Here are more pictures of female warfighters being recognized for their good work.

Spc. Kassandra Rutherford, Task Force 34 INTEL analyst from Dundas, Minn., received an Army Commendation Medal at an award ceremony at Joint Base Balad, Iraq on April 20. The Army Commendation Medal is awarded to Soldiers who distinguish themselves by an act of heroism, extraordinary achievement, or meritorious service which has been of mutual benefit to a friendly nation and the United States. Photo by Staff Sgt. Lynette Hoke

Spc. Amber Zimmerman, Task Force 34, 34th Combat Aviation Brigade, S1/human resource specialist, is awarded an Army Commendation service medal for her achievements during Operation Iraqi Freedom 08-10 on Joint Base Balad, Iraq, April 22. The Army Commendation Medal is awarded to any member of the Armed United Forces of the United States who distinguished himself by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service. Spc. Zimmerman is a native of Lakeville, Minn. Photo by Staff Sgt. Lynette Hoke

Sgt. Josephine Bush, Task Force 34, 34th Combat Aviation Brigade, S1/human resource non-commissioned officer, is awarded an Army Commendation service medal for her achievements during Operation Iraqi Freedom 08-10 on Joint Base Balad, Iraq, April 22. The Army Commendation Medal is awarded to any member of the Armed United Forces of the United States who distinguished himself by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service. Sgt. Bush a native of Minneapolis, Minn. Photo by Staff Sgt. Lynette Hoke

Col. Wayne W. Grigsby, Jr., from Prince George’s County, Md., the commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, awards Maj. Cynthia Majerske, from Bar Harbor, Maine, the brigade surgeon for the 3rd BCT, a Bronze Star Medal for her service during Operation Iraqi Freedom at Forward Operating Base Hammer, April 13.

Bronze Star with V device, Purple Heart

Army Sgt. Kyle S. Dirkintis, a medic attached to Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), also known as “The Rock”, was recently awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Valor for his actions at Ranch House Outpost in Kunar province, Afghanistan.

Dirkintis, from Racine, Wisconsin, woke to the sound of gun fire at Ranch House Aug. 22, 2007.

Something he hadn’t heard in the first three months of deployment at Ranch House. Within minutes of the first shot Ranch House’s perimeter would be breached by roughly 20 insurgents.

“We were pretty surprised,” explained Dirkintis. “We didn’t know what was going on. It was the first time we had been in contact out there.”

Dirkintis and the rest of 1st Platoon, Chosen Company, put on their gear while Soldiers manning the perimeter exchanged gun fire with the approaching insurgents. The attacking insurgents were dressed in the same uniform as the Afghan Security Guards, which added to the confusion and made it difficult to tell friend from foe.

“I noticed the ASG Commander and some of the ASG members started running down the hill as soon as the contact was started,” said Dirkintis.

The attacking insurgents knew the layout of Ranch House, and where all the heavy weapons and tactical buildings were located.

As soon as the ASG passed Dirkintis a volley of rocket propelled grenades and small arms fire hit the aid station and tactical operations center. The insurgents had taken up positions at the ASG post. The fleeing ASG left half the perimeter unguarded, which allowed the insurgents to breach the wire.

“Post 4, Post 3 and Post 2 had all called in and said they had made contact. At that point in time we sustained our first casualty in the fight,” said Dirkintis. “Our forward observer (Spc. Kain Schilling) received some shrapnel to his face.”

Dirkintis treated Schilling while insurgent fighter’s approached 40 meters south from his position.

“I exchanged weapons with him (for Schilling’s M-4) and ran down to the TOC to let the guys know what was going on with the casualty. Rounds were skipping by me. I was seeing rocks explode every where. You could hear RPG after RPG exploding. I kept thinking is this really happening?”

After moving to the TOC to inform 1st Lt. Matthew Ferrara of the injured Soldier the building was hit by a RPG.

“I remember the lights came down from the ceiling and it got really dusty in there. I can’t remember if the radios had gone down or not, but the antennas had gotten blown off the roof and turned into a bunch of twisted metal.”

After the RPG hit the TOC Staff Sgt. Eric Phillips ran inside and informed Ferrara and Dirkintis that Post 3 was under heavy attack and a Soldier was shot at Post 2.

“I grabbed my aid bag and went outside with Phillips,” said Dirkintis.

