An Army recruiter who previously served as a medic in Afghanistan had his Silver Star upgraded to a Distinguished Service Cross after he saved the lives of three of his fellow soldiers while under enemy fire in Afghanistan in 2008.
Sgt. 1st Class Erik Kingsley was driving his brother-in-law to the airport in the early morning hours of April 1, 2017, when he noticed the headlights of a vehicle in a ditch and sparks underneath it.
In September, Marine Sgt. Gary G. Wilson, of Murrieta, California, rescued two women trapped in their cars — one vehicle burning, the other threatened by fire — after a collision on the 163 Freeway.
On March 11, 1968, on a remote mountain top in Laos called Lima Site 85, Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Richard Etchberger singlehandedly repelled a North Vietnamese assault and ultimately gave his life to save his teammates.
Congressman Duncan Hunter, Republican from California, has sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis asking him to upgrade a Silver Star award to a Navy Cross for Marine 1st Lt. Travis Manion in light of what he called "new material evidence."
