Donald Eslinger and Leona Gonterman of Grass Valley are the proud grandparents of a man recently awarded the Silver Star, one of the nation’s highest military honors.

The Silver Star is awarded for gallantry in action and extraordinary heroism while engaging in combat operations with an enemy of the United States.

Their grandson is First Lt. Nicholas Eslinger, 25, who grew up in Brentwood and often visits his grandparents in Nevada County, said the elder Eslinger.

The honoree is a 2007 graduate of West Point, and is stationed with the 101st Airborne Rangers Division in Fort Campbell, Ky. He went through Ranger School before being deployed to Iraq, Donald Eslinger said.

Out of the 357 people in Eslinger’s class, 90 made it through, the elder Eslinger said.

Lt. Eslinger served in Iraq for six months. His unit was already over there when he was deployed, and he came back when they did, Donald Eslinger said.

The younger Eslinger will probably go back overseas; military personnel are usually kept home for around a year before being deployed again, Donald Eslinger added.

The elder Eslinger, who served in Korea with the U.S. Navy, noted the Silver Star is the third-highest military distinction bestowed upon members of the Armed Forces, and “one of the higher honors to get when still alive.”

The family has few details about the heroic actions surrounding Eslinger’s accolade, presented to him by the local congressional representative at his mother’s house in Texas, grandpa said.

“He doesn’t want to talk about it,” Donald Eslinger added.

To contact Reader Liaison Angela Diaz, e-mail adiaz@theunion.com or call 477-4203.