Santa Rosa Native Awarded the Silver Star

Jan 19., 2009 1 Comment

Gunnery Sgt. Robert Blanton, a Santa Rosa native and fellow Montgomery High School Alumni, has been awarded the Silver Star, the third highest medal for valor.

According to the military, Blanton was on his third tour of Iraq with his platoon on a search of what they thought was an abandoned house when they encountered insurgents.

One of his platoon members, Sgt. Michael Ferschke, was killed and two others were injured in the fighting in which Blanton drove his armored vehicle into the house, crashing through one of the walls, and rescuing a wounded soldier.

Blanton’s vehicle was disabled by a suicide bomber during the fight, after which he was involved in a close-quarters fight armed with his pistol, according to the military.

Source: The Press Democrat

Thank you, Gunnery Sgt. Robert Blanton for your years of service to our country!