“I wasn’t the only one on the ground there,” Elliott recalled as he spoke by phone from southern California, where he now is based.
One of the soldiers assisting in the rescue effort was Capt. Jerry A. Simonsen Jr. The captain’s sworn statement recounted how Elliott, Edmondson and Onufrak worked tirelessly with others to free the occupants. Cataudella proved to be the hardest save because something, either his leg or some equipment, was hampering his release. The canal was also muddy and the marsh grass was thick.
During the rescue effort, Elliott dove underwater multiple times, Simonsen wrote. Besides trying to free Cataudella, he also tried to give him breaths of air.
There were many people helping that night, Simonsen wrote, “but SFC Elliott exceptionally distinguished himself by his actions and never gave up on his trooper where most would have.”
Once ashore, Elliott and Edmondson labored for more than 10 minutes to resuscitate Cataudella. They finally succeeded, and Cataudella was transported to a nearby Army medical facility. The eight-year veteran died later that afternoon.
“It eats at me every day, every day,” Elliott said of the loss. “I just live with it. At this point,” Elliott’s voice cracked, “I can still taste the damn blood in his lungs.”
Hogg recommended several soldiers for awards. Onufrak and Elliott were put in for the Soldier’s Medal. Onufrak got his, but Elliott’s was downgraded to an Army Commendation Medal in late April 2004 by V Corps, the ground force command.
Between redeployment, a move and a job change, Hogg didn’t know about the change. He assumed Elliott got his medal.
Despite the disappointment, Elliott said nothing about it to anybody, except his mom, who in turn told Elliott’s sister, Mia Supe. She eventually got in touch with Hogg, who resubmitted the paperwork. A year later, the Army notified Hogg that, due to the time lag, he needed the request to come from a member of Congress. In the end, between Hogg, Supe and Congresswoman Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio), the necessary paperwork was resubmitted and the Army reversed itself.
“I have no idea” why it was downgraded, Hogg said. “It could be anything. It doesn’t matter.”
What matters, Hogg said, is that Elliott is finally being recognized for his heroic efforts that day. A ceremony is planned for Wednesday at the University of Southern California, where Elliott is an ROTC instructor.
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Elliott, 43, won’t have the medal for long. He plans to give it to Cataudella’s family in Tucson. They already have Elliott’s Bronze Star, which he also received for the tour. Elliott said he would like the medals to one day go to Cataudella’s daughter and two sons.
“It’s important for them to know that he was a good man,” Elliott said.
Sal Cataudella, Sean’s father, said in a phone call from his Tucson home that he is deeply touched by Elliott’s steadfast devotion. “I would be very, very honored to pass the medal on down to his children,” Sal Cataudella said.
