Sgt. Martin Anthony Lugo Jr., was posthumously awarded the Silver Star Medal in Savannah, GA and presented to his father Martin Lugo Sr. This Silver Star Medal award is by The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress for Gallantry In Action.
Sgt. Lugo had also posthumously been awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and Purple Heart.
The Tucson hero, Sgt. Lugo was killed on August 19, during combat operations while deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The Ranger was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.
Sgt. Martin Anthony Lugo, 24, a native of Tucson, Arizona, and a graduate of Tucson High School.
After graduating from Tucson High, Lugo enlisted in the U.S. Army in September 2004. He completed One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Ga., as an infantryman. Then after graduating from the Basic Airborne Course, he was assigned to the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program at Fort Benning, Ga. Following graduation from the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program, Lugo was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment in April 2005, where he served as an ammunition handler, automatic rifleman, team leader and squad leader.
Sgt. Lugo’s awards and decorations include the Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two combat stars, Iraq Campaign Medal with combat star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon and Overseas Service Ribbon.
During combat operations against an armed enemy of the United States, as a Squad Leader for a Joint Task Force in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Sgt. Lugo and the assault force, immediately upon insertion to conduct a raid on a Taliban commander and several armed Taliban fighters, received effective fire from a trench directly to the east. With the entire assault force pinned down and taking casualties, Sgt. Lugo led his element on a flanking maneuver to destroy the enemy.
As he advanced, Sgt. Lugo identified two enemy fighters engaging the assault force. Realizing the threat the enemy posed to his element, Sgt. Lugo aggressively exposed himself to eliminate the enemy and was mortally wounded. Sgt. Lugo’s actions saved the lives of five of his teammates. Sgt. Lugo distinctive accomplishments are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, this Command and the United Sates Army.
At the time of Sgt. Lugo’s death, Col. Michael E. Kurilla, commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment said, “Sgt. Lugo was a true warrior who died leading his Rangers in a fierce fire fight that killed a Taliban commander and 13 other Taliban fighters in Logar Province. He is a hero to our Nation, the Army and his family.”
“Sgt. Lugo was a phenomenal warrior who was universally respected by every member of this command,” said Lt. Col. Mike Foster, the 1st Ranger Battalion commander. “He died while protecting our nation from her enemies and we will not forget his sacrifice. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Lugo family.”
He was on his sixth deployment in support of the War on Terror. He had previously deployed three times to Afghanistan and twice to Iraq.