U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Francis Beaudette, commanding general,

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Francis Beaudette, commanding general, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, presents the U.S. flag to Miranda Shurer during the funeral service for her husband, U.S. Army Special Forces Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Shurer II, in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, October 27, 2020.
Staff Sgt. Shurer was awarded the Medal of Honor October 1, 2018, for his actions as a Green Beret medic with 3rd Special Forces Group during the Battle of Shok Valley in northeastern Afghanistan April 6, 2008. He was part of a team sent to capture or kill several high-value members of the Hezb-e Islami al Gulbadin militant group.
Staff Sgt. Shurer received his bachelor’s degree in business economics from Washington State University where he stayed on to work towards a master’s degree. However, after the Sept. 11th attacks happened, Shurer (inspired by his parents who were both in the Air Force) joined the Army on Nov. 21, 2002.
Two years after enlisting, Staff Sgt. Shurer began Special Forces training to become a Green Beret. He passed the qualification course in June 2006 and was assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group.
Staff Sgt. Shurer deployed to Afghanistan from August 2006 to March 2007, then again from October 2007 to May 2008. It was during that second deployment that he earned his Medal of Honor.
Staff Sgt. Shurer passed away May 14, 2020, at the age of 41. He is survived by his wife and two sons.
(U.S. Army photo by Elizabeth Fraser / Arlington National Cemetery / released)