Assaulting toward Post 2 Dirkintis and Phillips took cover behind Post 2’s living quarters where they were pinned down for 15 minutes by PKM and small arms fire. Unable to advance both Soldiers stayed put and returned fire. The fighting between the two forces was escalating and Phillips told Dirkintis to get inside the building.

“Rounds started coming through the building so I went back outside and got behind some sandbags,” said Dirkintis.

Once outside, Soldiers manning Post 2 yelled down that insurgents were maneuvering around the living quarters. Phillips threw hand grenades around one corner while Dirkintis wheeled around to fire down another corner.

“As soon as I kneeled and looked around the corner I took a shot to the chest,” said Dirkintis. “At first I didn’t know I had been shot. My vision had gotten real blurry. It was difficult to breath. My entire body felt really, really numb.”

The force of the bullet had knocked Dirkintis to the ground and punctured a lung.

“I tried to crawl to all fours and to get up, but that’s when I started coughing up blood,” said Dirkintis. “I just couldn’t get up. It hurt really bad.”

Dirkintis continued to try to get up and get back in the fight. Unable to stand Dirkintis was dragged by Phillips 30 meters to the mortar pit. While the battle raged on Dirkintis helped Soldiers find medical supplies in his aid bag and struggled to keep conscious.

For the next hour and a half Soldiers used hand grenades, claymore mines, small arms and heavy weapons to repel the attacking Taliban. A-10 Warthog jets were called in to strafe the section of the base occupied by insurgent fighters. By the end of the fighting 11 out of 25 Soldiers defending Ranch House were injured.

Dirkintis suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and a collapsed lung. He was medevaced to Germany where he recovered and against doctors advice volunteered to come back to Afghanistan.

Dirkintis now works in the pharmacy on Forward Operating Base Fenty in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan.

DVIDS
By Staff Sgt. Brandon Aird
173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs

Bronze Star with V device

Marine Corps

A station explosive ordnance disposal Marine received a Bronze Star Medal with Combat V here March 26 for his heroic achievement in Iraq.

Staff Sgt. Alexander Mazza earned the medal for actions with II Marine Expeditionary Force between March and September 2007.

In one operation, Mazza climbed into a dump truck, containing more than 2,200 pounds of ordnance in downtown Fallujah, Iraq. He chose to manually disarm it immediately because the threat could cause heavy casualties and damage to the area.

Seventy-five improvised explosive devices were rendered safe and 11,000 pounds of unexploded ordnance were disposed of during Mazza’s more than 50 missions per month in Iraq.

After receiving his award, Mazza, 26, put his fellow Marines who died during the war on terror before himself.

The Crestview, Fla., native placed his medal on the station’s EOD memorial, which displays the pictures of 19 EOD Marines from around the Corps who have been killed serving overseas since 2001.

“I am leaving this medal here because this is really about them,” said Mazza.

Although Mazza honored his fellow Marines, Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron commanding officer Lt. Col. Kenneth Woodard, spoke with pride for Mazza’s achievement.

“His ability to risk his life to defuse a complex situation and save many others makes him a true American hero,” said Woodard.

Mazza’s Bronze Star is the second awarded to a station EOD Marine this year. Chief Warrant Officer 4 Charles Whitlock, EOD officer in charge, received the medal Feb. 2 for his actions in Iraq during a 2006 deployment.

Arizona Daily Star

A Marine who disarmed a huge truck bomb outside a bombmaking factory in Iraq last year has been awarded the Bronze Star medal.
Staff Sgt. Alexander Mazza was presented the medal Wednesday during a ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma. The explosive ordnance disposal technician went on more than 300 missions during his 6-month deployment to Iraq in 2007 and safely disarmed 75 improvised explosive devices and disposed of more than 11,000 pounds of unexploded ordnance and explosives.

My apologies for the odd formatting. I am unable to locate the problem at this time.

US Army

****It is fair to state that the actual number of individual decorations awarded under combat conditions cannot be stated with absolute certainty. Normally during these periods, award approval authority for most decorations is delegated to field commanders. That is, the system is decentralized to provide for more timely recognition of the combat soldier. The numbers for the individual decorations shown on these charts represent only those awards that were properly processed and reported to Headquarters, Department of the Army. These charts reflect the current statistics recorded by the Military Awards Branch.

