Matthew O. Williams

"I sign in and meet my team. These guys have been training together for six months, and there arent a lot of new guys in the room. Its scary enough meeting these guys for the first time, wondering if Im going to fit in, how I can be a successful part of the team. "Get your stuff together," Team Sergeant Scott Ford tells me. "Were leaving." These guys, I discover, are great leaders and mentors. Staff sergeant and medica Ronald Shurer takes me under his wing very quickly. Everyone shows me the ropes."

"My father instilled hard work, integrity, selfless service, and other values in my upbringing. Ive always had a willingness to serve, but the military wasnt something I thought much about until 9/11. After that, I went about my business, learning as much as I could about the different branches of the military. When I graduated college in 2005, our nation was at war. I settled on the US Armys 18X program, which allowed me to go to Special Forces assessment and selection right off the street. I liked the Green Berets, their mission and motto, De Oppresso Liber. It means "free the oppressed." Giving people the opportunity to fight for themselves is very important."

"My first mission will be village clearance with some older Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) personnel. I load up in the helicopter in Bagram and fly out. As were hovering over the target, everything around me completely browned out, I look down at the dirt, half expecting the bad guys to rise up and attack. And thats when it hits me. Im in Afghanistan, and this shit is for real."

"The team is awarded ten Silver Stars and one Air Force Cross. What still stands out for me that day, what Ive learned, is that when everything hits the fan and its game on, if you have trust and real camaraderie with a really well-trained team, your capabilities alone and together are pretty astounding. I know Im going to constantly seek out this level of camaraderie and team building throughout the rest of my military career."

"Ten years later, Ron Shurer, our medic, and I get the call that our Silver Stars have been upgraded to the Medal of Honor. Im over in 3rd Group and still a team sergeant on an ODA when I receive the award. My community is small and tight-knit and quiet. If somebody wants to ask questions or talk about the medal, Im more than happy to discuss it, but more often than not, they dont. Everybody understands that Im just a guy. I never really wanted to do anything other than be a Green Beret. I want to continue to serve. Ive made it a point to just be "Matt" and separate myself from the award. Now I find myself in leadership positions that are extraordinarily fulfilling because Im able to give back to the younger guys. Do I highlight the heritage and history of the regiment by using my story to engage with these kids so they can learn more about the history? Or do I stay hidden? Frankly, I still havent decided."