Col. Michael Fenzel, commander of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, at Fort Bliss, Texas, pins the Distinguished Service Cross on Sgt. 1st Class Jack White, an Airborne School instructor with 1st Battalion Airborne, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Sept. 7 at the 173rd Airborne Memorial. White received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions in Khost Province, Afghanistan, June 29, 2008. Photo Credit: Lori Egan, The Bayonet.

Sgt. 1st Class Jack White, an Airborne School instructor, received the Army’s second-highest military decoration, the Distinguished Service Cross, Sept. 7.

In a ceremony on the hallowed ground of the 173rd Airborne Memorial at the National Infantry Museum, White was surrounded by his family, Soldiers he served with in the 173rd Airborne Brigade and the Fort Benning community.

The award was for his actions June 29, 2008, in Khost Province, Afghanistan, while serving as a squad leader with the Vicenza, Italy-based A Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment.

That night, White and 18 other Soldiers on a tiny observation post near the Pakistan border turned back an enemy force of 105 Taliban fighters who attacked from a ridge with small-arms fire, RPK machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades.

“He brought them all back unscathed,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Rick Weik, who was the battalion’s command sergeant major and now fills that role at the 198th Infantry Brigade. “Very easily this could’ve turned bad. If it wasn’t for his leadership, it would’ve.”

In the past decade, more than 1.5 million troops have deployed in the war on terrorism. The 173rd Airborne Brigade accounted for four Distinguished Service Cross awards during OEF VIII.

“Heroic actions can serve as lessons learned,” said Maj. Gen. Michael Ferriter, the Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Benning commanding general. “We talk an awful lot about inspired leadership here. The Soldier we honor today is the epitome of inspired leadership.”

Col. Michael Fenzel, then a lieutenant colonel, led White’s battalion in Afghanistan. He’s now commander of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, at Fort Bliss, Texas.

“Heroes are made long before the events that thrust them into a position to have to act,” Fenzel told the audience. “Jack White became a hero to those that served with him long before the evening of June 29 on Observation Point East.”

The observation point was a 90-minute climb from Combat Outpost Spera, which sat 1,000 feet below. It’s just 25 meters from Pakistan.

On the morning of June 29, the Taliban fighters began a 10-hour crawl up the side of the mountain toward White’s position at the top. As the attack commenced, White was awoken by an RPG that landed less than 20 meters away. He immediately low-crawled out of the sleeping area to lead the observation point’s defense.

White spoke of the unity and strength of the small tactical unit and squad, and of the human dimension of combat.

“You don’t really think, you just think about what you have to do at the time,” said White, 30, who was a staff sergeant when the incident occurred. “It ain’t like the movies; it ain’t fun. It’s the last place you want to be, honestly. But your training takes over, and you start thinking about the guy to the left and right of you, and make sure everybody gets out of there safe.

“If it weren’t for my guys that were up there … I wouldn’t be speaking to you today.”

Maneuvering through heavy enemy fire, White engaged and quickly adjusted his men to repel the attacking force, according to his citation. With no regard for his own safety, he ordered multiple “danger-close” fire missions, called in airstrikes, and directed lethal mortar and artillery launches.

“There was no way to get to them quickly, (and) over 100 Taliban assaulted them with the intent of overrunning them,” Command Sgt. Maj. Weik said. “But when I heard his voice on the radio, I knew everything was going to be OK … and he brought all those boys off that mountain.”

The fight lasted more than an hour, but the enemy finally broke contact and retreated.

“These Taliban and foreign fighters came in waves and the attacks on the main combat outpost below them emanated from six other directions,” Col. Fenzel said. “The other attacks were designed to isolate OP East so it could be destroyed, but the enemy hadn’t taken into account the expertise, the cool and violent response under the direction of one man … Jack’s own personal actions, bravery and leadership are the reason why 18 other American Soldiers are alive today.”

White has been on four deployments — three to Afghanistan and one to Iraq. The Distinguished Service Cross wouldn’t be possible without the actions of his comrades, he said.

“All my guys who were up on the OP with me, I wish they were here today,” he said. “It’s mainly for them. That’s how I see this award, not for me, but for everybody.”

His unit also earned seven Army Commendation Medals and a Bronze Star, all with “V” devices for valor.