Statistics provided by the U.S. Army Military Awards Branch, February 5 2008

Bronze Star with V device

DoD

Air Force Staff Sgt. Jason A. Kimberling recalled blasting away with his M-4 carbine and tossing grenades at the enemy during the intense two-and-a-half-hour firefight in Zabul province, where Afghan national police he’d helped train fought alongside their American military counterparts.

An Air Force mechanic-turned-lawman cited leadership and teamwork as key reasons why his small band of airmen and Afghan police defeated a much arger enemy force during a historic battle fought in Afghanistan nearly a year and a half ago.

“We just outfought them, basically,” explained Kimberling, who graduated from high school in Salinas, Calif., in 1988. “Nobody panicked. The Afghan police followed our leadership.”

Fought on Aug. 8, 2006, the battle pitted more than 150 terrorists against a force made up of three American airmen, an interpreter and 35 Afghan National Police, Kimberling said. The fight, he noted, was the largest action involving Air Force security force members since the 1968 Tet offensive in Vietnam.

“We inflicted roughly about 40-percent casualties on the enemy, and we lost no one,” Kimberling recalled, noting the battle began when insurgent fighters ambushed his convoy security group.

Kimberling earned the Bronze Star Medal with valor device for his part in the battle that was fought during his 14-month tour of duty with a provincial reconstruction team in Qalat, Afghanistan. He returned stateside in April 2007.

Today, the Air Force noncommissioned officer is among 12 servicemembers participating in the sixth quarterly iteration of the Defense Department’s “Why We Serve” public-outreach program. Kimberling and other program participants will address community, business and veterans-group audiences at venues across the nation.

Kimberling said it is important for Americans to understand that U.S. military members are risking their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq to protect the nation and also to assist citizens of those faraway countries in the fight against global terrorism.

The Why We Serve program is a good way for U.S. servicemembers to correct possible public misconceptions or misunderstandings about the war, he explained.

“From my perspective, if I have to tell anything to the American people, it is that the Afghans are not an evil people,” Kimberling said. “Not every Afghan is a terrorist.”

Afghans are hard-working and have the same aspirations and concerns as any other people, Kimberling said.

The Afghan national police he trained and teamed up with during battles against the Taliban and al Qaeda insurgents appreciated the fact that the noncommissioned officer and his comrades were ready to lead by example.

“I felt that the Afghan national police have a lot of respect for us, because we were willing to go out with them and do missions,” Kimberling said. “Any good NCO knows you’ve got to be willing to do what you’re telling your troops to do.”

In Afghanistan, such leadership “paid dividends in a culture that is steeped in warrior traditions,” Kimberling observed.

After high school, Kimberling recalled, he attended junior college in Salinas, Calif., and enjoyed time with his friends when his father was posted at nearby Fort Ord as an Army NCO. However, “I wasn’t going anywhere,” he said.

Kimberling enlisted in the Air Force in 1991. He first served as an aircraft mechanic and later transferred to military police duty. Today, he’s been married for 13 years and is the father of a 7-year-old son. The Air Force NCO said he feels good about staying in the military and being a part of history.

“I wanted to live it. I didn’t want to read about it,” Kimberling said.

Bronze Star with V Device [2]

The Vindicator

CAPT. JEREMY D. ANZEVINO

Anzevino, who lived in Struthers until moving to Madrid, Iowa, at age 12, was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with combat distinguishing device on Dec. 21, 2007.

A son of Ray Anzevino of Las Vegas and Pam Giancola of Granger, Iowa, formerly of Struthers, Anzevino earned the Bronze Star while he was commander of Co. L, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, of the II Marine Expeditionary Force in Iraq. He was team chief and staff maneuver advisor for the Military Transition Team, 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division, from January to July 2007.

According to his award citation, Anzevino provided advice and assistance to Iraqi leaders of 1st Battalion during counterinsurgency operations, which led to the elimination of numerous insurgents.

More at the link

Bronze Star with V device [2 awarded]

1st Lt. Jonathan C. Welch (left), short term deployable platoon commander, Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, and Maj. Ryan E. Crais, logistics officer, 10th Marine Regiment, speak to guests after receiving Bronze Star Medals with combat distinguishing devices here Dec. 14. The Marines earned the award for actions during their most recent deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Joshua Murray

Marine Corps
By Lance Cpl. Joshua Murray, 2nd Marine Division

Two Marines received the Bronze Star Medal with combat distinguishing device here Dec. 14, for their actions in Ar Ramadi, Iraq.

