[AirForceTimes] Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman and former Army Ranger Alejandro Villanueva caught the eye of numerous veterans when Monday Night Football cameras captured a name scrawled across the back of his helmet: Alwyn Cashe.Sgt. 1st Class Cashe died nearly 15 years ago from injuries sustained in Iraq after he repeatedly entered a burning Bradley Fighting Vehicle to rescue his fellow soldiers, an effort that left him with second and third degree burns to nearly 75 percent of his body.
Despite the intense heat melting the uniform and armor to his skin, Cashe returned to the inferno numerous times to pull six soldiers from the fiery wreck.
He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star, which, following years of recommendations by veterans and lawmakers, may soon be upgraded to the Medal of Honor, a move confirmed recently when Secretary of Defense Mark Esper announced plans to submit Cashe for the award.The upgrade to the nation’s highest award for combat valor would make Cashe the first Black Medal of Honor recipient from the Global War on Terror.
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“This year the NFL is allowing players to wear helmet decals to honor victims of systemic racism,” the team announced. “Players could select the name of an individual to wear on their helmet and the Steelers players and coaches united as one to wear a single name on the back of their helmets and hats for the entire 2020 season – Antwon Rose Jr.”
Rose, 17, was fatally shot by East Pittsburgh police in June 2018.
Villanueva opted instead to honor Cashe, whose son Andrew is following in his father’s footsteps and is now an Army infantry soldier. Andrew may be the individual to receive the medal on his father’s behalf if the upgrade is approved.
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