View Full Version : 19 X Silver Stars to be presented, soon.
Team Sergeant
12-02-2008, 12:42
19X Silver Stars to be presented.
You heard it here first......;)
We'll let you know when it happens.
(Yes that was nineteen.)
Team Sergeant
Warrior-Mentor
12-02-2008, 12:57
Afg? Iraq? Which Group? One action? or Multiple?
Give us some details....
The Reaper
12-02-2008, 13:47
Afg? Iraq? Which Group? One action? or Multiple?
Give us some details....
3rd Group.
Hellacious number.
Can't wait to see what 7th comes back with.
TR
alright4u
12-02-2008, 15:30
3rd Group.
Hellacious number.
Can't wait to see what 7th comes back with.
TR
I am not up on cuurent award criteria or how frequent they are awarded. Are awards loose or what? I just do not know. I knew men with 16-18 cross border OPS who received zip. They did their jobs. We did not expect awards. The only award we cared about was a CIB.
The Reaper
12-02-2008, 15:55
I am not up on cuurent award criteria or how frequent they are awarded. Are awards loose or what? I just do not know. I knew men with 16-18 cross border OPS who received zip. They did their jobs. We did not expect awards. The only award we cared about was a CIB.
I think that the Bronze Stars are a bit loose, but the Silver Stars and above seem to be holding fast.
You should be proud when you read the citations. The boys are doing a great job.
We have the better part of a full Group in each of the two combat zones, with regular contact as they take it to the enemy for months at the time, I would expect no less.
TR
Smokin Joe
12-02-2008, 16:06
God Bless and watch over them, and all of our Troops!
Eagle5US
12-02-2008, 16:32
That friggin ROCKS!
Well done men!
Eagle
shortbrownguy
12-02-2008, 17:43
A good friend of mine will be one of the recipients. He had lost one of his legs during our last deployment, but is making great progress and is currently RTD:lifter:lifter:lifter.
Team Sergeant
12-02-2008, 19:44
You guys at Bragg please get some pictures for the rest of us!;)
TS
charlietwo
12-02-2008, 20:05
I think that the Bronze Stars are a bit loose, but the Silver Stars and above seem to be holding fast.
TR
I second that. I got a Bronze Star (no Valor device) for doing my job. Judging by what earned Bronze Stars in the past, I feel ashamed by it. :(
Violin playing aside, great work gents. Looking forward to reading the citation.
Curveball question: Will the MSM talk about this story at all, and if so, should they talk about this?
Congrads I can not wait to read their write ups.
Keep up the fight and faith.
It's actually 19 SSM's
The ceremony is at 1400 on 12 Dec 08 at the SWC auditorium.
Local media will be present and CBS will will likely be covering it as a national media event.
There will also be 42 Purple Hearts awarded at 0900 on 10 Dec 08 at the SWC auditorium as well as 43 BSM/V and 39 ACM/V.
I always knew that SF guys had the right stuff.
I do have a question.
Do they usually have group ceremonies for awards like Purple Hearts? My 18E received his from a BG at Bagram the day after he was wounded and was being med-vac'd to LRMC.
3rd Group.
Hellacious number.
Can't wait to see what 7th comes back with.
TR
57 Pregnant chica's and a hangover.:D
Just off the press,,
news.soc.mil/releases/News%20Archive/2008/December/081204-01.html
RELEASE NUMBER: 081204-01
DATE POSTED: DECEMBER 4, 2008
MEDIA ADVISORY: 3rd SFG (Airborne) Soldiers to Receive Valor Awards
U.S. Army Special Operation Command Public Affairs Office
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Dec. 4, 2008) – An award ceremony recognizing the valorous actions in Afghanistan and Iraq of 124 Soldiers from 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) based at Fort Bragg, N.C., will take place on Dec. 10 at 9:00 a.m. in the John F. Kennedy Auditorium adjacent to the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School building.
43 Soldiers from 3rd SFG (A) will receive the Bronze Star with Valor device, 42 Soldiers will receive the Purple Heart, and 39 Soldiers will receive the Army Commendation Medal with Valor device.
The Valor device denotes those individuals who were awarded a decoration in recognition of a valorous act performed during direct combat with an enemy force. It may also denote an accomplishment of a heroic nature in direct support of operations against an enemy force.
Col. Gus Benton II, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) Commander will present the awards.
---
FOR THE MEDIA: Media wishing to cover the ceremony must contact Maj. Emanuel L. Ortiz, 3rd SFG (A) Public Affairs Officer at (910) 432-3044 or e-mail emanuel.ortizcruz@ahqb.soc.mil Media should provide after-hours contact information, to include e-mail addresses, so we may keep you advised of any changes to the program schedule.
Members of the media who wish to cover the ceremony must register with the 3rd SFG (A) PAO by Dec. 9 before 1:00 p.m. Please provide the number of news team members, video/still photographers, live trucks and other special equipment you plan to bring to the ceremony. Media planning live coverage during or after the program must provide that information to the 3rd SFG (A) PAO when responding to this invitation. Special needs or interview requests should be submitted at this time as well.
Media should meet representatives of 3rd SFG (A) PAO at 7:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at Stryker Golf Course on Bragg Boulevard. The media convoy will depart Stryker no later than 8:00 a.m. 3rd SFG (A) PAO representatives will also escort live trucks in that convoy.
An award ceremony recognizing the valorous actions in Afghanistan and Iraq of 124 Soldiers
Holy shit!
Well done, fellas!
God bless you guys, and thank you for your selfless service to our Nation.
Much respect...and gratitude.
Very very impressive. Job well done.
Well Done Warriors !!!! Glad to see some of my brothers being recognized for their deeds. Congrats to Larry and Scott !
http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=312338
From today's paper
19 soldiers to receive Silver Star medals
Nineteen soldiers from 3rd Special Forces Group will receive the Silver Star medal next week for their actions in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Recipients will be Capts. Kyle M. Walton, Kent G. Solheim and Brandon Griffin; Master Sgts. Fredrick L. Davenport, Paul D. Fiesel and Scott Ford; Sgts. 1st Class Jacob E. Allison, Benjamin J. Konrad and Larry Hawks; Staff Sgts. Robert J. Hammons, Seth E. Howard, Ronald J. Shurer, John W. Walding, Luis Morales, Dillon Behr, David J. Sanders and Matthew O. Williams; Sgt. Gabriel A. Reynolds; and Spc. Michael D. Carter.
The Silver Star is the Army’s third highest award for combat valor.
The 2 p.m. ceremony on Dec. 12 will be in the John F. Kennedy Auditorium adjacent to the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School building on Fort Bragg. Lt. Gen. John F. Mulholland, the commanding general of U.S. Army Special Operations Command, will present the awards.
