went to and graduated from Washington State University in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He was initially accepted into Officer Candidate School shortly after but was denied due to pancreatitis caused by a previous bicycle accident. Ronald then began a master's degree program at Washington State and after a year, enlisted in the US Army from Spokane in September of 2002.
Ronald first trained as a medic and was then accepted and completed Special Forces training and their medic training. By the 1st of December, 2006, he was a staff sergeant with the 3rd Special Forces Group and deployed to Afghanistan twice but it was his actions with a Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force that would earn him the Silver Star. The upgraded citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: Staff Sergeant Ronald J. Shurer II distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on April 6, 2008, while serving as a Senior Medical Sergeant, Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 3336, Special Operations Task Force-33, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Staff Sergeant Shurer was part of an assault element inserted by helicopter into a location in Afghanistan. As the assault element moved up a near vertical mountain toward its objective, it was engaged by fierce enemy machine gun, sniper, and rocket-propelled grenade fire. The lead portion of the assault element, which included the ground commander, sustained several casualties and became pinned down on the mountainside. Staff Sergeant Shurer and the rest of the trailing portion of the assault element were likewise engaged by enemy machine gun, sniper, and rocket-propelled grenade fire. As the attack intensified, Staff Sergeant Shurer braved enemy fire to move to an injured Soldier and treat his wounds. Having stabilized the injured Soldier, Staff Sergeant Shurer then learned of the casualties among the lead element. Staff Sergeant Shurer fought his way up the mountainside, under intense enemy fire, to the lead element’s location. Upon reaching the lead element, he treated and stabilized two more Soldiers. Finishing those lifesaving efforts, Staff Sergeant Shurer noticed two additional severely wounded Soldiers under intense enemy fire. The bullet that had wounded one of these Soldiers had also impacted Staff Sergeant Shurer’s helmet. With complete disregard for his own life, Staff Sergeant Shurer again moved through enemy fire to treat and stabilize one Soldier’s severely wounded arm. Shortly thereafter, Staff Sergeant Shurer continued to brave withering enemy fire to get to the other Soldier’s location in order to treat his lower leg, which had been almost completely severed by a high-caliber sniper round. After treating the Soldier, Staff Sergeant Shurer began to evacuate the wounded; carrying and lowering them down the sheer mountainside. While moving down the mountain, Staff Sergeant Shurer used his own body to shield the wounded from enemy fire and debris caused by danger-close air strikes. Reaching the base of the mountain, Staff Sergeant Shurer set up a casualty collection point and continued to treat the wounded. With the arrival of the medical evacuation helicopter, Staff Sergeant Shurer, again under enemy fire, helped load the wounded into the helicopter. Having ensured the safety of the wounded, Staff Sergeant Shurer then regained control of his commando squad and rejoined the fight. He continued to lead his troops and emplace security elements until it was time to move to the evacuation landing zone for the helicopter. Staff Sergeant Shurer’s actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, Special Operations Command Central, and the United States Army.
About one year after returning home, Ronald was honorably discharged from the Army and he became a special agent for the Phoenix, Arizona, office of the US Secret Service. He then was selected for the agency's Counter Assault Team and was assigned to its Special Operations Division out of Washington DC. The Pentagon began a review in 2016 of all Valor medals awarded since the terror attacks of 9/11 and on the 1st of October, 2018, Ronald's Silver Star was upgraded to the Medal of Honor and he received it from President Trump in a ceremony at the White House. Ronald J Shurer II currently resides in Burke, Virginia, with his wife and two sons.