The Distinguished Service Cross has been awarded to more than 13,000 U.S. servicemembers since its inception in January 1918. Since the global war on terror began, it’s gone to 15 Soldiers in Operation Iraqi Freedom and six from Operation Enduring Freedom.

U.S. Army
By Vince Little

(From left to right) Sergeant 1st Class Jarion Halbisengibbs, recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, Capt. Matthew Chaney and Sgt. 1st Class Michael Lindsay, recipients of the Silver Star, received their awards during a ceremony at the Special Events Center , Fort Carson, Colo., May 14. (Photo by Spec. Henrique L. de Holleben)

Sgt. 1st Class Jarion Halbisengibbs received the Distinguished Service Cross, while Capt. Matthew A. Chaney and Sgt. 1st Class Michael D. Lindsay received the Silver Star during an award ceremony at the Special Events Center, May 14.

The Special Forces Soldiers from Operational Detachment Alpha 083, received the medals for their heroism in action on Sept. 10, 2007.

Advising a combined assault element of Iraqi National Police on an intelligence driven raid, their mission was to capture a high value Islamic State of Iraq terrorist who was running a kidnapping and extortion ring.

Adm. Eric T. Olson, United States Special Operations Command commander, and Lt. Gen. John T. Mulholland Jr., United States Army Special Operations Command commander, presented the awards to the Soldiers with more than 700 present to witness the historic ceremony.

“You have listened to and read the account of that night on 10 September 2007, a mission that asked the best of some of our nation’s finest,” said Olson speaking to the guests in attendance.

“This was ODA 083, a Green Beret A-Team in action, under pressure, at risk,” Olson added. “Sergeant Halbisengibbs exemplifies the spirit and ethos of these warriors. He is a gifted team member and individual soldier, one who raises the performance and morale of those around him. Today we will also recognize two more of them, Captain Chaney and Sergeant 1st Class Lindsay, for their extraordinary courage in that action.”

During that raid, three team members, Chaney, Lindsay, and Halbisengibbs, demonstrated exceptional bravery and valor in close combat while they succeeded in eliminating a heavily armed and entrenched enemy force from within a fortified stronghold.

Around 2 a.m., after infiltrating by air into an unplanned landing zone less than 30 meters from the enemy position, Chaney directed the assault force towards the targeted buildings.

Facing both “brown-out” conditions caused by the rotor wash of the helicopters and only 10 percent illumination, the assault force immediately came under enemy fire. Undaunted, these three Special Forces leaders directed their Iraqi counterparts and initiated the assault on the array of buildings.

After clearing the closest structure, the assault element immediately came under enemy machine gun fire from the furthest building, approximately 50 meters away, causing a dangerous pause in the momentum of the assault.

Working in concert, these three leaders immediately redirected their assault element towards the most urgent threat, the third building.

Lindsay and Halbisengibbs killed three insurgents who were firing from the building as the Force assaulted. Chaney and Lindsay then placed themselves in a critical position at the breach point, while Halbisengibbs prepared to employ a fragmentation grenade.

Before the assault force entered, his fragmentation grenade killed two of the enemy fighters waiting inside.

Within seconds of when the three entered the building, the three killed two more enemy fighters. While trying to acquire targets through the haze caused by the grenade blast, Chaney and Lindsay were strafed by intense AK-47 fire.

Chaney was shot through the pelvis, hip, and buttocks while Lindsay received gunshot wounds to the throat and abdomen.

Despite their serious wounds, they – along with Halbisengibbs – continued to engage the enemy inside until an enemy grenade exploded and wounded all three, propelling Chaney and Lindsay back through the door of the house and out into the courtyard. The grenade blast sent Halbisengibbs to the floor and, hit with shrapnel, he sustained wounds to his firing hand and damage to his radio and night vision device.

As Chaney and Lindsay lay wounded and exposed in the courtyard, the remainder of the assault force continued to fight insurgents in the other structures.

Chaney, although suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, continued to exercise command, and while directing actions on the objective, killed another insurgent who was firing at him from an open door.

As a result of the grenade blast, Lindsay had been thrown into the line of fire from another enemy position to the east of the main building but, ignoring his wounds, he continued to engage the enemy.

