Al Cashe was born on July 13, 1970, in Thompson, Georgia, and was raised in Oviedo, Florida. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on July 18, 1989, and was trained as a Supply Specialist. His first assignment was to South Korea from 1989 to 1990, and then to Fort Lewis, Washington, from 1990 to 1993. During this time he participated in the Gulf War in 1991, and then attended Infantry training in 1993. His next assignment was back to South Korea as an Infantryman from 1993 to 1994, and then as a Squad Leader at Fort Hood, Texas, from 1994 to 1996. SSG Cashe served in Germany from 1996 to 1998, and then served as a Drill Sergeant at Fort Benning, Georgia, from 1998 to February 2001. His next assignment was as an Operations Noncommissioned Officer for the 19th Battlefield Coordination Detachment in Germany, and then as a Squad Leader with 1st Battalion of the 18th Infantry Regiment in Germany from February 2001 to April 2004. During this time he deployed to the Middle East for the invasion of Iraq in 2003. SFC Cashe served as a Platoon Sergeant with Company A, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Benning, Georgia, and deployed to Iraq, from April 2004 until he was badly wounded on October 17, 2005, when his M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive and he was injured while rescuing members of his team from the burning vehicle. SFC Cashe was evacuated to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, but died from his injuries on November 8, 2005. He was originally awarded the Silver Star for his heroism on his last combat mission, and it was posthumously upgraded to the Medal of Honor on December 16, 2021. Al Cashe was buried at Restlawn Cemetery in Sanford, Florida.

His Medal of Honor Citation reads:

Sergeant First Class Alwyn C. Cashe distinguished himself by acts of gallantry above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Platoon Sergeant with Company A, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division in Salah Ad Din Province, Iraq, on October 17th, 2005. While on a nighttime mounted patrol near an enemy-laden village, the Bradley Fighting Vehicle which Sergeant First Class Cashe was commanding was attacked by enemy small-arms fire and an improvised explosive device, which disabled the vehicle and engulfed it in flames. After extracting himself from the vehicle, Sergeant First Class Cashe set about extracting the driver, who was trapped in the vehicle. After opening the driver’s hatch, Sergeant First Class Cashe and a fellow soldier extracted the driver, who was engulfed in the flames. During the course of extinguishing the flames on the driver and extracting him from the vehicle, Sergeant First Class Cashe’s fuel soaked uniform, ignited and caused severe burns to his body. Ignoring his painful wounds, Sergeant First Class Cashe then moved to the rear of the vehicle to continue in aiding his fellow soldiers who were trapped in the troop compartment. At this time, the enemy noted his movements and began to direct their fire on his position. When another element of the company engaged the enemy, Sergeant First Class Cashe seized the opportunity and moved into the open troop door and aided four of his soldiers in escaping the burning vehicle. Having extracted the four soldiers, Sergeant First Class Cashe noticed two other soldiers had not been accounted for and again he entered the building to retrieve them. At this time, reinforcements arrived to further suppress the enemy and establish a Casualty Collection Point. Despite the severe second-and third-degree burns covering the majority of his body, Sergeant First Class Cashe persevered through the pain to encourage his fellow soldiers and ensure they received needed medical care. When medical evacuation helicopters began to arrive, Sergeant First Class Cashe selflessly refused evacuation until all of the other wounded soldiers were evacuated first. Sergeant First Class Cashe’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty were keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.