Fort Benning soldier dies three weeks after explosion in Iraq

Associated Press

OVIEDO, Fla. - Alwyn "Al" Cashe told his family that he would never leave one of his soldiers behind in combat.

"I told him, 'Don't go over there playing a hero. You learn how to duck and come home,'" his sister, Kasinal Cashe White of Lake Butler told the Orlando Sentinel on Saturday. "He said, 'I'm doing the job I was trained to do. I have to take care of my boys.'"

Cashe wasn't initially hurt when a roadside bomb exploded Oct. 17 next to his Bradley Fighting Vehicle while on patrol in Samara, Iraq, family members said.

But he suffered second- and third-degree burns over 70 percent of his body when he ran back into the vehicle in an attempt to rescue other soldiers trapped inside, according to his family.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe, 35, died Tuesday at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, according to the Department of Defense. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, based in Fort Benning, Ga.

Three other soldiers - Staff Sgt. George Alexander Jr., 34, of Killeen Texas; Sgt. Michael Robertson, 28, of Houston; and Spc. Darren Howe, 21, of Beatrice, Neb. - also died at the Texas hospital from burns suffered in the explosion, according to the Department of Defense.

Cashe joined the Army after graduating from Oviedo High in 1988. He had already served one tour in Iraq since the conflict began in 2003, and also fought in the first Gulf War.

He had planned to retire when he reached his 20th year of military service, but changed his mind while in the Texas hospital. He wanted to stay in the Army once he healed, White said.

"If he said he would do it, you could count on him to do it," another sister, Yvonne Holmes, told the newspaper.

Cashe is survived by his wife and 12-year-old daughter.

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 Out of every 100 men, ten shouldn't even be there, Eighty are just targets, Nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back." - Hericletus, circa 500 BC

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Specialist Darren Howe, himself burning in the drivers seat, piloted the Brad away from the ambush site before trying to exit the vehicle.  Suffering second and third degree burns, he went back in the burning vehicle to pull his buddies out.  He helped get almost everyone out.  Six members of the squad were burned badly, and one was still trapped inside.

Staff Sergeant George "A-Train" Alexander was featured here a few weeks ago.

Sergeant Michael “Doc Rob” Robertson was the crew member who could not make it out of the burning Bradley. 

Sergeant First Class Alwyn Cashe, the Bradley's Commander, already burned badly, rushed back into the burning BFV to save his squad's medic, Doc Robertson.  He's the hero that the Air Force surgeon met that night and declared him a hero.

Staff Sergeant Alexander died of his wounds on October 22nd.

Sergeant Robertson died of his wounds on October 25th.

Specialist Howe, who was going to try out for Special Forces after his tour in Iraq was over, died of his wounds on November 3rd.

I received an email late last night, that SFC Cashe had passed on, surrounded by his family.  Words cannot express my sorrow at this.

However.

Howe and Cashe were able to save the others.  The rest of the squad survived.  Specialists Ray Salerno and Gary Mills are  still at Brooke in San Antonio.  The others have been released and will recover.

Thoughts and prayers for the families of Howe, Alexander, Robertson, and Cashe are needed as are those for Salerno and Mill's recovery and the squad's well-being.

Alpha Company, 1st/15th Infantry - "Hard Rock!" - needs some Spiritual Warfare


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 Out of every 100 men, ten shouldn't even be there, Eighty are just targets, Nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back." - Hericletus, circa 500 BC

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