A star comes too late Posted On: Friday, Nov. 14 2008 05:32 AM By Amanda Kim Stairrett
Killeen Daily Herald

FORT HOOD – Kathleen Garross spoke to her son, John, several times over one week in mid-October.

"Did you get any new medals?" she asked once.

"Yeah," her son answered. "There should be a big one coming."

"What did you do to earn it?" Garross asked.

"You don't want to know," was the response. "Let me just tell you, I took care of business."

Garross never got to hear from her son just what he did to earn a Silver Star, the third-highest honor given to service members for valor. Sgt. John Penich died Oct. 16 in Karangol Village, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from indirect fire, according to information from the Defense Department.

It wasn't until after his death that Garross learned of her son's heroics. They were heroics that earned him a Silver Star and a Bronze Star Medal with Valor. They were heroics that, on multiple occasions, led Penich to save the lives of his brothers in arms.

Garross and Penich's father, James, received their son's Silver Star on Thursday following a memorial ceremony in his and three others' honor.

The award is given "to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Army, is cited for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force," according to the Army's Institute of Heraldry.

Penich received the award for his actions on Sept. 6, when he saved the lives of his platoon members and repelled an enemy attack, according to an account provided by the Army.

A 14-man patrol was attacked twice by two groups of enemy fighters. It was the second attack of rocket-propelled grenades, small-arms fire and machine-gun fire that injured half of the patrol. The soldiers were scattered and pinned down along the mountainside, with many injuries among them.

Penich took charge and fired back at the enemy, re-establishing security and gathering soldiers who were still capable of fighting.

He found the nearest, uninjured soldier and told him to treat an injured squad leader.

Penich got on the radio and began reporting the situation to the commander before working with others to redirect fire toward attacking enemy fighters.

He then secured the area for two medevac helicopters.

Penich enlisted in the Army at age 23 following a series of jobs in banks and hotels. He made great money, but didn't feel he was where he wanted to be, Garross said. She tried to talk him out of joining.

He quickly rose in rank, reaching sergeant in less than two years of service. He was named the brigade's Soldier of the Year in 2007.

It seemed John Penich found his calling.

The sergeant's goal was to go to school when he got back from Afghanistan.

He wanted to be an officer. He wanted to be a general. Family and friends had no doubts Penich would end up with stars on his chest.

"I personally believe he was good at what he did because he had compassion," Garross said.

Penich was an "absolutely incredible soldier," said Brig. Gen. Perry Wiggins, 1st Infantry commander. The general came from Fort Riley, Kan., for Thursday's ceremony.

Wiggins said he knew of three separate instances where Penich stepped forward and saved the lives of his fellow soldiers. More would have perished on Sept. 6 had the sergeant not taken action, he said.

"Those families of those soldiers, you will probably never meet," Wiggins said to Penich's family. "(But) their lives are forever impacted."

During Garross' trip to Fort Hood for the memorial and award ceremonies this week, she heard many stories about her son's high regard among soldiers.

Men in uniform hugged her like she was family. They cried. They told her he was the greatest man they ever served with. They told her he was missed. They told her he would never be forgotten.

It was nice for Garross to meet people who knew her son as a soldier.

"It does my heart proud," she said, tears flooding her eyes as she brought her hand to her chest. "But it doesn't take away the pain."

Some people live a lifetime and accomplish little, Wiggins said.

"Some people live a short amount of time and accomplish the world," he said of Penich.

Contact Amanda Kim Stairrett at astair@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7547.