My ODA replaced the team receiving the majority of the Silver Stars. One of my good SF buddies is one of the honored few. We were SERE School Survival Buddies. He lost his leg in the fight that many of us call Operation Commando Wrath. While we recognize and congratulate their heroism I recognize and admire his continued love for his family and the Regiment that he represents. In all the contact that I have had with him he has never once complained. He speaks about his love for his family and for his fellow comrades. Never have I met someone that has been so optimistic and positive after having suffered the type of loss that he has endured. "The Duke" is truly deserving of this award and I can't wait to meet up with him again when I get back to the States in a few months.
Job well done John Wayne...
One of my good SF buddies is one of the honored few. We were SERE School Survival Buddies. He lost his leg in the fight that many of us call Operation Commando Wrath.
He was high-lighted tonight on the NBC News when they did a piece on his 3rd Group ODA and their actions that day. It was well done and your buddy's commitment to the cause and the Regiment was obvious. His 'new' leg is amazing and he expects to return to the fight soon. :lifter
Ausgezeichnet!
Richard's $.02 :munchin
relentless
12-11-2008, 19:37
"Its not about the medals or the personal glory."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/28183531#28183531
IRONRKSNS
12-11-2008, 20:40
All I have to say is Wow! He folded his leg into his crotch and tied it there with a boot lace! The intestinal fortitude of these QP's is unfathomable.
FWIW - using the search function would have taken you to the existing forum re: this subject. 19X Silver Stars to be presented, soon. ;)
Richard's $.02 :munchin
threads merged
Evidently it was quite a firefight. There was a story on national news last night, the CPT and a couple team guys were interviewed and shared some of their story.
One team member actually had his leg severed by a bullet and folded his leg inboard and tied it to his thigh with a boot lace and crawled to cover. He has a prosthetic now.
I think it was claimed they were up against about 200 insurgents/taliban and they left about 100 dead bad guys.
They (3d gp) were workiing with some ANA i think, I don't think they were afgan commandos. (but not sure)
If any of you guys that got recognized are on here, CONGRATULATIONS and a job well done.
Thank you for your service to us and humanity for nailing all those scumbags.
And all the other guys on our side for doing your jobs.
Team Sergeant
12-12-2008, 07:27
Roger, Congrats Gents! Well Done!
Seems the Washington Post picked up the story.....
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/11/AR2008121104080.html?hpid=topnews
Great job one and all.
TS
Team Sergeant
12-12-2008, 07:31
10 Green Berets to Receive Silver Star for Afghan Battle
By Ann Scott Tyson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, December 12, 2008; Page A01
After jumping out of helicopters at daybreak onto jagged, ice-covered rocks and into water at an altitude of 10,000 feet, the 12-man Special Forces team scrambled up the steep mountainside toward its target -- an insurgent stronghold in northeast Afghanistan.
"Our plan," Capt. Kyle M. Walton recalled in an interview, "was to fight downhill."
But as the soldiers maneuvered toward a cluster of thick-walled mud buildings constructed layer upon layer about 1,000 feet farther up the mountain, insurgents quickly manned fighting positions, readying a barrage of fire for the exposed Green Berets.
A harrowing, nearly seven-hour battle unfolded on that mountainside in Afghanistan's Nuristan province on April 6, as Walton, his team and a few dozen Afghan commandos they had trained took fire from all directions. Outnumbered, the Green Berets fought on even after half of them were wounded -- four critically -- and managed to subdue an estimated 150 to 200 insurgents, according to interviews with several team members and official citations.
Today, Walton and nine of his teammates from Operational Detachment Alpha 3336 of the 3rd Special Forces Group will receive the Silver Star for their heroism in that battle -- the highest number of such awards given to the elite troops for a single engagement since the Vietnam War.
That chilly morning, Walton's mind was on his team's mission: to capture or kill several members of the Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin (HIG) militant group in their stronghold, a village perched in Nuristan's Shok Valley that was accessible only by pack mule and so remote that Walton said he believed that no U.S. troops, or Soviet ones before them, had ever been there.
But as the soldiers, each carrying 60 to 80 pounds of gear, scaled the mountain, they could already spot insurgents running to and fro, they said. As the soldiers drew closer, they saw that many of the mud buildings had holes in the foot-thick walls for snipers. The U.S. troops had maintained an element of surprise until their helicopters turned into the valley, but by now the insurgent leaders entrenched above knew they were the targets, and had alerted their fighters to rally.
Staff Sgt. Luis Morales of Fredericksburg was the first to see an armed insurgent and opened fire, killing him. But at that moment, the insurgents began blasting away at the American and Afghan troops with machine guns, sniper rifles and rocket-propelled grenades -- shooting down on each of the U.S. positions from virtually all sides.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/11/AR2008121104080.html?hpid=topnews
Outstanding,,
This is why the dictionary has the word "HERO"...
Ten Silver Stars for Afghan battle
10 Special Forces soldiers honored for seven-hour firefight with insurgents
By Ann Scott Tyson
The Washington Post
updated 5:09 a.m. ET, Fri., Dec. 12, 2008
WASHINGTON - After jumping out of helicopters at daybreak onto jagged, ice-covered rocks and into water at an altitude of 10,000 feet, the 12-man Special Forces team scrambled up the steep mountainside toward its target — an insurgent stronghold in northeast Afghanistan.
"Our plan," Capt. Kyle M. Walton recalled in an interview, "was to fight downhill."
But as the soldiers maneuvered toward a cluster of thick-walled mud buildings constructed layer upon layer about 1,000 feet farther up the mountain, insurgents quickly manned fighting positions, readying a barrage of fire for the exposed Green Berets.
A harrowing, nearly seven-hour battle unfolded on that mountainside in Afghanistan's Nuristan province on April 6, as Walton, his team and a few dozen Afghan commandos they had trained took fire from all directions. Outnumbered, the Green Berets fought on even after half of them were wounded — four critically — and managed to subdue an estimated 150 to 200 insurgents, according to interviews with several team members and official citations.
Today, Walton and nine of his teammates from Operational Detachment Alpha 3336 of the 3rd Special Forces Group will receive the Silver Star for their heroism in that battle — the highest number of such awards given to the elite troops for a single engagement since the Vietnam War.
That chilly morning, Walton's mind was on his team's mission: to capture or kill several members of the Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin (HIG) militant group in their stronghold, a village perched in Nuristan's Shok Valley that was accessible only by pack mule and so remote that Walton said he believed that no U.S. troops, or Soviet ones before them, had ever been there.
Element of surprise
But as the soldiers, each carrying 60 to 80 pounds of gear, scaled the mountain, they could already spot insurgents running to and fro, they said. As the soldiers drew closer, they saw that many of the mud buildings had holes in the foot-thick walls for snipers. The U.S. troops had maintained an element of surprise until their helicopters turned into the valley, but by now the insurgent leaders entrenched above knew they were the targets, and had alerted their fighters to rally.
Staff Sgt. Luis Morales of Fredericksburg was the first to see an armed insurgent and opened fire, killing him. But at that moment, the insurgents began blasting away at the American and Afghan troops with machine guns, sniper rifles and rocket-propelled grenades — shooting down on each of the U.S. positions from virtually all sides.
