Howell soldier campaigns for Purple Heart

It is long overdue that someone went forward for National Guardsman here in the state of Michigan. SSG Knudsen fixed bayonets and went up Capitol Hill without his fellow soldiers behind him. For that effort alone he should be promoted and decorated and just the same, his chain of command that sat behind their desks and wouldn't fight should be discharged and sent to Adak, Alaska.
There used to be a time when leaders in this country were there for their fellow man. I have to wonder why a wounded and disabled soldier went to battle in Washington D.C. for his fellow men yet healthy officers and non-commissioned officers didn't. I bet they'll hang their heads in shame when SSG Knudsen gets his medals for himself and his fellow soldiers.
Too bad we live in a nation that over pays leaders who don't lead yet we underpay those who do.

Mark
Brighton, Michigan

Well, Well.....Here we again have a soldier that had to go outside his chain of command to fight and fix what his senior leaders didn't want to. Not only did SSG Knudsen's own state National Guard Command set idle when wounded vets were being denied Purple Hearts, National Guard recruiters stole petitions from a Howell business that supported those wounded soldiers. Look at the obvious, no one soldier from the Michigan Army National Guard came forward publicly to show support for their wounded soldiers that were denied Purple Hearts. In fact, the only public effort towards this fight for respect was two recruiters stealing petitions to interfere with public support.
You have to wonder what else the MIARNG isn't doing these days for the thousands that have served and their needs and respect. The surface of the MIARNG looks pretty awesome doesn't it? Yet when we look just past the surface, it doesn't even pass the smell test now does it. I think it is only obvious that SSG Knudsen's leaders and their families can hang their heads in shame. SSG Knudsen's family on the other hand can look back on their soldiers courage with pride and honor. After all, he did what senior leaders couldn't. History has a term for soldiers that go against all the odds in the face of adversity....their called heroes. Just the same, those that don't are remembered as cowards and traitors. This chapter is being written in history now. I will be the first in line to buy and read SSG Knudsen's book when it is published.

Andy M
Lansing, Michigan

Gees, think this soldier should be recognized? I see soldiers all the time in the MIARNG getting promoted and decorated when soldiers like SSG Knudsen are left alongside the road. This case brings to light the fact that politicians are hiding in uniforms. Ever wonder what SSG Knudsen's leaders were doing when he was in Washington D.C. fighting for himself and the respect of his fellow wounded soldiers? Kinds makes you sick to your red white and blue guts now doesn't it?
I say decorate and promote this young Staff Sergeant. I bet he'd take a flame thrower to our broken and failed leadership command here in Michigan.

The senior leaders that set behind desks at state headquarters in Lansing can get out their shovels now. When the Army reverses these Purple Heart denials, those cowardly senior officers can start digging their graves of shame. I know one soldier from Howell that will be shoveling the dirt with a back hoe.

Open your eyes people, history once again is showing what kind of leaders we're paying to do as little as they can for our nations son's and daughters.

I want o share one word with everyone. Courage.

This is what SSG Knudsen's leaders lack completely. Had they had one ounce of what SSG Knudsen has, they'd all be generals with more decorations that Patton and Roosevelt.

Politicians don't fight for soldiers, fellow soldiers do. See any fellow soldiers fighting for SSG Knudsen and his two fellow wounded soldiers in Livingston County?

Gotta love this soldier. If not, the least we can do is follow him. Fix bayonets! The next fight he leads uphill will surely be watched and recorded.

Those officers in lansing really know how to fight for their soldiers now don't they? It's no wonder SSG Knudsen was leading this fight in his own. His leaders were too busy playing golf and grab ass with politicians.

Sound anything like the white house?

Gotta love Sean Knudsen, his head and heart are for the troops he served with, not the politicians. Wish I could say the same for the rest of the Army.

I hope that when SSG Knudsen gets his Purple Hearts for himself anf fellow wounded soldiers, his chain of command doesn't try to take the credit. I can see it now, all Sean's Colonel's and General's in his command wanting to be on television making this event a recruiting circus.
Make way for our future leaders here in the county. There's a new Sheriff in town and his name is Knudsen.

Gees, look up this soldiers name on google and it's like he's been everywhere in the world in his career. My brother served with a sean Knudsen in the invasion of Panama and again with his unit in Somalia. This guy seems to have been everywhere the government doesn't talk about publicly. I have to wonder if his mission in the Middle East was the reason the government was keeping his wounds quiet. This happens all the time with classified operatives and special operations forces soldiers. I hope he gets all he has coming. Too many have not.