With Chaney and Lindsay blown from the building, Halbisengibbs realized he was wounded and alone inside the target building. As enemy fire had destroyed his radio and damaged his night vision device, his vision was impaired and he was unable to contact the remainder of the assault force to request support. Taking immediate and decisive action, Halbisengibbs leapt to his feet and quickly cleared the room.

Making his way out to the courtyard, SSG Halbisengibbs immediately passed a verbal status report to his ODA indicating his status but could continue to fight. During the course of relaying this message, he immediately came under small arms fire at close range from an enemy position not yet cleared by the national police assault force.

As Halbisengibbs reacted to the threat, he was shot in the abdomen; the bullet traveling through his stomach and exiting at his hip. Ignoring this second debilitating gunshot wound, he engaged and killed the enemy within 12 feet of his position.

Halbisengibbs then took cover and rallied the remainder of the Iraqi National Police and assisted in securing the objective area. Only when the enemy was eliminated and the objective was secure, did he reveal the seriousness of his wounds and accept medical attention.

Sergeant 1st Class Jarion Halbisengibbs, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) receives the Distinguished Service Cross from Adm. Eric T. Olson, United States Special Operations Command commander, during a ceremony at the Special Events Center , Fort Carson, Colo., May 14. (Photo by Spec. Henrique L. de Holleben)

After the force was firmly in control of the objective, the three were evacuated to the Combat Support Hospital in Balad. These three Special Forces leaders had led their Iraqi National Police counterparts in a highly successful operation during which time they had demonstrated immeasurable fortitude and valor. Their personal example, which involved killing nine of the enemy in close combat, resulted in the death and capture of several enemy terrorists, including the intended target.

Chaney’s valorous leadership that night and unwavering dedication to mission accomplishment, despite sustaining multiple gunshot wounds, made a significant contribution to defeating Al Qaeda operations in the Samarra area.

Chaney’s bullet and shrapnel wounds kept him in Balad for 24 hours where he received his initial surgery before transport to Landstuhl, Germany. During the next eight days, he underwent two additional surgeries before final transport and care at Evans Army Hospital here at Fort Carson. Chaney has returned to duty, having recently returned from another deployment in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and just completed the Special Forces Combat Divers Qualification Course.

Lindsay demonstrated unparalleled valor in the face of a determined enemy and directly contributed to mission success that night.

Lindsay’s bullet and shrapnel wounds were assessed in Balad, prompting immediate transport to Landstuhl where he had almost two feet of his intestines removed. His follow-on stay at Walter Reed lasted three weeks. Since Lindsay received these life-threatening wounds, he has undergone two more surgeries and still carries bullet fragments in his pelvis. He has returned to duty and, like Chaney, has served another tour in Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.

Halbisengibbs was responsible for single – handedly killing six of the enemy on the objective and personally eliminating a High Value Terrorist.

Surgeons in Balad worked to repair the wounds to Halbisengibbs’ hand and abdomen, during which time they removed 18 cm of his small intestines. He was quickly transported to Landstuhl, and on to Walter Reed with Lindsay, where he stayed for approximately three weeks. He has since received an additional surgery on his hand, has returned to duty, and is ready for the next deployment.

It is the valor of these three Soldiers with their unparalleled courage under fire, decisive leadership, and tenacity in close combat that led to the successful elimination of a critical terrorist cell. Their quiet professionalism and modesty continues to radiate throughout the unit.

Col. Darsie D. Rogers, Jr., 10th SFG(A) Commander, speaking during the introduction affirmed to all attending that, “the feats of these brave men will forever have a place in history alongside other green berets who have fought the wars before us. These men, and many others like them, answered the call of their nation. They have done so as quiet professionals, as is expected of our green berets and special operators and we pay tribute to the courage of these magnificent soldiers and their selfless service to our nation.”

By 10th SFG (A) Public Affairs Office

So the three Americans, led by Halbisengibbs, assaulted the house. They stacked up outside the doorway, Halbisengibbs threw in a fragmentation grenade, killing two fighters inside as the soldier rushed in. “You could see faceless shapes scurrying around the room grabbing weapons, and less than three seconds we received AK-47 fire,” said Lindsay, who was hit in the throat. Chaney was shot through the pelvis and hip. Moments later, the insurgents threw a grenade, blasting both of them out the door and into the courtyard.

