Florent Groberg

Florent Ahmed Groberg (born May 8, 1983) is a French-American soldier, retired United States Army officer and civilian employee of the United States Department of Defense. Born in France to an American father and Algerian mother, he became a naturalized United States citizen in 2001. He renounced his French citizenship prior to joining the United States Army in 2008.

He served in the War in Afghanistan where, in August 2012, he was severely injured attempting to thwart a suicide bomber. On November 12, 2015 Groberg received the Medal of Honor for his actions.

Early life and education Groberg was born in Poissy, France, near Paris, on May 8, 1983. His mother, Klara, who is French, is of Algerian descent. Groberg has never met his biological father. He was raised by his mother and adoptive stepfather, American Larry Groberg, originally from Indiana. Larry was a businessman and his job took him around the world. The family lived in the Paris region until Florent was 6, then moved to Spain and back to France. He did not speak English until he was 11 years old.

When Groberg was in middle school, his family moved to the Chicago area. They settled in Potomac, Maryland, where he continued his studies in French at Lycée Rochambeau in Bethesda, Maryland, before graduating from nearby Walter Johnson High School in June 2001. Groberg became a naturalized U.S. citizen in February 2001. Groberg attended the University of Maryland, College Park and competed in varsity track and cross country. In May 2006, Groberg graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology and Criminal justice.

In May 2017, Groberg graduated from the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) with a Master of Science degree in Management with a specialization in Intelligence Management. He delivered the commencement keynote speech.

Military career He entered the United States Army in July 2008 and attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He received his commission as an infantry officer on December 4, 2008. After completing Infantry Officers' Basic Course, Mechanized Leaders Course, US Army Airborne and US Army Ranger Schools, he was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado, as a platoon leader in the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment.

The patrol's escort mission included moving on foot from Forward Operating Base Fiaz to the provincial governor's compound in Asadabad, Kunar, Afghanistan for a weekly security meeting.

As the patrol advanced towards the governor's compound, they reached the choke point along the route, a small bridge spanning a canal feeding the Kunar River. The patrol halted near the bridge as two motorcycles approached from the opposite direction. The motorcyclists began crossing the bridge, but stopped midway before dismounting and retreating in the opposite direction.

As the patrol observed the motorcyclists, Groberg also spotted a lone individual near the left side of the formation, walking backwards in the direction of the patrol. The individual did not cause immediate alarm as there were other local civilians in the area.

When the individual made an abrupt turn towards the formation, Groberg saw he was wearing a suicide vest. He rushed the suspect and shoved him away from the patrol.

Medal of Honor

For his August 2012 actions, Groberg received the Medal of Honor, the highest military honor in the United States. Groberg is the 19th recipient of the Medal of Honor after the Vietnam War, the first foreign-born recipient since the Vietnam War and the 10th living recipient. President Barack Obama awarded the Medal of Honor to Groberg on November 12, 2015 at a ceremony at the White House.

In a Veterans Day post the day before the ceremony, Obama shared a video about Groberg on Facebook, with the words:

alt=A light blue neck ribbon with a gold star shaped medallion hanging from it. The ribbon is similar in shape to a bowtie with 13 white stars in the center of the ribbon.

The official citation reads;

Personal life Groberg married Carsen Alexa Zarin in November 2018, who is originally from Saint Louis, Missouri and is of Jewish ancestry. Although a self-described lifelong Republican, he endorsed Hillary Clinton in the 2016 United States presidential election and spoke at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. He was featured in a 2025 official US Army social media post marking the anniversary of the suicide bomber attack as a "powerful story of courage, sacrifice, and heroism".

Awards and decorations Groberg has been awarded the following:

Captain Groberg has earned two Overseas Service Bars.