Three Ohio soldiers in Afghan battle among 27 inducted
Army Sgt. 1st Class Sean A. Clifton was critically wounded while helping to seize a Taliban compound in Afghanistan. Sgt. 1st Class Matthew R. Sheaffer delivered the initial medical care and then threw a grenade into the compound, killing six of the enemy combatants. Staff Sgt. Matthew S. Maxwell provided covering fire so that Sheaffer and other medics could work on Clifton and three other injured soldiers.
For their heroism on May
31, 2009, the three were inducted Friday into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame for Valor.
“That makes it special,” Clifton said, to have the three of them — all in the same Army Special Forces unit of the Ohio National Guard — together for the ceremony.
Clifton of Dublin, along with Sheaffer of Columbus and Maxwell of Cincinnati, were among 27 men inducted in a solemn ceremony at the Statehouse. It brings to 340 the number of Ohio service members inducted since the nonprofit organization began in 2000.
The Ohio Military Hall of Fame for Valor honors active service members and veterans and deceased veterans who have been decorated for heroism while in combat situations. Inductees must have been born in Ohio or entered military service from Ohio.
The harrowing stories of gallantry, courage and extraordinary valor on the battlefield sound like Hollywood scripts. All of it was real, however, and encompassed bravery and devotion to comrades that was displayed on battlefields in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
“The Class of 2017 is an inspiration to us all,” said Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, the keynote speaker. “Thank you for giving so much of yourselves.”
Family and friends of the inductees listened as each of the 27 citations was read aloud. Many of the inductees, some in their crisp dress uniforms, were on hand to accept the honor. Relatives accepted the posthumous awards.
Clifton’s wife, Sarah, and their three sons, Stone, 10, Seth, 8, and Scott, 6, attended the ceremony.
“I feel honored and humbled, for sure,” said Clifton, 43, “and blessed to be with family and friends and community. It’s wonderful to be a part of this today, honoring these heroes who span generations of warfare and generations of freedom.
“For many of us, events like this provide a certain amount of closure,” he added. “There were inductees who weren’t here. It’s important that we remember that as well.”