“I was hyperventilating and throwing up,” on the verge of passing out, said Lindsay. Without the strength to lift his rifle, he said he rolled over then pulled out his pistol as enemy bullets flew over his head. “I fired a few rounds so no one would walk over and shoot me,” he said.

Chaney lay in the courtyard, unable to feel his legs, but kept firing his rifle, killing an insurgent shooting a him nearby. Chaney and Lindsay received Silver Stars today for their actions.

Meanwhile, Halbisengibbs “continued to clear the structure in complete darkness as his night vision goggles and personal radio were all destroyed by enemy gunfire at point blank range,” the official narrative said. “Stumbling over a dead enemy, he was shot in the thumb and propelled to the ground by the blast” of the grenade. “Alone, he relentlessly continued to engage the concealed enemy and in a moment of intense close quarters battle killed one additional terrorist inside the now chaotic structure.”

Moving into the courtyard to protect his two comrades who lay exposed there, Halbisengibbs was suddenly shot through the abdomen. “It felt like white hot lightning shooting through my stomach, and I felt my hip pop out,” he said. But even as he fell to the ground he raised his rifle and killed the fighter only 12 feet away.

Washington Post

Brig. Gen. Reuben Jones, Army adjutant general, hands the Distinguished Service Cross to the family members of Sgt. 1st Class William T. Miles, April 22, 58 years after he disappeared after parachuting into enemy territory.

Fifty-eight years after Sgt. 1st Class William T. Miles parachuted into North Korea, he was awarded the military’s second highest honor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Three generations of Miles family members gathered at Fort Myer’s Spates Community Club, April 22, to receive the Distinguished Service Cross in his honor. A medal was given to each of his three siblings who grew up unsure of what had happened to their brother.

“For almost 50 years, we didn’t know what happened to him,” said Marjorie Hantwerker, Miles’ sister. “The Army Ranger organization helped us finally figure out what happened to him in 2001.”

In October 2001, Miles’ Family held a memorial service for him in Arlington National Cemetery. In August 2003, Miles was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame.

As part of Operation Spitfire, a mission designed to locate, strengthen and guide allied troops, Miles jumped into North Korea June 18, 1951. As part of the operation, Miles and his team discovered and destroyed two bases used by the Chinese to launch surprise attacks.

On July 6, a friendly aircraft dropped supplies in broad daylight, allowing Chinese forces to discover the location of Miles’ team. Miles and a South Korean lieutenant volunteered to stay behind and delay the Chinese advance, and were never seen again.

The path that led to Miles being awarded the Distinguished Service Cross started with retired Col. Douglas Dillard. While researching the Korean War, he came upon the story of the Soldier who was never seen again after parachuting into enemy territory.

“When I discovered the details [of Sgt. 1st Class Miles], there was no way I couldn’t offer a recommendation,” Dillard said. “His unit was deactivated three months after the disappearance, and it kind of got lost in the shuffle.”

Brig. Gen. Reuben Jones, Army adjutant general, spoke first at the ceremony. He spoke of a man who played football in high school and worked in a factory before enlisting at Fort Dix, N.J., in March 1948. Miles was assigned to the 4th Ranger Infantry, but was serving with the Eighth Army’s G-3 Operations at the time of his mission.

After Jones spoke, he presented medals to Hantwerker, sister Janice Payne and another designated for brother Donald Miles, who was unable to attend the ceremony. Donald lives in Philadelphia, and is also a Korean War veteran.

Hantwerker took the podium for a few moments, and though her voice broke at times, she managed to convey the pride, yet sense of loss that her entire family was feeling.

“I don’t think it ever entered his mind not to volunteer for that mission,” she said. “Just like it probably never entered his mind that his sisters would be here, 50 years later, accepting the Distinguished Service Cross that he rightfully earned.”

Miles had also been awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Ranger Tab, Parachutist Badge with two Jump Stars, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean War Service Medal with four Bronze Service Stars and the Korean War Service Medal Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.

The Distinguished Service Cross is the second-highest decoration that can be given to a Soldier. It is awarded for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat against an armed enemy force.

“When we heard about the award, we were all a little surprised in a way,” said Payne. “But it’s a wonderful feeling, and we’re so relieved that he was finally recognized.”

