As A Veteran. As An Immigrant. As An American.
Hoping we are correct, we grit our teeth as we write “It may have been Euripides (c. 480 B.B – c. 406 B.C.), who (to the best of our ability to determine) first observed “every man is like the company he is wont to keep.’”
At the same time, we especially enjoy the lines from Charles Jarvis’ 1749 English translation of Ingenioso Cavallero Don Qvixote de la Mancha (Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote de la Mancha), perhaps because the memorable admonition is ascribed to the would-be knight’s faithful squire: “Here, quoth Sancho, the proverb hits right, Tell me your company, and I will tell you what you are.”
[Don Quixote was published in two parts in 1605 and 1615.]
One American far-right commentator and advisor to the White House recently proved she deserves no company and woe unto those who might join her.
Her ignominy finds its expression in the Citation she believes an American hero doesn’t deserve because, in her words, he wasn’t “US born.”
Euripides
For perspective and before offering other background, we will let the Citation read in President Barack Obama’s Oval Office on August 8, 2012 tell the story.
“Captain Florent A. Groberg distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Personal Security Detachment Commander for Task Force Mountain Warrior, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, during combat operations against an armed enemy in Asadbad, Kunar Province, Afghanistan on August 8, 2012. On that day, Captain Groberg was leading a dismounted movement consisting of several senior leaders to include two brigade commanders, two battalion commanders, two command sergeants major, and an Afghanistan National Army brigade commander. As they approached the Provincial Governor’s compound, Captain Groberg observed an individual walking close to the formation. When the individual made an abrupt turn towards the formation, he noticed an abnormal bulge underneath the individual’s clothing. Selflessly placing himself in front of one of the brigade commanders, Captain Groberg rushed forward, using his body to push the suspect away from the formation. Simultaneously, he ordered another member of the security detail to assist with removing the suspect. At this time, Captain Groberg confirmed the bulge was a suicide vest and with complete disregard for his life, Captain Groberg again with the assistance of the other member of the security detail, physically pushed the suicide bomber away from the formation. Upon falling, the suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest outside the perimeter of the formation, killing four members of the formation and wounding numerous others. The blast from the first suicide bomber caused the suicide vest of a previously unnoticed second suicide bomber to detonate prematurely with minimal impact on the formation. Captain Groberg’s immediate actions to push the first suicide bomber away from the formation significantly minimized the impact of the coordinated suicide bombers’ attack on the formation, saving the lives of his comrades and several senior leaders. Captain Groberg’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty at the risk of life are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect credit upon himself, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division and the United States Army.”
The son of a French-Algerian mother, who married his adoptive American stepfather, Florent Groberg was born in France on May 8, 1983; he never met his biological father. Because of his adoptive father’s work, the family lived in France and Spain before moving to Chicago and, eventually, Potomac, Maryland, where the future Captain Groberg attended Lycée Rochambeau (Bethesda) and became a United States citizen just months before graduating from Walter Johnson High School. The young man who did not speak English until he was 11 years old, graduated from the University of Maryland College Park, where he competed in varsity track and cross country and earned a 2006 bachelor’s degree in criminology and criminal justice.
Groberg received his commission as an infantry officer on December 4, 2008 and deployed to Afghanistan November 2009 – June 2010; he deployed again to Afghanistan in February 2012.
The blast from the first detonation in the incident for which he received the Medal of Honor sent Groberg flying 15 to 20 feet; three U.S. military personnel were killed and several others injured. Groberg’s actions prevented the bombers from carrying out their mission and killing many more Americans.
He sustained the loss of 45 to 50 percent of his left calf muscle with significant nerve damage, a blown eardrum and a mild traumatic brain injury. He spent from August 2012 through May 2015 – almost three years – recovering at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and was medically retired from Company B Warriors, Warrior Transition Battalion, as a captain, on July 23, 2015.
He was the keynote speaker at the May 2017 University of Maryland University College graduation at which he received his Master of Science degree in Management with a specialty in Intelligence Management.
[EDITORS’ NOTE: We consciously struggle to present facts and avoid vituperative attacks. Nonetheless, given his heroism and what he has suffered – including nearly three years at Walter Reed - for Trump aficionada Laura Lommer to attack this Medal of Honor recipient is pusillanimous, spineless, faint- and pigeon-hearted, and cowardly. There are other words and phrases we might use, but they are beneath us.]