Maj. Ryan E. Crais, logistics officer, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, and 1st Lt. Jonathan C. Welch, short-term deployable platoon commander, Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, served as advisors to the Iraqi Army while on a Military Transition Team during their most recent deployment.

“I had a tremendous team to work with,” said Welch. “Some of the best people I know were on that team.”

The teams are composed of small groups of American combat advisors that train, advise and mentor Iraqi Army units. Advisors live with their Iraqi counterparts and assist them in planning and conducting operations.

“Transition Teams are the way of the future for the U.S. Military in Iraq,” Welch said.

According to an award citation and summary of action submission, both Marines took part in more than 250 combat patrols. They had their own experiences in taking charge of an Iraqi Army platoon and leading them through combat operations.

“I was with an Iraqi platoon when two Iraqi Army soldiers were injured,” Welch said. “I helped coordinate the casualty evacuation for them. After that the Iraqi platoon commander was killed. I had to take over the platoon and get him evacuated as well.”

According to Welch’s citation, he continued to lead from the front as an advisor for three more days of sustained combat operations following the death of the commander.

“In a 90-day period our Iraqi battalion experienced over 50 casualties,” said Crais. “My lieutenant was shot during a patrol. Without a trusting relationship between the advisors and Iraqis and confidence during the firefights we could not have accomplished what we did.”

Crais’ summary of action submission stated he was part of more than 30

separate enemy engagements including improvised explosive device and small arms fire attacks.

Additionally Crais’ award submission stated he coordinated with the wounded Iraqi lieutenant to organize the Iraqi force and prepare for a casualty evacuation while under direct enemy fire from three separate locations.

These events and many others were noted on the award citation and summary. Crais and Welch say they noticed a substantial difference in the condition of Ramadi by the end of their deployment.

“When we got there, Ramadi was as bad as everyone said it was,” Welch said. “It was pretty much the worst place in Iraq at the time. There was visible change there. We actually moved out of Ramadi in the end because they didn’t need us anymore.”

Crais says his deployment ended up being an experience he won’t soon forget.

“This was the highlight of my 10 years in the Marine Corps,” Crais said. “It was very rewarding to see a confident Iraqi Army succeed. There is hope for the future of that country.”

Bronze Star with V Device [2]

Click on the pic for a larger version.

MNF-I
Sgt. Daniel D. Blottenberger

Two Soldiers assigned to the 64th Military Police Company, 92nd Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, were awarded the Bronze Star Medal with “V” Device for Valor Jan. 1 for their actions in combat during an attack on their convoy in July 2007 in Talil, Iraq.

Siloam Springs, Ark., native Spc. Christopher Dabbs, a military police Soldier with 64th Military Police Company from Fort Hood, Texas, and Melrose Park, Ill., native Pfc. Perla Pedroza, a military police Soldier for 64th MP Co., both acted without hesitation to aid a fellow Soldier when their vehicle came under attack by an explosively formed projectile.

The team was two months in country and was providing security for three supply convoys that were following them when their truck was hit by the EFP.

“At that point we did what we were trained to do and we did it fast,” said Pedroza, who leapt from the turret once the vehicle came to a halt on the ground.

The gunner; Pedroza, jumped from the truck once she noticed the vehicle had caught fire from the attack.

Dabbs, the driver of the attacked vehicle; at the time, also was forced to rush out of the vehicle.

“I took a deep breath and pushed the door open and jumped out. I don’t remember much – instinct took over,” said Dabbs, who was driving the vehicle, explaining how he escaped after the vehicle caught fire.

Prior to escaping from the vehicle himself, Dabbs called to his team leader and realized that he was badly wounded and would not be able to escape on his own.

After their team leader began yelling for help, Pedroza and Dabbs moved into rescue him.

“I didn’t think about myself I just thought about him,” said Pedroza, who ignored her own injuries at the time to aid her wounded comrade. “I didn’t even know I was hit until after, I didn’t feel anything.”

Quick reactions and proper medical aid saved their severely injured teammate.

Dabbs and Pedroza reacted by pulling their team leader from the burning vehicle and administering first aid too his injuries before he was evacuated by helicopter for further treatment.

The two Soldiers accredited their quick reactions to constant training they went through with their squad.

“We trained so much that when we had to do it we just did it,” said Pedroza. “reaction just set it as soon as it happened.”

Along with training, they explained team work saved their comrades life.

“Teamwork pulled him out of that vehicle and saved his life,” said Pedroza.