"All elements were pinned down from extremely heavy fire from the get-go," Walton said. "It was a coordinated attack." The insurgent Afghan fighters knew there was only one route up the valley and "were able to wait until we were in the most vulnerable position to initiate the ambush," said Staff Sgt. Seth E. Howard, the team weapons sergeant.
Almost immediately, exposed U.S. and Afghan troops were hit. An Afghan interpreter was killed, and Staff Sgt. Dillon Behr was shot in the hip.
"We were pretty much in the open, there were no trees to hide behind," said Morales, who with Walton pulled Behr back to their position. Morales cut open Behr's fatigues and applied pressure to his bleeding hip, even though Morales himself had been shot in the right thigh. A minute later, Morales was hit again, in the ankle, leaving him struggling to treat himself and his comrade, he said. Absent any cover, Walton moved the body of the dead Afghan interpreter to shield the wounded.
Rocket launcher
Farther down the hill in the streambed, Master Sgt. Scott Ford, the team sergeant, was firing an M203 grenade launcher at the fighting positions, he recalled. An Afghan commando fired rocket-propelled grenades at the windows from which they were taking fire, while Howard shot rounds from a rocket launcher and recoilless rifle.
Ford, of Athens, Ohio, then moved up the mountain amid withering fire to aid Walton at his command position. The ferocity of the attack surprised him, as rounds ricocheted nearby every time he stuck his head out from behind a rock. "Typically they run out of ammo or start to manage their ammo, but . . . they held a sustained rate of fire for about six hours," he said.
As Ford and Staff Sgt. John Wayne Walding returned fire, Walding was hit below his right knee. Ford turned and saw that the bullet "basically amputated his right leg right there on the battlefield."
Walding, of Groesbeck, Tex., recalled: "I literally grabbed my boot and put it in my crotch, then got the boot laces and tied it to my thigh, so it would not flop around. There was about two inches of meat holding my leg on." He put on a tourniquet, watching the blood flow out the stump to see when it was tight enough.
Morphine
Then Walding tried to inject himself with morphine but accidentally used the wrong tip of the syringe and put the needle in this thumb, he later recalled. "My thumb felt great," he said wryly, noting that throughout the incident he never lost consciousness. "My name is John Wayne," he said.
Soon afterward, a round hit Ford in the chest, knocking him back but not penetrating his body armor. A minute later, another bullet went through his left arm and shoulder, hitting the helmet of the medic, Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Shurer, who was behind him treating Behr. An insurgent sniper was zeroing in on them.
Bleeding heavily from the arm, Ford put together a plan to begin removing the wounded, knowing they could hold out only for so long without being overrun. By this time, Air Force jets had begun dropping dozens of munitions on enemy positions precariously close to the Green Berets, including 2,000-pound bombs that fell within 350 yards.
"I was completely covered in a cloud of black smoke from the explosion," said Howard, and Behr was wounded in the intestine by a piece of shrapnel.
The evacuation plan, Ford said, was that "every time they dropped another bomb, we would move down another terrace until we basically leapfrogged down the mountain." Ford was able to move to lower ground after one bomb hit, but insurgent fire rained down again, pinning the soldiers left behind.
2,000-pound bomb
"If we went that way, we would have all died," said Howard, who was hiding behind 12-inch-high rocks with bullets bouncing off about every 10 seconds. Insurgents again nearly overran the U.S. position, firing down from 25 yards away — so near that the Americans said they could hear their voices. Another 2,000-pound bomb dropped "danger close," Howard said, allowing the soldiers to get away.
Finally, after hours of fighting, the troops made their way down to the streambed, with those who could still walk carrying the wounded. A medical evacuation helicopter flew in, but the rotors were immediately hit by bullets, so the pilot hovered just long enough to allow the in-flight medic to jump off, then flew away.
A second helicopter came in but had to land in the middle of the icy, fast-moving stream. "It took two to three guys to carry each casualty through the river," Ford said. "It was a mad dash to the medevac." As they sat on the helicopter, it sustained several rounds of fire, and the pilot was grazed by a bullet.
By the time the battle ended, the Green Berets and the commandos had suffered 15 wounded and two killed, both Afghans, while an estimated 150 to 200 insurgents were dead, according to an official Army account of the battle. The Special Forces soldiers had nearly run out of ammunition, with each having one to two magazines left, Ford said.
"We should not have lived," said Walding, reflecting on the battle in a phone interview from Fort Bragg, N.C., where he and the nine others are to receive the Silver Stars today. Nine more Green Berets from the 3rd Special Forces Group will also receive Silver Stars for other battles. About 200 U.S. troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan have received the Silver Star, the U.S. military's third-highest combat award.
Link to Video
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28190169/
As Ford and Staff Sgt. John Wayne Walding returned fire, Walding was hit below his right knee. Ford turned and saw that the bullet "basically amputated his right leg right there on the battlefield."
Walding, of Groesbeck, Tex., recalled: "I literally grabbed my boot and put it in my crotch, then got the boot laces and tied it to my thigh, so it would not flop around. There was about two inches of meat holding my leg on." He put on a tourniquet, watching the blood flow out the stump to see when it was tight enough.
Then Walding tried to inject himself with morphine but accidentally used the wrong tip of the syringe and put the needle in this thumb, he later recalled. "My thumb felt great," he said wryly, noting that throughout the incident he never lost consciousness. "My name is John Wayne," he said.
All are HEROS, but SSG Walding is super human! He has got a great sense of humor.......
Amazing. But what does someone have to do to get a Medal of Honor these days?
CoLawman
12-12-2008, 10:05
Amazing. But what does someone have to do to get a Medal of Honor these days?
The awarding of the Silver Star does not preclude the upgrading to a CMOH.
In my humble opinion some of the actions from this firefight may warrant an upgrade. Unfortunately, it seems you have to pay the ultimate sacrifice now before you are awarded the MoH.
The Reaper
12-12-2008, 11:05
Amazing. But what does someone have to do to get a Medal of Honor these days?
Falling on a grenade will do it, in some cases, but not all.
I do not think that winning an award went through any of these guys minds before they did what they did.
I am privileged to know more than a dozen MoH winners, all of them said they were just doing their jobs.
TR
Roguish Lawyer
12-12-2008, 11:32
Wow. Well done guys!!!
RT AXE 10
12-12-2008, 13:07
Thanks ODA 3336, Great Job....(Salute)
They (3d gp) were workiing with some ANA i think, I don't think they were afgan commandos. (but not sure)
Actually they were advising the 201st Commando Kandak of the Afghan National Army. In addition to the USSF wounded there was one Terp KIA and one Afghan Commando KIA during the firefight. Since OP CDO Wrath the same battalion of Commandos have conducted over 20 Air Assaults with their USSF advisors including reinforcing Combat Outpost Kahler in Wanat where the 173rd lost 9 Troopers.