On August 8, 2025 the United States Army on its X account posted
“August 8, 2012, Afghanistan: Capt. Florent Groberg made a split-second decision that saved lives. He tackled a suicide bomber to protect his team, an act of valor that earned him the Medal of Honor. Read the powerful story of courage, sacrifice, and heroism below.”
The X post contained emojis of the American Flag and the Medal of Honor.
[EDITORS’ NOTE: The X post marked the thirteenth anniversary of Groberg’s heroic self-sacrifice that – in the words of the Medal of Honor citation – saved “the lives of his comrades and several senior leaders….”]
This was enough to send the reported Trump-advisor into paroxysms of anti-immigrant and not-US-born hoo-ha and feverish delirium.
Her agita, she explained, was caused by the fact that private citizen Groberg addressed the 2016 Democratic Convention and was not “US born”:
“There are probably so many people who the Army could honor who have received the Medal of Honor. But who did the Army choose to honor instead on their social media page under the Trump admin?
“Florent Groberg, a Democrat who spoke at the 2016 DNC where he campaigned against Trump in support of Hillary Clinton and was praised by Obama.
“You’d think that the US Army of all places would actually invest in some proper vetting, but nope. Inadequacy, screw ups, and zero political knowledge of anything in the Trump era is totally accepted by many in this admin.
“Under the Army Secretary Dan Driscoll there have been several instances of either him, or the Army promoting anti-Trump Leftists on their official social media channels.
“Remember the Vindman screw up? Are we supposed to believe the Army couldn’t find a Republican and US born soldier? They had to find an immigrant who voted for Hillary Clinton and spoke at the DNC as Obama’s guest?”
[EDITORS’ NOTE: We have omitted the links included in her X post and the last part of the post in which she attacks Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll and his staff.]
Reporting on Loomer’s attack on a Medal of Honor recipient, The Washington Post noted that the Groberg recognition is part of a yearlong celebration of the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday and quoted “An army official, speaking on the condition of anonymity,” who called Loomer’s attack “despicable.”
“’The Army is not going to check the political affiliation of our soldiers before we recognize them,’ the official said. ‘A man or woman serving is not a Democrat or Republican, they are an American. Their political affiliation has nothing to do with their service.’”
According to the Post, Groberg refused interview requests “but voiced amazement online at Loomer’s criticism.”
Assuming the high road expected of a patriot and hero, Groberg posted:
“Thirteen years ago today is my Alive Day, the day I nearly lost my life, and four of my brothers, including three Army leaders, never came home. I’ve served under presidents from both parties and will always honor my oath to this country. Yes, I spoke for 60 seconds at the DNC when asked about service and sacrifice, not politics. For me, 8/8 isn’t about parties. It’s about the lives we lost.”
The Post reported that, prior to his Convention speech, Gronberg informed organizers that he is a Republican. In 2016, he told the Post, “I saw an opportunity for me to go in, not as a Republican, not as a Democrat, not as a political figure, but as a veteran. As an immigrant. As an American.”
In the sixteenth chapter of the Gospel of Luke, Jesus offers a parable that we’d like to paraphrase:
There was a rich woman who dressed in purple and fine linen, lived in luxury every day and hated on those she hated on, most especially if they were not born in the United States or didn’t support her favorite president.
In the same country, lived a foreign-born hero, who once saved the lives of many of his fellow soldiers, but was deprecated and vilified because the rich woman did not like that he was honored for his unselfish heroism.
The time came when the foreign-born man died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich woman also died and was buried. In Hades, where she was in torment because of her hating, she looked up and saw Abraham far away, with the wounded soldier at his side. So, she called out, “Father Abraham, have pity on me and send the wounded soldier to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.”
But Abrapham replied, “Woman, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things and despised this foreign-born hero, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. As the Irish would say, Go hifreann leat!”
Medal of Honor Recipient Capt. Florent Groberg
We pray that Jesus and Luke will forgive our paraphrase. We’re pretty sure they will. In our defense, “The devil made Father Skipper write it.”
It is our deepest regret that we – that all of us - have not been able to shake the hand of Medal of Honor Recipient Florent A. Groberg and hope that just a little of his integrity and courage would - somehow miraculously – transfers onto/into us. In the words of St. Francis of Assisi, “May the Lord give you peace!”