You know, I watch the Cowboy Cheerleader trials on CMT. For the competition, you know. Now, some of these women are cheering up our boys in the Stan. And they look just as good in Kevlar.

Laura Beke, a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, rides in a Chinook 47 helicopter, Dec. 21, from Kabul to Camp Blessing in Kunar province, Afghanistan, to visit military troops deployed here in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Beke and three other Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders were a part of the sixth annual Hope and Freedom USO tour, hosted by the Sgt. Maj. of Army Kenneth O. Preston. The cheerleaders, country music stars Keni Thomas and Darryl Worley as well as model/television personality Leann Tweeden ate lunch with, performed for, and took pictures with the troops at Camp Blessing.

http://www.dvidshub.net/index.php?script=news/news_show.php&id=14937

by Marine Staff Sgt. Luis P. Valdespino Jr.
Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan Public Affairs

Military men and women in eastern Kunar province were surprised, Dec. 21, by a visit from the Army’s top enlisted soldier and several celebrities at the remote Camp Blessing, Afghanistan.

Sgt. Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston is hosting the sixth annual Hope and Freedom USO tour. As part of the tour, Preston arrived in Kabul late, Dec. 20, with four Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, country music stars Darryl Worley and Keni Thomas, as well as model and TV personality Leann Tweeden. They travelled in helicopters from Kabul to Camp Blessing in eastern Kunar province.

With a late morning arrival to the camp, the celebrities joined Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines at the dining facility for lunch and conversation before they performed for the troops.

Most troops said they heard about the sergeant major of the Army and USO visit between a few minutes and a few hours beforehand. Some drove over from forward operating bases several miles away to Camp Blessing.

Upon finding out about the visit, Army Pfc. Chris Floeck, a Waller, Texas, native, said, “Why are you playing with me? Stop messing with me.” Floeck is assigned as an infantryman to the 2nd Airborne Battalion, 503rd Army Infantry Regiment, deployed to Afghanistan from Vicenza, Italy.

“I didn’t really believe it until we got in the vehicles and left (for Camp Blessing),” Floeck said as Tweeden sat down at his table. “I can’t really talk this second,” he added, turning his attention to their visitor.

Daytona Beach, Fla., native, Army Pfc. Ryan D. King said, “They told me (about the visit), and I was doing cartwheels.” As Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders walked by he added, “I’m a Texas fan today.” King is also an infantryman with 2/503rd.

Preston introduced all the performers by name as everyone finished their lunches. He said this was the sixth USO tour sponsored by the Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth O. Preston, and fourth that he has hosted.

“I’ve been very blessed. I’ve seen all six shows,” he told the troops.

Preston said he makes it a point to get the show out to troops at remote locations like Camp Blessing. “Soldiers up here don’t get a lot of visitors,” he explained.

The show, he said, took about eight months of planning. Most of the performers with this group have toured with the USO before. “I’ve been told this is the greatest USO show in history, and nobody’s told me it’s not.”

Thomas, an Army veteran and Bronze Star medal with Valor recipient performed first, accompanied by a bandsman on an acoustic guitar. They were followed by Worley, also on acoustic guitar with two of his bandmates. They drew the loudest cheers when the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders danced during one of Worley’s songs.

“It’s nice seeing the cheerleaders,” said Dallas Cowboys fan and Ft. Smith, Ark., native Marine Cpl. Joel D. Chasteen. Chasteen is an embedded training team mentor and ammunition technician deployed to Afghanistan from Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, Okinawa, Japan.

After the performances, the guests posed with the military men and women for individual and group pictures, and signed autographs as requested. Preston and the USO group left the area later that afternoon to go back to Kabul and hold their second performance of the day at Camp Phoenix.

I found a source for the medal numbers for the Army. Here’s a summary derived from their records.

US Army

Bronze Star Medal with Valor [If I had to bet, this award will be upgraded. Hell of a job by this soldier.]

DVIDS
Sgt. 1st Class Stacy Niles
214th Fires Brigade Public Affairs

He doesn’t stand out in a crowd, and his unassuming demeanor belies heroic deeds.

On June 9, Pfc. Sean Berry, a 20-year-old Mineola, Texas, native, with the 984th Military Police Company, Fort Carson, Colo., distinguished himself by risking life and limb to save his fellow comrades, earning him a Bronze Star Medal with Valor.

