Among the Medal of Honor recipients at the 2025 National MoH Convention in Chattanooga last week, was Florent “Flo” Groberg. He said it was great to be in a city that is the historic “Birthplace of the Medal of Honor,” and in a region of our nation where “people understand what being an American really is.”
Indeed, we do!
Flo is a native of Poissy, France, not far from Paris. His mother was of Algerian descent, and he never met his biological father. He was raised by his mom and his American adoptive stepfather, Larry Groberg from Indiana.
He spent the first six years of his life in France, and then in Spain when his stepfather’s job took the family there. At age 11, his family moved to Potomac, Maryland, where he graduated from high school in 2001, the year he became a naturalized citizen. He then graduated from the University of Maryland in 2006.
In 2008, motivated by both his sense of duty to our nation and the personal loss of two of his uncles in terrorist attacks, he joined the Army. “I felt it was my duty as a newly naturalized citizen to go serve my country,” he says.
Flo graduated from Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning and commissioned as an infantry officer in December that year. After completing the Infantry Officers’ Basic Course, Mechanized Leaders Course, and the Airborne and Ranger Schools, he was then assigned to the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado, as a platoon leader, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment.
In late 2009, Flo deployed for his first tour to Kunar Province in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom as part of Task Force Lethal.
He returned home and served as his infantry company’s executive officer until deploying to Afghanistan again in February 2012 with Task Force Mountain Warrior as Personal Security Detachment commander for 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.
Six months later, on the morning of 8 August, then-Captain Groberg would distinguish himself in combat while moving on foot from Forward Operating Base Fiaz to the provincial governor’s compound in Asadabad for a security meeting. He and his American soldiers were responsible for the safety of 28 coalition and Afghan National Army personnel.
As a result of his heroic actions that day, Flo would become the tenth living Medal of Honor recipient for his service in Afghanistan.
According to his Medal of Honor citation:
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.
His citation concludes: “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.”
When the first bomb detonated, Flo was thrown 20 feet from the point of detonation and suffered severe injuries. Despite his action to protect his men, four among them were killed: Army SCM Kevin Griffin and MAJ Thomas Kennedy, Air Force Maj. Walter Gray, and U.S. Foreign Service Officer Ragaei Abdelfattah.
Flo says: “We defeated the enemy on that day. We sent a message that no matter how bad you want to hurt us, we’re always going to keep standing up and bringing it back twice fold on you. But it was the worst day of my life because even though we defeated the enemy, I lost four of my brothers.”
Of his Medal of Honor, he says, “The only people that I care judging me in the end are going to be those guys who didn’t come home, their families, and my family.”
Regarding his service to our nation, he says, “The proudest thing I have ever done in my life is to wear this uniform and serve my country.”
And of his future, Flo says: “Over the years, I have come to understand that I am at my best in the most austere environments and at my worst when it is all quiet on the front. War taught me many lessons, but it was my recovery at Walter Reed that truly shaped my mindset. I went from a warrior mentality to resiliency at the core. What I take pride in from that time is that I never forgot the pain, the frustrations, the boredom, and the waiting. Those long nights and endless days still drive me today.”
He concludes: “Resiliency is not about pretending things are easy. It is about choosing to stand back up, again and again, no matter how many times you are knocked down.”
You can watch Groberg recount his actions here.
After separating from the Army, Flo became Managing Director at AE Industrial Partners, LP. He also serves with the American Battle Monuments Commission.
He is married to Carsen and the proud father of their son.
CPT Florent Groberg: An ordinary man faced with extraordinary circumstances, he summoned the greatest measure of courage to place his life in imminent peril to save others. Your example of valor — a humble American Patriot defending Liberty for all above and beyond the call of duty — is eternal.
“Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
Live your life worthy of his sacrifice.
(Read more Profiles of Valor here.)
Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis
Pro Deo et Libertate — 1776
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