Medal of Honor recipient recognized at Fort Carson

For only the 25th time since 1917, a plaque of honor is added to the Iron Horse Wall at Fort Carson.

Retired 4th Infantry Division Captain and Medal of Honor Recipient Florent Groberg joined this elite group of military heroes Monday.

Groberg joined 24 of his comrades dating back to World War II. Men, who like him, put service before self.

“It’s one of those weird things where you look back and you say, hey, what I did was just my job, so I don’t feel that I deserve to be on it,” Groberg said.

The wall honors soldiers who have earned the military’s highest distinction, the Medal of Honor.

Groberg was awarded the medal in November 2015 for his life-saving heroics in Afghanistan in 2012.

Groberg was escorting top-level military leaders through the streets of Asadabad when he noticed something unusual. A man wearing dark clothing, walking backwards just feet away. “I hit him, then I let go of my rifle, which I had slung, then I grabbed him by the chest — which, obviously, he had a suicide vest — pushed him through, and boom. Detonates.”

The explosion killed four of his comrades and severely injured his leg.

More than 30 surgeries later, Groberg walks with a slight limp. He credits his team for his survival. “This doesn’t belong to me. There is no possible way the Medal of Honor can truly belong to one individual,” he said.

Now Groberg says his mission is to represent his brothers in arms who didn’t come home.

Groberg was the 10th living service member to receive the Medal of Honor and the third living recipient assigned to the 4th Infantry Division.