“I stayed in the gun firing while the truck was on fire. My driver had to get out, and I didn’t want him to get shot,” said Berry simply, of his act. “I had to watch his back.”

While traveling to the Al Nahda Iraqi Police station, Berry’s convoy came under attack from heavy machine gun fire. Berry engaged the anti-coaltion forces with his M240 B machine gun, which was placed in an unprotected position, leaving Berry open to enemy fire. He continued to fire until the convoy broke contact with the insurgents, killing several insurgents.

As the convoy traveled further along its route, Berry’s vehicle caught fire after it was hit by a rocket propelled grenade. Berry stayed in the turret of the vehicle providing cover for the evacuation of his team members and the recovery of sensitive items.

Perched atop a load of high explosive dual-purpose 40mm rounds, Berry continued to engage the insurgents while monitoring the progress of the fire. As the fire engulfed the entire underside and cargo area of the vehicle, Berry continued his assault against the enemy until he had expended all of his ammunition. With all ammo gone, Berry secured his M240B machine gun and MK19, exited the vehicle and headed to the lead vehicle for cover.

After extinguishing the fire, the team attempted to tow the vehicle back to base near ad Diwaniyah. The fire reignited after moving barely 75 meters, destroying the tow strap. Berry and his fellow Soldiers went back to the vehicle, extinguished the new fire, attached an improvised tow strap and returned to base.

A narrative that accompanied his award read, “At no time during the 49-minute-long engagement did Pfc. Berry take in consideration his own safety, but instead he was intently focused on protecting his team, ensuring the welfare of his fellow Soldiers and facilitating the recover of Army equipment.”

Spc. Amanda Baca, a 984th gunner who was on the convoy with Berry when the incident occurred, gave a personal testimony to his heroism.

“I think it was a really outstanding accomplishment to risk life and limb for your fellow Soldiers during combat,” Baca said. “It takes a very strong person to be able to stay in a burning truck.”

For Berry, the explanation was simple.

“I couldn’t let him get shot,” he repeated, referring to the driver of his vehicle. “I had to watch his back.”

Silver Star – possible Medal of Honor candidate?

USASOC

Baldwin, who left the military in 2005, will be presented his award for actions against enemy forces in Baqubah, Iraq April 9, 2004 where he demonstrated an extraordinary degree of heroism under fire by rallying ODA 062 in repelling a superior battalion-sized enemy force. Under intense enemy fire and in total disregard for his personal safety, Baldwin saved the life of a wounded American Soldier and went on to lead his team to block the escape of more than 350 rioting Iraqi prisoners.

Colorado Springs Gazette

Fort Carson honored two Green Berets on Wednesday for risking their lives to save comrades in separate Iraq firefights.

The ceremony offered rare insight into battles fought by the post’s secretive 10th Special Forces Group, which recently brought home troops from an Iraq deployment.

The tales of how Chief Warrant Officer Nathan Buelow and former Staff Sgt. Brent Baldwin earned their Silver Star medals also show how soldiers can overcome overwhelming odds with little more than a rifle, wits and bravery.

“When you hear these stories, ask yourself what would have happened if they had not done what they did,” said Lt. Gen. Robert Wagner, the commander of Army Special Operations Command, before pinning the medals on the two men.

“People of lesser character would have stepped back, but they instinctively moved forward,” he told the audience gathered in an airplane hangar.

The Silver Star is the nation’s third-highest award for valor.

Fort Carson’s Green Berets have earned piles of military awards since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, including hundreds of Bronze Star medals. Because of the nature of their work, which involves training Iraqi forces and advising them as they hunt down insurgent leaders, little has been said publicly about the 10th Group’s exploits. [snip]

Baldwin’s Silver Star came for his actions in April 2004, just three months into his first wartime tour.

Now a Colorado Springs businessman, Baldwin was a weapons expert with a Green Beret unit working with Iraqis in Baqouba, northeast of Baghdad.

According to his award citation, Baldwin and his comrades were told 500 insurgents were poised to attack American and Iraqi government facilities in the city.

Baldwin and two members of his team moved to the city’s police station and took up defensive positions on its roof.

Soon, the rooftop hiding place was blanketed by more than a dozen rocket-propelled grenades.
“His hasty defensive position was destroyed by three direct hits,” the Army wrote.

Baldwin dragged a wounded American soldier out of the rubble and “revived him under intense hostile fire,” Army records say.