Red Flag 1
12-12-2008, 17:45
Well done!!!
Thank you QP's!!
RF 1
Hope it is okay to post in here?
Just wanted to say Thank You for Your Service and Sacrifice!
Holly
What an amazing feat. Warriors to bone, through and through. And most people, including many soldiers, will never understand that these true professionals would have gone in there knowing what the odds were, and you would never have heard a complaint from them. They do their job and ask nothing in return, including medals. Thank you all for a job well done.
Congrads to all and keep up the Fight!!!!!!!!:lifter:lifter
I found a couple more video clips,,,
http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=313046
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/28183531#28183531
They called in SEVENTY(70) "Danger Close" air strikes,,
and got away with it...
:D:lifter:D:lifter
greenberetTFS
12-13-2008, 16:26
10 Green Berets to Receive Silver Star for Afghan Battle
By Ann Scott Tyson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, December 12, 2008; Page A01
After jumping out of helicopters at daybreak onto jagged, ice-covered rocks and into water at an altitude of 10,000 feet, the 12-man Special Forces team scrambled up the steep mountainside toward its target -- an insurgent stronghold in northeast Afghanistan.
"Our plan," Capt. Kyle M. Walton recalled in an interview, "was to fight downhill."
But as the soldiers maneuvered toward a cluster of thick-walled mud buildings constructed layer upon layer about 1,000 feet farther up the mountain, insurgents quickly manned fighting positions, readying a barrage of fire for the exposed Green Berets.
A harrowing, nearly seven-hour battle unfolded on that mountainside in Afghanistan's Nuristan province on April 6, as Walton, his team and a few dozen Afghan commandos they had trained took fire from all directions. Outnumbered, the Green Berets fought on even after half of them were wounded -- four critically -- and managed to subdue an estimated 150 to 200 insurgents, according to interviews with several team members and official citations.
Today, Walton and nine of his teammates from Operational Detachment Alpha 3336 of the 3rd Special Forces Group will receive the Silver Star for their heroism in that battle -- the highest number of such awards given to the elite troops for a single engagement since the Vietnam War.
That chilly morning, Walton's mind was on his team's mission: to capture or kill several members of the Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin (HIG) militant group in their stronghold, a village perched in Nuristan's Shok Valley that was accessible only by pack mule and so remote that Walton said he believed that no U.S. troops, or Soviet ones before them, had ever been there.
But as the soldiers, each carrying 60 to 80 pounds of gear, scaled the mountain, they could already spot insurgents running to and fro, they said. As the soldiers drew closer, they saw that many of the mud buildings had holes in the foot-thick walls for snipers. The U.S. troops had maintained an element of surprise until their helicopters turned into the valley, but by now the insurgent leaders entrenched above knew they were the targets, and had alerted their fighters to rally.
Staff Sgt. Luis Morales of Fredericksburg was the first to see an armed insurgent and opened fire, killing him. But at that moment, the insurgents began blasting away at the American and Afghan troops with machine guns, sniper rifles and rocket-propelled grenades -- shooting down on each of the U.S. positions from virtually all sides.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/11/AR2008121104080.html?hpid=topnews
TS,
I don't understand why they only honored 10 QP's and not 19 as originally stated?:confused:
GB TFS:munchin
shortbrownguy
12-13-2008, 17:01
TS,
I don't understand why they only honored 10 QP's and not 19 as originally stated?:confused:
GB TFS:munchin
10 Silver Stars were awarded to ODA 3336 for that particular mission.
9 more were awarded to members of other teams for actions during other missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
greenberetTFS
12-13-2008, 17:26
10 Silver Stars were awarded to ODA 3336 for that particular mission.
9 more were awarded to members of other teams for actions during other missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Thanks, Shortbrownguy......:D
GB TFS :munchin
Congrads, and May God Bless each and everyone of you, thank you for your service.
Congrats to all involved, and my wishes for a full and rapid recovery to all those injured in action.
http://news.soc.mil/releases/News%20Archive/2008/December/081212-02.html
RELEASE NUMBER: 081212-02
DATE POSTED: DECEMBER 12, 2008
3rd SFG(A) honors 19 Soldiers with Silver Stars
By Janice Burton
USAJFKSWCS Public Affairs
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Dec. 12, 2008) – In one of the largest awards ceremonies since the Vietnam-era, the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) awarded 19 Silver Star Medals, two Bronze Star Medals for Valor, two Army Commendation Medals for Valor and four Purple Hearts here at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Dec. 12.
Col. Gus Benton II, the commander of the 3rd SFG(A), said the men of the 3rd SFG(A) have distinguished themselves by taking the fight to the enemy and simply “doing what had to be done.”
“It is my distinct honor and privilege to celebrate the awarding of these medals to our intrepid warriors,” Benton said. “History will record and we will long remember their sacrifices.”
Addressing the standing-room-only crowd, Benton said that earlier this week the group had the honor of awarding 43 Bronze Stars for Valor and 39 Army Commendation Medals for Valor.
Prior to the awarding of the medals, vignettes narrated by members of the group explained the daring feats of the SF Soldiers. Each vignette told the story of the battles that occurred and the actions performed by each man receiving a medal. As each group of Soldiers received their medals, they were treated to a thunderous and ongoing standing ovation from the audience.
“As we have listened to these incredible tales, I am truly at a loss for words to do justice to what we have heard here,” said Lt. Gen. John F. Mulholland, commander of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, who presented the awards to the Soldiers. “Where do we get such men? There is no finer fighting man on the face of the earth than the American Soldier. And there is no finer American Soldier than our Green Berets.”
Mulholland said that many people wouldn’t believe the courage displayed by these men.
“If you saw what you heard today in a movie, you would shake your head and say, ‘that didn’t happen,’” Mulholland said. “But it does, every day.”
He explained that the majority of the firefights highlighted in the vignettes took place within ranges that would fit inside the auditorium.
“You can’t imagine the intensity and the stress these men endured for hours and days on end,” he said.
Prior to taking command of USASOC, Mulholland was the commander of Special Operations Command Central, the command which has control over the forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“As the commander responsible for the area, as the reports rolled in, I would shake my head in disbelief,” he said, speaking of the courage and persistence of the SF Soldiers.
“Alone and unafraid, working with their counterparts, they took on a tenacious and dedicated enemy in his homeland, in his own backyard. Imagine the Taliban commander thinking, ‘What the hell do I have to do to defeat these guys?’”
Mulholland said that he was “incredibly humbled” to stand and address the actions of his men, because their actions “speak volumes beyond what I can say.”
“Day-in and day-out, they are the unsung heroes, seeking no recognition,” he continued. “If you asked them, I’m sure they would say the other guy did it.”
Honored during the ceremony with Silver Star Medals were:
The members assigned to ODA 3336 for valorous actions undertaken in Afghanistan onApril 6, 2008:
Capt. Kyle Walton (Carmel, Ind.)
