Capt. Hawk Awarded Rare 3rd Silver Star
For conspicuous valor in combat

 At the ceremony, Maj. Gen. Michael Smith detailed Albracht’s actions back in fall of 1969 that led to the award, adding that Hawk is part of “an elite group which includes some of our nation’s greatest warriors, such as former General of the Army Douglas MacArthur and Col. David Hackworth.”

THE AWARD COMES A LITTLE LATE, BUT THERE WAS A HELLUVA REASON

Rep. Bobby Schilling, R-Ill., who worked with the First Army to have the long-awaited award presented to Albracht, told the standing room only crowd Albracht’s “self-sacrificing nature” made him the only soldier to survive the siege and not receive an award for valor. Albracht was to receive it in a ceremony soon after the action, but when a helicopter arrived to pick him up to take him to the ceremony, he had learned of four wounded soldiers who needed to be taken to a field hospital. He asked the pilots to take them there first, and missed the ceremony.

Below, the full 3rd Silver Star Awards Ceremony, Rock Island Arsenal, Ill., December 15, 2012

Back to Awards