U.S. Army
Alex McVeigh writes for the Pentagram newspaper at Fort Myer, Va.

Karen Kelly, daughter of Army Maj. Jack Stewart, a Special Forces Soldier missing in action from the Vietnam War, wears a scarf worn by members of the Stewart family during an awards ceremony in Fayetteville, N.C., April 22. Stewart was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for exceptional gallantry while leading a mobile strike force company of U.S. and South Vietnamese soldiers near the Cambodian border on March 24, 1967. Stewart was last seen providing cover fire allowing his unit to evacuate in the face of an overwhelming North Vietnamese force.

The history of the U.S. Army Special Forces Regiment is short in relation to that of the rest of the Army, but it’s long enough for fierce battles to become old war stories and for training missions to be lost to the vagueness of time and personal recollection.

But for the men who have worn the Green Beret, the memories of their Special Forces brothers, especially those missing in action and killed in combat, will never fade.

And so, though it took 42 years to happen, Special Forces senior leaders were asked to stand during the second annual Special Forces Symposium, April 22, as the Army officially awarded the Distinguished Service Cross to the family of Army Maj. Jack T. Stewart, 5th Special Forces Group, who went missing during a ferocious engagement in Vietnam.

On March 24, 1967, two American Green Berets joined with South Vietnamese soldiers to conduct a helicopter assault near the Cambodian border. The combined unit, a mobile strike force company, included then-Capt. Jack Stewart and Staff Sgt. Roger Hallberg. After landing near Bu Dop in Phuoc Long province, their patrol was greeted by enemy automatic weapons fire, requiring Hallberg to return to the rear area to report on the contact with the North Vietnamese army force.

During the firefight, Stewart rallied his men to secure a helicopter landing zone against an advancing enemy force later estimated to be two heavily armed battalions, greatly outnumbering Stewart’s men. Stewart was last seen by American forces as he and Hallberg provided cover to retreating members of their company.

Diane Hasner, Stewart’s former wife; son Troy Stewart and daughter Karen Kelly; Barbara Stewart Pratt, his sister; and Kermit Stewart, his cousin, represented the Stewart family at the ceremony and accepted the Distinguished Service Cross on behalf of the missing Green Beret.

Speaking on behalf of the family during the ceremony, Kermit Stewart recounted the Stewart family’s uniformed service to the nation during the Revolutionary War, through the Civil War, both world wars, Korea and Vietnam.

In a brief humorous moment, Kermit paralleled the 55 years required for Ezekiel Stewart to receive a pension for his service with the New Jersey State Volunteers during the American Revolution to the 42 years between the disappearance of Maj. Jack Stewart and the awarding of the Distinguished Service Cross.

“I don’t know why it takes the Stewarts so long to be recognized for their service,” Kermit said, “but we finally get there.”

Wearing a red, white and blue scarf embroidered with Major Stewart’s name, unit and date of his disappearance, Hasner spoke of the importance of the award and ceremony to give closure the missing Green Beret.

“This has been a long time coming,” Hasner said. “It’s time for closure for family, friends and the men involved in the situation that day.”

One of the men involved in the action that day was John M. Throckmorton, the lone survivor of the firefight. In the days following the fateful mission, then-2nd Lt. Throckmorton submitted Stewart and Hallberg for valor awards. After meeting the Hallberg family four years ago and learning that neither man had been awarded for their heroism in 1967, Throckmorton resubmitted paperwork that led to Hallberg being awarded the Silver Star and the eventual awarding of the Distinguished Service Cross to Stewart.

The Distinguished Service Cross is the second-highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the Army, and it is awarded for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force.

DVIDS
Story by Benjamin Abel

Sgt. Travis Atkins, posthumous Distinguished Service Cross

Brig. Gen. Michael Harrison, director of the Joint and Futures Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, presented the Distinguished Service Cross to the Family of Staff Sgt. Travis Atkins for his heroism in combat during the 2nd Brigade Combat Team’s 15-month deployment in Iraq.

Receiving the award were his father and mother, Jack and Elaine Atkins, and his 12-year-old son, Trevor.

The Distinguished Service Cross is the second-highest military award of heroism. It is awarded to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the Army, distinguished himself or herself by extraordinary heroism.

Fort Drum Mountaineer

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