Master Sgt. Scott Ford (Athens, Ohio)
Staff Sgt. Dillon Behr (Rock Island, Ill.)
Staff Sgt. Seth Howard (Kenne, N.H.)
Staff Sgt. Luis Morales (Fredricksburg, Va.)
Staff Sgt. Ronald Shurer (Pullman, Wash.)
Staff Sgt. John Walding (Groesbeck, Texas)
Sgt. David Sanders (Huntsville, Ala.)
Sgt. Matthew Williams (Casper, Wyo.)
Spc. Michael Carter (Smithville, Texas)
The members assigned to ODA 3312 and 3214 for valorous actions undertaken in Afghanistan on Nov. 2, 2007:
Master Sgt. Frederick Davenport (San Diego, Calif.)
Staff Sgt. Robert Hammons (Hunstville, Ala.)
Sgt. 1st Class Jacob Allison (Livonia, N.Y.)
Sgt. 1st Class Paul Fiesel (La Porte, Texas)
For actions undertaken in Afghanistan on Nov. 10, 2007:
Sgt. Gabriel Reynolds (Oswego, Ore.)
For actions undertaken in Iraq on July 27, 2007:
Capt. Kent Solheim (Oregon City, Ore.)
For actions undertaken in Afghanistan on Aug. 26-Sept. 13, 2006:
Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Konrad (Winchester, Tenn.)
For actions undertaken in Afghanistan Aug. 7-9, 2005:
Capt. Brandon Griffin (Athens, Ga.)
For actions undertaken in Afghanistan July 25, 2005:
Sgt. 1st Class Larry Hawks (Bowling Green, Ky.)
Schurer, Fiesel, Allison and Reynolds each received additional awards during the ceremony.
The Silver Star Medal is awarded in recognition of a valorous act performed during combat operations while under direct fire from enemy forces. It may also denote an accomplishment of a heroic nature in direct support of operations against an enemy force.
--usasoc--
Amazing story of Brothers fighting for one another.
Here is a link to video of the battle that was excerpted on msnbc:
http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=240643
Well done and thank you, gents!
http://news.soc.mil/releases/News%20Archive/2008/December/081216-01.html
RELEASE NUMBER: 081216-01
DATE POSTED: DECEMBER 16, 2008
Fierce battle above Shok Valley earns Silver Stars
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Dec. 16, 2008) -- There are no roads leading into the Shok Valley. A village which stands sentinel over the valley is home to one of the fiercest of the insurgent forces in Afghanistan - the Hezeb Islami al Gulbadin, or HIG.
On April 6, a daring raid into the stronghold by Afghan Commandos and their Special Forces counterparts tested the mettle of the Afghan forces and further forged the bond between them and their SF brothers.
On Dec. 12, Lt. Gen. John F. Mullholland, commander of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, pinned Silver Stars on the chests of 10 of the men involved in the raid and the ensuing six-and-a half-hour-firefight that saw more than 150 insurgents killed.
It was the largest ceremony of its kind since the Vietnam era. But for the members of Team 3336 of the 3rd Special Forces Group, it was never about the medals.
When you ask them to use one word to describe April 6, their words pop, much like the gunfire that rained down on them.
"A nightmare."
"Baptism by fire," said Staff Sgt. Daniel Plants, "it was my first firefight."
"Cliffhanger."
More words followed as the team went back in their minds to that day.
The Mission
The team was assigned to take out high-value targets within the HIG. The insurgent group was entrenched in the valley and was guarded by a number of highly-trained foreign fighters. The sheer number of weapons and amount of ammo used by the insurgents led the team to conclude that they had been stockpiling the weaponry within the fortress-like village since the Russian invasion of the country during the late '80s.
Accompanying the team that day was a group of Afghan Commandos.
"We have such a big rapport with the commandos we've trained," said Staff Sgt. Luis Morales, the team's intelligence sergeant. "They have such a loyalty to us. They try as hard to protect us as we try to protect ourselves."
"We eat, sleep and train with these commandos," said Capt. Kyle Walton, the detachment commander. "We die with them, too. These guys are close friends to us. At the outset of the attack, I lost my interpreter, and we were as close as anyone."
The interpreters hold a special place within the team.
"They are just like a member of the team," said Morales. "One of our interpreters has seen as much combat as any of us. He has six years of combat experience. He's been with six SF teams and been in hundreds of firefights - but he doesn't get the six-month break.
"With our tactical knowledge and their (the commandos) knowledge of the local populace, terrain and customs, we can truly become a force multiplier," said Walton. "That's what SF does. We bring things to the fight that they don't have, such as close air support and weaponry. But in the end, it's an Afghan fight, and we are part of it."
The commandos who accompanied the SF team on the mission have developed something of reputation throughout Afghanistan.
"The Taliban calls them the wolves. When they hear the wolves are coming, they know they are in trouble. The commandos are pretty feared. Everywhere we go, they identify us with the commandos, and the fact that this group of insurgents was prepared to sit and fight us to the death was indicative of an enemy force you don't see every day," said Morales.
One Way In
"Eighty percent of the guys on the ground that day had been in firefights before," said Walton. "We feel fairly comfortable in a firefight anytime."
But that day was different. The team was going into the unknown. The Russians, during their 20-year occupation of the country, never made it into the Shok Valley. To date, no coalition troops had been there. This was a first. To get into the valley, the team had to fly.
"I feel comfortable with my feet on a ground," said Morales. "I don't feel comfortable in the helicopter - we can't control what happens there. But on the ground, we have a plan, we go in and do it, and the rest falls into place.
"We knew this was going to be a difficult mission. We expected there to be a number of insurgents because of the high-value targets we were after, but we really thought the terrain would be the greatest difficulty," explained Walton.
That thought proved correct. As the helicopters settled over the valley, the pilots couldn't set the birds down, so the Soldiers had to jump about 10 feet off the bird. Many of them landed waist-deep in an icy river. With temperatures in the low 30s, the climate immediately began to take its toll.
Then they faced a climb up the mountain.
Walton explained the idea was to go into the village unannounced, with the plan to take the fight to the insurgents in the village. "We didn't want to fight uphill," he said, adding that the village is at an altitude of 10,000 feet.
The team decided to use switchbacks, which were actually terraced farm plots, as a means to get up to the village. The team divided up into three maneuver units, with members of the SF team paired up with about six commandos and their interpreters.
The village itself is situated on a finger off the mountain. The team would have to head up a draw to the village.
"The buildings in the village are built one on top of the other, on top of a slope thousands of feet in the air," said Walton. "So we started the climb. The insurgents waited until the lead element was within a couple hundred meters of the compound before they initiated contact. As soon as the shooting started, we realized that they had their defensive positions dug in, and they were occupying buildings 360 degrees all around us."