Then Baldwin, carrying an M-249 light machine gun, took the offensive, killing several insurgents during what the Army called a close, pitched battle. Baldwin then grabbed a rocket launcher and again exposed himself to enemy bullets while taking out a machine gun nest.

The attack on the police station sparked a riot among 350 suddenly free jail inmates housed there.

Baldwin led his soldiers to put down the riot and was grabbed by “a very large inmate,” the Army wrote. The Green Beret wrestled the larger man and subdued him. Army records show that when the inmate was taken down, the other rioters gave up.

Baldwin said he was happy to get the medal. But at the same time, he doesn’t want to be called a hero.

“No one wants to stand out and be recognized like this when we’re still at war,” he said, reserving the hero title for those still in Iraq.

Silver Star – possible Medal of Honor candidate?

USASOC

Buelow will be presented this award for actions against intense direct small arms and rocket propelled grenade fire in Baghdad, Iraq July 9, 2006 during an attack from numerous insurgents. He led Operational Detachment Alpha 065 and 44 Iraqi Special Operations Forces during a raid that saw one ISOF Soldier critically wounded and more than a dozen insurgents killed. Buelow further showed extraordinary courage and competence while maneuvering his entire convoy through a 360-degree ambush upon leaving the objective.

Colorado Springs Gazette

Fort Carson honored two Green Berets on Wednesday for risking their lives to save comrades in separate Iraq firefights.

The ceremony offered rare insight into battles fought by the post’s secretive 10th Special Forces Group, which recently brought home troops from an Iraq deployment.

The tales of how Chief Warrant Officer Nathan Buelow and former Staff Sgt. Brent Baldwin earned their Silver Star medals also show how soldiers can overcome overwhelming odds with little more than a rifle, wits and bravery.

“When you hear these stories, ask yourself what would have happened if they had not done what they did,” said Lt. Gen. Robert Wagner, the commander of Army Special Operations Command, before pinning the medals on the two men.

“People of lesser character would have stepped back, but they instinctively moved forward,” he told the audience gathered in an airplane hangar.

The Silver Star is the nation’s third-highest award for valor.

Fort Carson’s Green Berets have earned piles of military awards since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, including hundreds of Bronze Star medals. Because of the nature of their work, which involves training Iraqi forces and advising them as they hunt down insurgent leaders, little has been said publicly about the 10th Group’s exploits. [snip]

Buelow also shuns the title.

“I’m no hero,” he said after the ceremony. “There was an opportunity that accorded itself to me, and I did what I was trained to do.”

Buelow was in Baghdad on July 9, 2006, when he was sent to lead a team to oust insurgents from three heavily fortified buildings. Under fire before they got out of their Humvees, Buelow led his troops through the bullets to gain a toehold in one of the buildings.

On the way to the next building, Buelow’s communications sergeant was faced down by a pair of rifle-wielding insurgents. As the enemy took aim, Buelow charged, ignoring enemy bullets as he killed one of them and wounded the other, Army records show.

In the ensuing battle, Buelow frequently exposed himself to enemy fire while commanding his troops to rout the remaining insurgents, the Army said.

But another battle was ahead for Buelow as he led a convoy of troops back to the Special Forces base.

“In what amounted to a 360-degree ambush, the insurgents unleashed an arsenal of munitions with unmatched ferocity, establishing interlocking field of fire,” Army records say. “Maintaining absolute composure, Chief Warrant Officer Buelow maneuvered the entire convoy out of harm’s way then oversaw the evacuation of an Iraqi soldier who had just lost a leg and fingers from a direct rocket propelled grenade hit.”

Buelow, still serving with the 10th Group, said he didn’t do a whole lot of thinking during those hours on the Baghdad battlefield.

“It wasn’t a question of thought,” he explained. “It was a question of action.”

Bronze Star with V device [4 awards]

Soldiers from Company D, 2nd “Stallion” Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment stand near their company area after receiving the Bronze Star Medal with “V” device for valor during an award ceremony at Camp Taji, Iraq, Nov. 23. The Soldiers received their awards for their courageous actions taken while under enemy fire at a patrol base near Tarmiyah, Iraq, Feb. 19. Pictured from left to right are: South Garnett, S.C., native Sgt. 1st Class Freddie Housey; Staff Sgt. James Copeland, from Kirwin, Kan.; Sgt. Silvio Ortega of Hileah, Fla.; and Quincy, Ill., native Spc. Matthew Olps.

Photographer: Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs More Photos from 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs