then stuffed sergeant earl d. plumleephoto with a member of his unit at forward operation base in afghanistan. his sergeants turned out to detonate a 400 pound car bomb that blew open a 60-foot wide breach in a permanent wall. they encountered the sergeants coming through the wall all wearing explosive vests. in multiple cases they donated their vest right in front of them. a fellow surgery was wounded and ran to the soldiers in position, carried him to safety, and administered care before returning to the fight. ultimately, stuff sergeant earl d. plumlee was able to organize an amount of difference to the base. no one will forget how he sprung into action when the enemy attacked the base. >> those are american heroes. don't ever get confused when provocateurs call themselves patriots. with those three soldiers they were patriots. they are patriots. that is our broadcast for this thursday night thank you for staying up with us and on behalf of all of my colleagues at the network of nbc news, goodnight. news goodnight. >>

staff sergeant earl d. plumleesote to duty are keeping with the finest tradition of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the special forces rental fend signed joseph r. biden, the president of the united states. [ applause ] >>> please join me, most holy god, as we leave this ceremony, inspire us and lead tows greater acts of service. may we have the audacity to follow the examples of the soldiers we honored here today. bless the families as the names of these men are etched into the nation's proud history. may they mark the truest north for us to seek. finally, we pray you will give our leaders wisdom as we serve our nation and you will bless and protect the men and women of the armed forces. i ask these things in your most gracious and holy name. amen. >>> ladies and gentlemen, please remain in your seats as the president and first lady, and vice president and second gentleman depart. >>> oh, my gosh, what a powerful ceremony we have been watching. this medal of honor ceremony honoring just men

march 3rd, 1863, has posthumously awarded in the name of congress the honor to staff sergeant earl d. plumlee, united states army, for conspicuous bravery. staff sergeant earl plumlee distinguished himself above and beyond the call of duty in 2013 while serves as a weapons sergeant, c company, fourth battalion, first special forces group airborne, in support of operation enduring freedom. sergeant plumlee responded in an attack that began with an explosion that tore a breach in the base's wall. insurgents wearing suicide vests poured through the breach. sergeant plumlee and others raced to the breach. he used his body to shield the driver and engaged enemy insurgents with his pistol. without cover and with complete disregard for his own safety, he advanced on the army, engaging with multiple insurgents with only his own pistol. he killed two insurgents, one with a grenade and one by igniting a suicide vest. one suicide vest exploded a mere 7 meters from his position. sergeant plumlee with another soldier mounted another counterattack. under fierce enemy fire he moved from cover to attack the

earl d plumley for gallantry above and beyond the call of duty. he distinguished himself by acts of gallantry above and beyond the call of duty on -- in 2013 in support of operation enduring freedom. sergeant plumleeponded to an attack that began with an explosion that tore a 60 foot breach in the base's perimeter wall. 10 insurgents wearing suicide vest's poured through the breach. sergeant plumlee and two others mounted a vehicle and engaged, and he reacted instinctively, using his body to shield the driver prior to exiting the vehicle and engaging in an enemy insurgent 15 to the -- 15 meters to the right with a pistol. he engaged multiple insurgents using only his pistol. upon reaching cover, he killed two insurgents, one with a grenade and one by detonating suicide vest using precision sniper fire. disregarding his own safety, sergeant plumley advanced alone against the enemy, engaging several insurgents at close range, including one whose suicide vest exploded seven meters from his position. he temporarily withdrew the cover, where he joined up with another soldier and they mounted another counterattack. under fierce enemy fire, he moved from cover to attack the enemy forces, advancing seven