The Fight
As soon as the opening salvo was fired, the interpreter standing beside Walton in the command-and-control element was killed. Moments later, Staff Sgt. Dillon Behr was shot in the leg. Behr, a communications sergeant stayed in the fight and sustained another wound before he became unable to continue the fight.
"We knew we needed to regain the initiative, so we started initiating danger-close air runs," said Walton.
Staff Sgt. David Sanders was in the lead assault force.
"I had approximately 10 Commandos with me, and we got into the village before we started receiving fire. We couldn't move any farther forward," he recalled. "Through the radio traffic, we heard some of the team had gotten shot, so we started trying to identify the buildings where the fire was coming from. We hoped to neutralize the threat."
Walton said Sanders was the first person he thought of who might be able to identify where the insurgents were.
"I was standing next to the combat controller, and when we got to a place where we could talk, he called in close air support, and the F-15s rolled in immediately. I knew my guys were up there, and I know that when you call in danger close air, you are probably going to get injured or killed. I called back to Sanders and asked if he was too close. He said, 'Bring it anyway.' Bombs started exploding everywhere. When I called to see if he was still alive, all I could hear him saying was, 'Hit them again.' "
Walton said that it is rare to call in danger-close air even once during a firefight. Throughout the afternoon, the team called it 70 times.
"We did take some casualties from the danger-close air," said Staff Sgt. Seth Howard. "A lot of the commandos got injured from falling debris. The bombs were throwing full trees and boulders at them - they were flying hundreds of meters.
At one point in the battle, when it looked as if the C2 element would be overrun, Sanders called for the bombing to come closer.
"They dropped a 2,000 lb. bomb right on top of our position," said Walton. "Because of the elevation, the bomb blew upward rather than down. It just didn't seem like we had much of a decision. Our guys were wounded, and we couldn't go back the way we came."
"We knew we might get hurt, but we really didn't think about it," said Sanders.
"The insurgents were so dug in so well that even the close air support wasn't enough. It helped, but it was by no means a magic wand," said Howard. "You would think when the bombs start dropping they would stop shooting at you. That's the thought process, and you know it might kill you or somebody else, but when there are so many pieces of hot metal flying all around you constantly, you've got to let it go."
With bombings falling and heavy gunfire coming from every side, the team returned fire. Team members recall going through masses of ammo, in addition to the bombs that were dropped and the rounds the aircraft were firing.
The team's fire was controlled, though, according to Walton.
"Cloud cover was coming in, and there was no certainty that we would be able to get out that night. So we didn't waste our ammo. We really didn't fire unless we had a shot or when we needed to lay suppressive fire to allow people to move."
The insurgents, likewise, were shooting in a controlled manner. The gunfire was heavy, sustained and accurate. Team members recall that even if the bullets weren't kicking up beside them or hitting them, they definitely heard them crack near them. Snipers were during heavy play in the engagement.
cont'd below
part II
Three-story Implosion
The only break in the battle was when a bomb was dropped on a three-story building. The building exploded outward. "Good guy or bad guy, you're going to stop when you see that," said Morales. "It reminded me of the videos from 9/11 - everything starts flushing at you, debris starts falling - and everything gets darker."
"I was totally in the cloud of black smoke. I couldn't see an inch in front of my face," said Howard.
Plants recalls hearing the call for fire and wanting to see where the bomb was going.
"I was staring at it and saw the building go up," he said. "I remember looking up, and then all of this stuff starting coming down. All I could do was roll up tight and hug the cliff wall."
Sniper Turns Tide
The battle started to turn when Howard, a trained sniper, started picking the insurgents off. Howard was not in the lead element, and he had to fight his way up the mountain to come to the aid of his team.
The fight was not easy. He and the team of commandos he led up the mountain were under intense insurgent fire. They were getting hit with rocket-propelled grenades, small arms and machine-gun fire.
"We knew some of our guys were hurt and that we had to get to them," said Howard.
"We were pinned down," said Walton. "When the fire became so intense, we moved out onto a ledge against the cliff to protect our wounded. What turned the battle was Seth (Howard) and his element."
Howard directed the Afghan commandos to fire on insurgent position so that he could get into place with his sniper rifle and his recoiless rifle.
"They had been hunting us, and now they were getting hunted, too," said Walton. "We had been trying to return fire, but we couldn't find them. They were firing in a very disciplined manner. They were not hanging out windows or running at us."
As Howard and his element engaged the enemy, Walton knew time was running out. Reports from the air said more insurgents were moving in their direction. Everyone on the team had sustained some sort of injury, four of them critical, and the commandos had their share of injuries, as well.
"Everyone kept fighting, but there was a window closing on us," said Walton. "We knew we had to get out."
One Way Out
"Our higher command told us we had to get out of there," said Walton. "The weather conditions were closing in, and the window to be on the ground was rapidly closing. Most of the objective was gone at that point, but our casualties were mounting - we were in a mass-casualty scenario at that point - and they became our priority. We never thought of retreating. That was never an option."
"The weather was deciding factor," continued Howard. "When the weather rolled in we could be stuck there at least overnight, possibly for days. They couldn't fly in to get us, and we would have been stranded in completely hostile territory. That was not a plan for success, especially with the pilots observing another 200 insurgents moving in on us."
With their backs literally against a wall, and recognizing that they couldn't go down the same way they came up - the switchbacks they had climbed up were the primary focus of the insurgent fire - they began assessing another route for exfil.
Final Cliff-hanger
"We knew we couldn't go back the way we came, so our only option was going down the cliff," said Walton.
Had the team been healthy, that would have been a difficult scenario. But with the number of wounded and the fire raining down, it seemed impossible. But Walton knew he had to take the chance.
"We were completely pinned down. There was intense fire all around us. We couldn't leave the casualties. We were prepared to sit there and die with them, but we decided we were going to get them out of there," he said.
Sanders made the first climb down the mountain by himself. When he climbed back up the sheer face of the cliff, Walton had one question, "Do you think we can make it down?"
Sanders' reply put the climb in perspective, "Does it matter if they have broken necks or backs?"
"My question was will they live," said Walton. With Sanders' assurance that they would live, the team began the treacherous climb.
Master Sgt. Scott Ford, the team sergeant, set up the medevac and organized the less seriously wounded to carry the more critically injured down. While organizing the commandos, Ford was shot in the chest plate by sniper fire. He immediately got to his feet and continued to lay down suppressive fire. One of the insurgent snipers had Ford in his sights, and he shot him in the upper left arm, nearly severing it. With a tourniquet around his arm, Ford climbed down the mountain and continued to organize the medevac.
Morales said that the team made its way down the cliff hanging onto branches and rocks. Near the bottom of the cliff, most made a 20-foot drop. I remember seeing John (Walding) carrying his leg down. (Walding's leg had been amputed by sniper fire.)"
As the wounded made their way down the cliff, Howard, Walton and Spec. Michael Carter, a combat cameraman assigned to the unit, remained behind to lay down suppressive fire and retrieve equipment.
"There were a lot of guns around where everybody had been shot," said Howard. "It kind of became an issue that there were too many guns up there, and we didn't want to leave them in enemy hands."
Carter ran through a hail of fire to retrieve guns and other equipment. His own cameras had been shot up during the initial hours of the battle. He gathered equipment and began throwing it off the cliff, while Howard continued to pick off enemy combatants.
"The stars really aligned," said Walton. "Bullets were coming down from the side and behinds us, and we could hear guys yelling above us. An element that came to reinforce the team that was on the ground stepped out into the open and started firing and gave us the chance to get out. Seth was crazy enough to stay up there and cover us while we made the climb down."
Alone, with less than a magazine of ammunition left, Howard covered his team as they made their way down, and only after they were safe, did he leave the mountain.
"We didn't go into this mission hoping to make history. For us, it was just a regular mission - just like the one we had done the week before. Our goal is never to get into a fight, we'd rather sit down and drink some chai," said Walton. "We were hoping this mission would be the same, but we got into a big fight, and some of us got hit while trying to save each other. That's what we do."
The team as a whole is looking forward to returning to Afghanistan to continue its mission with the commandos.
"We think we sent a pretty big message to the insurgents. We let them know that we could penetrate their comfort zone. We told them there's nowhere you are safe that we aren't willing to come in and go after you," concluded Walton.
--usasoc--
My Beret is off to you fellas!
JJW
Capt. Kent Solheim (one of the silver star recipients) is currently my commanding officer, those of us that have had the honor of speaking with him 1 on 1 know his true story. It's amazing to hear from his point of view what really happened. He is by far the man who holds the most of my respect. He is still paying for the actions that led to his silver star and you would never know it by his actions. The way he is still more than willing to help anyone who is under his command is simply amazing. I ask you all to keep him in your prayers, for there is a chance some of the wounds he recieved will be unhealable.
Beerhunter
12-19-2008, 08:37
FYI- Our local newspaper did a story on our local hero:
http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2008/12/17/conroe_courier/news/star1217.txt
‘Brave men of the Green Berets’
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. John Wayne Walding of Groesbeck, Texas, left, was one of 10 Special Forces soldiers awarded the Silver Star for bravery for his role in an Afghanistan combat mission that cost him his leg. Walding has family members in Montgomery County.
By Brad Meyer
Published: 12.17.08
A Special Forces soldier with ties to Montgomery County who lost his leg during an intense seven-hour battle in northeast Afghanistan has been awarded the Silver Star for bravery – and has every intention of returning to combat duty.
Staff Sgt. John Wayne Walding of Groesbeck, Texas, was one of 10 soldiers from Operational Detachment Alpha 3336 of the 3rd Special Forces Group to be awarded the Silver Star – the military’s third-highest honor for valor and bravery in combat – in ceremonies that took place Friday at Ft. Bragg, N.C.
“John has more than a dozen aunts, uncles and cousins in Montgomery County and we’re all incredibly proud of him,” said Cindy Adams of Conroe. “We always kidded him about being named after the actor John Wayne, but he lived up to the image and reputation.”
Walding was part of a 12-man Special Forces team air dropped on a remote mountain in a desolate area of Afghanistan on April 6. Within minutes of being deployed, the commandos found the insurgent stronghold was heavily protected by as many as 200 defenders, and a fierce firefight began.
Two Afghan commandos were killed and several of the American troops were injured, including Walding, whose leg was nearly torn from his body by enemy fire. He literally tied his ankle to his thigh, he said, to prevent the damaged appendage from “flopping around.”
Walding tightened a tourniquet around his wounded leg until he saw the blood stop flowing.
Struggling with his wound in the chaos of battle, Walding attempted to inject his leg with morphine but injected the painkiller into his thumb by accident.
“That got quite a few laughs in spite of everything going on,” he said. “There were bullets flying all around, but it still struck the guys as funny.”
After more than six hours of combat, including heavy air support to keep the commandos from being overrun, the Special Forces team was able to reach an extraction point where they could by evacuated by military helicopters.
Still recovering from his wounds and the loss of his leg, Walding is committed to continuing with Special Forces.
“I’m anxious to get back to active duty,” he said. “I’m too stubborn to be disabled. If I can demonstrate readiness, my goal is get back to combat status.”
Patriotism and the connection to his cinematic namesake go hand in hand for Walding. He was born on the Fourth of July and takes the jokes about being named for movie legend John Wayne seriously.
“I’ve seen all 162 of his films,” he said. “When I graduated Special Forces training, one of the best gifts I got was a DVD of ‘The Green Berets.’”
Press coverage of Friday’s Silver Star ceremony has been significant, since it is the highest number of awards given to a Special Forces group for a single engagement since the Vietnam War. Walding appreciates the honor, but is quick to point out the commandos were on a military assignment, not out to win medals.
“You’re there to do a job and look out for your buddies,” he said. “There’s no time to think about what someone else is going to think.”
Fewer than 1 percent of U.S. Army soldiers are able to achieve Special Forces status, according to Walding. While he’s proud of his Green Beret status, he considers his wife Amy and children, Sam, 3, and Emma, 4, to have the harder job.
“It’s hard being the family of a Special Forces soldier,” he said. “But even after all that has happened, Amy still supports me and my goal of returning to active service.
“I just couldn’t ask for more.”
Copyright © 2008 - Houston Community Newspapers Online
JonnySixShooter
12-19-2008, 22:37
I went through the course with Kyle Walton... I'd be hard pressed to think of a better dude to be on that cliff that day.
Good work guys.
alright4u
12-21-2008, 17:12
I went through the course with Kyle Walton... I'd be hard pressed to think of a better dude to be on that cliff that day.
Good work guys.
Glad to hear these men and others are getting recognition. We had SOG men in recon and HF's who were lucky to get a PH when medivaced. Heck, I knew recon men at Omega and CCS plus CCN who received zip for 17 crosss border OPS. It was a shame as they went to promotion boards and were not promoted. That is history. Being able to look in the mirror is what counts. Great to hear things have changed. 1LT Harrigan called in and directed air support until his last dying gasp for air from a chest wound. That was a SS as OP 35 was there. CPT Cahill shot through the jaw and eye and blind through almost eight hours of hell and SGT Jamieson, who left a crater to save a wounded yard and was cut down and killed by fire received zip. I do not know, but; I had no authoprity to write an award recommendation as a HF company CO in 68. I finally had that authority as ALO and LO of the northern launch site. I wrote my first EER in 75. I was a CPT with 6 years in grade then.
I had SF NCO's, who damn sure earned SS's. I feel bad for them. We just did our jobs.
The reward for a good job was always more responsibility and/or another mission. Good for these men and no sour grapes here.
Phantasos
12-24-2008, 20:33
What an absolute show of heroism on everyones part. Thank you for your sacrifice.
