‘Duncan tonter AS. Rouse of Representatives sot Basen, Cora May 25, 2016 ‘The Honorable Eric Fanning Secretary of the Army 101 Army Pentagon ‘Washington, D.C. 20310-0101, Dear Secretary Fanning: AAs follow-up tomy letter his weck requesting a review ofthe Medel of Honor nomination for Sergeant First Class (SFC) Earl Plumlee, | want to draw a comparison othe “Medal of Honor award for Captain Florent Grobera—whose heroic actions in Afghanistan disrupted an attack by insurgents wearing suicide vests. Captain Groberg's actions are most ‘certainly inthe sprit and tation ofthe Medal of Honor, and his actions compare in part to those of SFC Plumlee who also engaged, in close proximity, multiple insurgents wearing suicide ‘vests as they inflated Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ghana in Afghanistan on August 28, 2013. According to reports, SFC Plumiee immediately identified multiple insurgents wearing explosives aftr he threw a grenade that caused the secondary explosion of a suicide vest. With additional insurgents moving toward him, he engaged one witha singe shot, causing a second Suicide vest to detonate. Exposing himself to enemy fre, he engaged a third and fourth insurgent Within 6 meters of his position, resulting inthe detonation of third suicide vest. Again he moved into direct fire, causing the fourth insurgent to detonate his suicide vest, ifiting fragmentation wounds to himself and another operator. SFC Plumlee then exchanged ire with insurgents cross from his location while moving closer to an area containing U.S. and coalition forces. Another suicide vest detonated, mortally wounding « US. soldier. SEC Plumlee immediately approached the solic, picked him up and moved him toa nearby eompound and rendered first ad ‘This brief summary of SFC Plumlee’s actions does not account for his other heroic acts that day, including engaging other insurgents in close quarters, repeatedly exposing himself to well-placed enemy fire, rendering aid and taking charge to ensure no addtional insurgents were within the FOB. For his selflessness and bravery, SFC Plumlee was nominated forthe Medal of Honor withthe endorsement of the now Chairman ofthe Joint ChiefS of Staff, Joz Dunford, who \wrote: “clearly meets the standard... truly extraordinary.” Now Chief of Staff ofthe Army, Mark Milley, approved the nomination as well, writing, “clear valor above and beyond the call of dduty with complete disregard for his own safety. He saved many lives and defeated a significantBut as you now know, former Secretary of the Army John McHugh disagreed, downgrading the nomination not just to Distinguished Service Cross, but a Silver Star—still a significant valor award, Even so, the Silver Star underrepresents SFC Plumlee's actions, and the decision to downgrade the nomination was based on the previous Secretary's judgement that ‘SFC Plumlee’s actions did not meet the standard forthe nation's highest valor award. If this is truly the case, then Plumlee's downgrade crates a new precedent that excessively raises the criteria for awarding the Medal of Honor—making the award nearly out of reach for soldiers ‘whose actions are well within the time-honored spirit and tradition of the award. Further, the events ofthat day are well documented in @ report that. as understand, is currently classified. There is also video footage from base security cameras. The attack was investigated thoroughly, and multiple witnesses were able to provide statements—all of them consistent. There is no disputing the facts surrounding the attack or SFC Plumlee’s actions, as ‘well as the fact that he saved the ives of many soldiers, coalition partners and civilians Mr. Secretary it’s important thatthe Army achieve consistency in the awards process, and you are in the position to make this right. The Amy's decision to downgrade SFC Plus mination fr te Medal Honor wel own inte Spoil Operon, ‘community—tesubr nomination will go a long way to restoring trust and morale ‘rong our warfigter atthe leading edge ofthe Nght. Si ‘Member of Congress