CCH - Connects with Hawaii community

U.S. Special Operations Command-Pacific
Public Affairs Office
P.O. Box 64046 | Camp H.M. Smith, HI 96861-4031

Sar awarded two additional prominent awards for combat service Connects with Hawaii community

CAMP H.M. SMITH, HAWAII---Master Sgt. Sarun Sar was awarded two Bronze Star medals today for his service in combat, while supportive Hawaii community members observed.

Navy Capt. Craig Powell, SOCPAC Deputy Commander,
presents Master Sgt. Sarun Sar with two Bronze Star
medals. One of the Bronze Star medals is for valor.
The awards compliment a Silver Star that Sar received
in January. All three awards were presented for his
actions in combat in Afghanistan in 2005.

The Cambodian Community of Hawaii and the West Pearl Harbor Rotary both connected with Sar after he received a Silver Star award in January for actions in Afghanistan. The Cambodian Community of Hawaii has invited Sar as the keynote speaker at their Cambodian Lunar New Year celebration on April 15.

"We're very pleased that Master Sgt. Sar is in Hawaii and for his service to our great country, the United States," said Savouth Chea, Cambodian Community of Hawaii President.

The West Pearl Harbor Rotary club coincidentally has an on-going service project in the exact town in Cambodia where Sar spent his childhood years. The club is building wells and teaching silk weaving trades to the Cambodian people in Sar's hometown.

"Our Rotary motto 'Service Above Self' says exactly what Master Sgt. Sar has accomplished in earning these prestigious and distinguished awards," said Mark Sillman, West Pearl Harbor Rotary Director of International Programs. "In the spirit of 'Service Above Self', Master Sgt. Sar has not only represented the United States of America honorably, but has worked very hard to be a good will ambassador to Cambodia."

Mark Sillman, West Pearl Harbor Rotary Director
of International Programs, congratulates Sar for
receiving the awards. Sillman has personally visited
Sar's hometown in Cambodia performing Rotary
service projects. Sillman connected with Sar
following the media coverage of Sar's Silver Star
award presentation in January.

Sar agreed with Sillman's comments of 'Service Above Self', and added that he believes the military profession is about dedicating yourself to a cause greater than yourself.

Sar received the two Bronze Star medals for actions in combat in Afghanistan, during the same deployment where he earned the Silver Star. One of the bronze star awards was for valor.

The awards were presented to Sar for successfully responding to attacks on his base camp near the Pakistan border. Sar led his men to achieve their mission of denying the enemy the chance to continue attacks on his base camp.

Mark Sillman, West Pearl Harbor Rotary Director
of International Programs, and Savouth Chea,
Cambodian Community of Hawaii President stand
with Master Sgt. Sarun Sar following the
presentation of two Bronze Star awards to Sar today.

"I didn't go out on these missions to be a hero, but to do my job of creating a better security environment for the Afghan people," said Sar.

For more information, contact Maj. Stacy Bathrick, SOCPAC Public Affairs Officer, can be reached at: 808-477-9660 or email: stacy.bathrick@pacom.mil