Literally just a few minutes ago(2109ish), 3 members of ODA 3336 were on Fox telling their story in Class A's. Master Sgt. Scott Ford, Sgt. 1st Class Dan Flance(?), and Staff Sgt. John Walding all spoke about the operation, and noted that
'..It's what were trained for, and we are just ready to go back and complete another mission...'
It was amazing to see them speak so modestly, very professional, not to mention in class A's they made everyone else look bad. Did anyone else see this?
I can't find the video on the net yet, but I'm sure it will pop up soon.
Once again congratulations on your outstanding achievements.
Respectfully,
Phantasos
6.8SPC_DUMP
12-25-2008, 08:08
Reading the "Fierce battle above Shok Valley earns Silver Stars" article posted by Administrator Dan was insightful and extremely humbling. The knowledge, skill, bravery, composure, conditioning, humility, dedication and selflessness of these heroes and members of this site inspire me to never be complacent in bettering myself.
I liked this statement.
"The Taliban calls them (the Commandos) the wolves. When they hear the wolves are coming, they know they are in trouble. The commandos are pretty feared. Everywhere we go, they identify us with the commandos, and the fact that this group of insurgents was prepared to sit and fight us to the death was indicative of an enemy force you don't see every day," said Morales.
Team Sergeant
01-12-2009, 16:10
I just got off the phone with a Special Forces Capt. that goes by the name of Capt. Kyle Walton ;)
It was a pleasure chatting with you Captain! We're very proud of you and your team mates! (And Special Forces!)
De Oppresso Liber!
Team Sergeant
Warrior-Mentor
05-07-2009, 20:59
Had the opportunity today to spend some time with 3 members of ODA 3336:
MSG Scott Ford
SFC Luis Morales
SSG John Walding
They were at the United States Senate for a lunch and got to tell their story to 28 Senators.
They did a great job representing the Regiment....John even had one of the Senators in tears (I won't tell, so don't ask).
It was impressive and moving to hear them talk about what they did and what they want to do (get back to Group and rejoin their guys and the fight - no surprise for us, but really seemed to hit home with a number of the Members of Congress - just how dedicated our guys are).
After lunch, had the opportunity to get them into the Leadership Gallery to watch the Senate in session.
Then they got to head over the White House for a meeting with the President.
Warrior-Mentor
05-09-2009, 09:28
Command video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4Qs9fFP1oQ&feature=player_embedded
Slantwire
08-25-2009, 10:02
I saw this posted in an Air Force facility recently. While hardly earth-shattering, and certainly not to take anything away from SSgt Rhyner, I found the difference in perspective amusing.
Letter to Airmen
Michael B. Donley
Secretary of the Air Force
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Teamwork
Earlier this year General Schwartz and I had the privilege of presenting the Air Force Cross, the Air Force's highest distinction of valor in combat, to Staff Sergeant Zachary Rhyner for his efforts on April 6, 2008 in Afghanistan. Family, friends and comrades gathered to honor the extraordinary heroism of Sergeant Rhyner and his Joint teammates -- and to be reminded of the remarkable tenacity of the American warrior. Like all of America's Airmen, Sergeant Rhyner's story is one of teamwork -- teamwork that began well before combat started.
As Sergeant Rhyner and his Army teammates fought their long and grueling battle, they were not alone! Contributions came from many corners and Services. Acquisition professionals and industry partners ensured that the team deployed with reliable and effective equipment. Veterans of recent expeditionary operations ensured that the team's tactics, techniques and procedures were first-rate by passing on hard-won knowledge. Finally, combat power from the skies above helped secure the team's position by multiplying their firepower.
This remarkable experience reminds us that teamwork starts with YOU. By joining the Air Force, you have joined a cause greater than yourself -- one where success comes from collective efforts. Daily, you build on a rich legacy of Americans who pooled their talent to change the world -- from launching American military aviation with the Wright Flyer ... to catapulting the Project Mercury astronauts into space ... to being a critical component of the Joint cyber team. And, while domains of air, space and cyberspace continually evolve, our heritage demonstrates that teamwork is the linchpin of success.
We have added Sergeant Rhyner to a long list of distinguished Airmen -- rightfully so, as the actions of his Joint team reflect the finest traditions of American warriors in battle. In the process, we are reminded that all Air Force stories -- including your own -- begin with Airmen who commit to working together to serve our Nation. Thank you for all that you do for our continued success as a Total Force team.
Team Sergeant
08-25-2009, 11:22
I saw this posted in an Air Force facility recently. While hardly earth-shattering, and certainly not to take anything away from SSgt Rhyner, I found the difference in perspective amusing.
Michael B. Donley knows exactly what (and what not) he is saying.......;)
Michael B. Donley is a former Special Forces soldier, Green Beret wearing, 5th Group guy. He understands the hearts and minds principle....
(Also, anyone in the Air Force that fires a personal weapon at an enemy should receive the Air Force Cross, especially since there are no AF ground combatants......;))
(Also, anyone in the Air Force that fires a personal weapon at an enemy should receive the Air Force Cross...)
Correction - it's a BSM if they have to remain on the battlefield after 1700 - BSM w V if they actually figure out how to load and fire a weapon (unless it accidently fires from being dropped while running for the chow line or trying to get out of the rain) - an SS if they fire a weapon and don't hit any friendlies - and an AFC if they fire a weapon and actually hit an enemy combatant. :p
Richard's $.02 :munchin
Tatonka316
08-25-2009, 12:57
Well, at least THEY are still "good for a ride" ... maybe!?!?
Lightnin
09-19-2009, 20:05
Command video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4Qs9fFP1oQ&feature=player_embedded
That one gave me the chills, wow. That video really conveyed the intensity.
Congratulation to SSG Ronald Shurer, MoH
American Hero
Former Special Forces medic to receive Medal of Honor for valor in Afghanistan
By: Michelle Tan, 31 minutes ago
An Army Special Forces soldier will receive the Medal of Honor for fighting through an enemy ambush and saving his teammates' lives 10 years ago in Afghanistan, the White House announced Friday.
Former Staff Sgt. Ronald Shurer II, who had already received a Silver Star for his actions, will be honored with the nation’s highest award for valor by President Donald Trump during an Oct. 1 ceremony at the White House.
Shurer served as a Special Forces medic with 3rd Special Forces Group.
On April 6, 2008, Shurer and his team were assigned to take out high-value targets of the Hezeb Islami al Gulbadin in Shok Valley, according to the Army.
As the soldiers moved through the valley, they were attacked by enemy machine gun, sniper and rocket-propelled grenade fire, according to the White House.
https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2018/09/21/former-special-forces-medic-to-receive-medal-of-honor-for-valor-in-afghanistan/
:lifter:lifter:lifter:lifter
The Reaper
09-21-2018, 21:18
Well deserved.
Congratulations, brother!
TR
Great job SSG Shurer, you did the regiment well... Congrats to you, and well deserved. DOL And thank you so much for your service. :lifter