I've been contacted by SSG Knudsen because of an Article that I wrote for the Army times about Soldiers being denied Purple Hearts. I've lost (computer died) his email contact information and need to get in contact with him about more denied Purple Hearts. If anyone has contact with him, please have him email me; he has my email address already. Thanks and stay in the fight.

purple heart found SSG Knudsen lost his purple heart and i found it. it looks like a coin and it says samarra in it in the location section i can me contacted my e mail at damole234@aol.com

Some of use are still fighting. I was wounded by a grenade on 5 November 2003. I took strapnel to my lower spine (removed in 2005) and lost my left kidney (removed in 2004). I have recieved other purple hearts for lesser wounds (other seperate inccidents) but I still to this day have not recieved the one for that 5 Nov grenade attack against my convoy. I have put forth the paper work three times now and they seem to loose it again and again. Someone point me in the right direction...

I am the soldier that is fighting now for wounded and denied veterans. You say you have been wounded by a hand grenade and have yet to be awarded the Purple Heart Medal? I am working as we speak for fellow denied veterans in D.C.
Email me ( sknudsen@mycounty.us ) and let's talk so I can get you what you have coming. I am the founder of Denied Purple Heart Veterans of America and I am now a Purple Heart Recipient.
SSG Sean Knudsen

Most of you have never had the experience to serve with Sean Knudsen. I am one of the few who has. Sean and I served together in Mogadishu in 1993 (he with contracted units and myself with a Task Force)and again in the former Russian Baltics in 1996 after the olympics fiascal in Atlanta. There we trained former Russian Army soldiers.I knew him then like I do today. More will come from Sean regarding these denials in the near future. He is a fighter but more importlantly, he knows which battles to fight. That is how fighters are rated by historians. Having the evidence and ammunition aginst your foe is the key to winning. Very senior leaders in DOD and in Washington know what he knows and the day will come when Sean hands over the details. You can learn a lot from a former Gov't contractor like Sean Knudsen. Some things you will wish you hadn't. I am not afraid to say I served with him, I can't say the same of some of his military leaders. The IG's office and CID office will wish they had listened to him when they give their final investigation reports. They are the noodles that he'll make look like school children when all the evidence unfolds on national television. We have an old saying in the elite fraternities within USASOC. "It isn't always the old dogs that win, it's usually the dog that knows the streets.

Hale was divine in his explanation of Sean Knudsen. Those of us that knew him from the Chagrin Falls unit know what this man is capable of. When we needed equipment or anything else that no one could muster, Sean AKA Recoil-6 was our go to man. I'd never cross this man nor would any who have knowledge of who he really is and what his credentials are. The Pentagon and U.S. Gov't know enough to stand off and wait to commit damage control when he comes forward with information much awaited. Advice from the LPOP? Just respect him, many lives were pulled from the long grey line when Sean went under fire to assist them. I know of 6 children that have fathers still today because of Seans actions.

From time to time this nation has sent it's children off to war torn regions of the globe to do what most would never comprehend. My career has spanned 24 years working here and abroad for Uncle Sammy. In all those years and all my travels, I will remember a few great Americans that have impacted my life and living so that I am humbled. Sean Knudsen is one of them. On a hillside overlooking a ravine in dense vegetation in Central America in the late 90's, Sean was instrumental in retrieving classified material and handing it to me when even I myself would have never ventured to do so at that given time. That one act and one piece of evidence turned the course of negotiations for the U.S. and the Panamanian Gov't. Sean like most, will never get official credit like most that venture in classified operations. I am thankfull that he did go forward to claim his Purple Heart Medal for his wounds in Iraq. I forsee many more getting their recognition because of Sean Knudsen and his determination for what he knows is right.
Sean will never accept the title of "hero" that Congressman Mike Rogers gave him in 2007. That is why Mike publicly addresses Sean as a hero. He and the rest of know that Sean will never accept that title. No medals can be awarded for great patriots like Sean Knudsen and all his former contracted officials, just gratitude and respect. After all, is there any award higher than respect and gratitude?
I am sure that Sean and I will cross paths again in the future.When we do, I'll share a drink with him that only USASOC Joe's understand. Until then, I'll have to make a few calls along the way and inform fellow patriots about this site so they too can leave their words of gratitude and respect here on this site on behalf of our friend.

Robin Sage 7

Only the few! How much more can be said about a former soldier and contracted operator for USASOC. I'd like to ride shotgun with Sean Knudsen again when much wanted individuals need to be hauled in for the state department. There will never be mention of Seans sacrifices in his personal life like there is talk about his military life. When you go as far as long as Sean has for the flag, your lives will suffer as well. We can only say thanks for his service. We can only hope he is called upon again when the best are needed. I know I'll be visiting his home when my next call comes.

