Photo By Staff Sgt. Kimberly Johnson | Col. John Ward, division operations officer, 1st Armored Division, United States...... read more read more
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BAGHDAD – Staff Sgt. Jason Motes is now among an elite brotherhood within the United States Armor Association—The Order of St. George, symbolizing bravery, dedication to faith and decency.
Motes, the future operations noncommissioned officer-in-charge with Company A, Division Special Troops Battalion, 1st Armored Division, United States Division – Center, and Delaware, Ohio, native, is one of few staff sergeants who have been knighted into the elite group of recipients.
According to the U.S. Armor Association, the history of St. George dates back to about 280 A.D. St. George was a member of the Roman Emperor’s mounted guard and was imprisoned, tortured and executed for standing up against the Emperor, refusing the order to destroy all Christian churches and sacred writings.
Later, more than 1,000 years after his sacrifice, citizens of a small Italian village claim he appeared and killed a dragon that was tormenting the town. It is that historic image of St. George that symbolizes the heroism and bravery of mounted warriors and the ultimate victory of good over evil.
Over the years, soldiers of several nations have given accounts of St. George appearing on battlefields to aid in their victories.
St. George is the only saint portrayed as fighting mounted, and in 1986 the U.S. Armor Association established the order to recognize the best tankers and cavalrymen in the Army.
“If anyone of the junior level of leadership deserves the Order of St. George, it is Staff Sgt. Motes,” said Sgt. Maj. Dale Sump, the division master gunner with A. Company, DSTB, and a Cherokee, Iowa, native. “Just because of the way he attacks a problem and how adaptable he is … that’s really what the Army needs right now.”
Sump, who nominated Motes, said the Order of St. George medallion is a new medal for staff sergeants. He said there were previously three levels of the medallion—bronze, silver and gold—given only to senior enlisted Soldiers and officers.
Because of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Army recognized the need to highlight younger leaders, who are doing great things for the Armor branch by creating the black medallion.
“The Order of St. George, to me, is the tradition for [tank armor crewmen],” Motes said. “It symbolizes one’s long effort toward our branch. It’s a big honor.”
Motes has deployed twice as a tank armor crewman and is a part of a family tradition of soldiers; his brother and father are both infantrymen. He said he wanted something different and chose armor.
“It’s a brotherhood,” Motes said. “I am now a part of a very few people who have the [Order of St. George]. Being knighted during the ceremony is a sign of respect for what I’ve done, what I could do and what my leaders think I can do more of.”
| Date Taken: | 11.15.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 11.25.2010 06:13 |
| Story ID: | 60865 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 125 |
| Downloads: | 8 |
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