Tailgate 6

Only the few! How much more can be said about a former soldier and contracted operator for USASOC. I'd like to ride shotgun with Sean Knudsen again when much wanted individuals need to be hauled in for the state department. There will never be mention of Seans sacrifices in his personal life like there is talk about his military life. When you go as far as long as Sean has for the flag, your lives will suffer as well. We can only say thanks for his service. We can only hope he is called upon again when the best are needed. I know I'll be visiting his home when my next call comes.
Tailgate 6

My opinion is if the General in theater denied it, it must not have deserved.
What a way to lessen the meaning of one of our nations most treasured medals!

CWO Lee,

You should think before running your mouth about a soldier like retired SSG Knudsen. He still carries shrapnel in his jaw and skull. His DC that you claim was okay to disapprove his Purple Heart is in hot water right now with his seniors at the Pentagon because of investigations opened up by SSG Knudsen and other senior servicemembers. I suppose it is simple and easy for a warrant officer like yourself from the MIARNG to take your cheap shot at discrediting fellow wounded and disabled vets like SSG Knudsen but keep in mind that you are also discrediting thousands like SSG Knudsen who have been wounded and injured the same way and also awarded the Purple Heart. I assume you have never been wounded in combat action or medically discharged from honorable military service and further assume that your state AG and Brigade CO will find your comments degrading, unprofessional and defining of who you really are as a self described leader. Keep in mind that the Secretary of the Army, the Surgeon General and key senior flag officers at the Pentagon reviewed Seans medical records and all found that serious flaws occurred when his DC denied his award. Yo may want to keep that in mind when your state AG and Brigade CO's doors are being knocked on in the near future. You're on of Brigadier General Mike Nevins soldiers right? Seans service to this state and nation both in the military and for KBR stand for more than your uneducated idiot proclamations ever will. In the last year Sean has gone out of his way to assist the Pentagon and fellow soldiers with their Purple Heart denials. Obviously the same will never be said for yourself.I wish you the best in your career, however long that may be. You are a clear example of another 1462nd Trans product fed by none other than ignorance, foolishness and obviously your own ideas of what a Division Commander is supposed to be allowed to represent. Since you have obvious issues with DOD regulations pertaining to approval and awarding of the Purple Heart, perhaps you should be serving elsewhere since your opinions aren't in the interest of defending Honor and Respect for fellow wounded combat veterans. Keep whatever flag you serve nearbye, it will be a reminder for your class of individuals.

The Parker Family
Brighton, Michigan

I agree with the Parkers on this one and can assure everyone alse reading this blog that Patrick Lee from Canton, Michigan is obviously a good candidate for FOX 2 News "Hall of Shame." This CWO was a cook? And he's degrading the approval of the Purple Heart by the Pentagon and the Secretary of the Army? You can bet my family will be addressing this coward very soon. This clown needs more than a flag by his side, he needs a shovel to fill in the grave he dug with his ignorant mouth. So, why hasn't he discredited the thousands like Sean Knudsen that have been wounded just the same and awarded the Purple Heart Medal? Does this slug really disapprove of soldiers carrying shrapnel in their bodies being awarded the Purple Heart? I feel for the soldiers that serve under such a lowsy moran like this individual claiming to hail from Canton, Michigan.

Congratulations Patrick Lee! You've made it to the bottom end of the gene pool. You'll make great company with that General out in New York and his former staff officers.

Terry Allen
Howell, Michigan

Yeah, Rick Lee really likes degrading people like Chris Stone and Sean Knudsen, both wounded vets. He has always runs his junk mouth whenever he can. We all figure it makes him feel like the man that he really isn't. Most of us here at the Howell unit agree with Seans Purple Heart. After all, he has X Rays showing shrapnel in his head and a disability rating from both the VA and Regular Army. People like Rick Lee and our "great recruiters" don't really represent all of us in the 1462nd Trand Co. He likes to degrade his senior leaders and junior soldiers whenever he can. It's his calling and his mindset. Imagine that, a cook claiming fellow wounded vets like Sean shouldn't be wearing their award earned on a battlefield! remember that, he's a "cook" but now he's with the MP Brigade. Yeah, Gen Nevin will be reall pleased when he hears about Rick Lee running his stupid mouth again, real happy!

Sean, we hope you are doing well from your surgery and stay in touch wherever you are these days. Your Legion of Merit and Purple Heart speak volumes of your service, not to mention your time with Blackwater/KBR.

Second to None