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View Full Version : Petraeus pins Silver Star on Special Forces Soldier in Kandahar


SouthernDZ
02-14-2011, 15:15
2/14/2011 By CJSOTF-A Public Affairs

A member of 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C., was awarded the nation’s third highest medal for valor by Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander, International Security Assistance Force and commander, U.S. Forces Afghanistan, during a ceremony at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Feb. 14.

Sgt. 1st Class Chad E. Lawson, a communications sergeant with Operational Detachment Alpha 3116 and deployed as part of Special Operations Task Force – South, was awarded the Silver Star for his heroics during combat operations Aug. 4, 2010, in southern Afghanistan.

“What you did, frankly, was extraordinarily heroic,” Petraeus said before pinning the medal on Lawson’s chest. “You’re team sergeant was down, others were down, and your instincts were to go and run through 500 meters of heavy machine-gun fire to the scene and rescue downed comrades.”

On that day, he and members of his team were caught in an ambush with approximately 45 insurgents attacking his unit. Lawson ran through a hail of enemy fire in order to rescue his downed team sergeant and organize forces for a medical evacuation.

“During his sprint, Sergeant Lawson was barely missed by [rocket-propelled grenade] and [heavy machine-gun] fire, with rounds chipping off the walls and ground all around him,” the narrative accompanying his award reads.

Lawson, a native of Cincinnati, called in a medical evacuation, and, “while still receiving heavy, direct and accurate deadly fire, for a second time he exposed himself” when he grabbed a fellow team member as well as Afghan Commandos on the mission, and led them in defense of a landing zone for the MEDEVAC helicopter.

Like his actions on that day, Lawson said his medal presentation was about his team.

“The nice thing about military honors is that rarely, if ever, is it solely your award,” Lawson said after receiving the Silver Star from Petraeus. “So I refuse to accept it on behalf of myself, but more for my team. Nothing anyone did out there was by themselves, on any operation, in particular that one. So for me to be recognized, by myself, is an honor for our team, our battalion and our group.”

Petraeus said Lawson exemplified what he called the “new greatest generation.”

“You did instinctively the right thing, which is the heroic thing,” Petraeus told Lawson. “It is really extraordinary to read in black and white what you did, and then to think about what that represented on that particular day, one in which you put it all on the line for your fellow members of the brotherhood of the close fight, and again, did something truly heroic.”

http://www.socom.mil/socomhome/newspub/news/pages/petraeuspinssilverstar.aspx

Sohei
02-14-2011, 15:24
Like his actions on that day, Lawson said his medal presentation was about his team.

“The nice thing about military honors is that rarely, if ever, is it solely your award,” Lawson said after receiving the Silver Star from Petraeus. “So I refuse to accept it on behalf of myself, but more for my team. Nothing anyone did out there was by themselves, on any operation, in particular that one. So for me to be recognized, by myself, is an honor for our team, our battalion and our group.”


That statement says it all. Congratulations SFC Lawson. You truly are an example of what it means to be a humble Warrior.

greenberetTFS
02-14-2011, 15:25
Congratulations Sgt 1st Class Lawson....... :) You bring HONOR to the SF service.......:)

Big Teddy

MtnGoat
02-14-2011, 16:46
Congratulations SFC Lawson!!!

Dusty
02-14-2011, 17:35
Does my heart good.

glebo
02-14-2011, 18:11
That statement says it all. Congratulations SFC Lawson. You truly are an example of what it means to be a humble Warrior.


Yup, nuthin like a good team.

Very honest and humble (as most of those warriors) are.

Good Job SFC Lawson.

Tatonka316
02-14-2011, 18:13
Well Done, SFC Lawson! You have done yourself and OUR Spartan team proud!!! Thank you for your service, your sacrifice, your professionalism and your love of your teammates! I can't wait to see you soon to thank you in person!!!

With It or On It!!!

Jgood
02-14-2011, 19:36
Good job SFC Lawson

ZonieDiver
02-14-2011, 19:46
Outstanding!

The Reaper
02-14-2011, 20:36
Well done, Spartan!

TR

dennisw
02-14-2011, 21:40
Well done SFC Lawson. You have made us proud and upheld the proud tradition of SF and third group. Well done General Petraeus. I am humbled by this Soldier's bravery.

jbour13
02-15-2011, 03:52
A well deserved award for a humble man and Warrior.

Chad is a great guy, and his actions are definitely a representation of his character and that of the men of his team.

That day in particular was a tense one, and as Chad states, everyone there contributed.

SF_BHT
02-15-2011, 04:21
Congrads, a well deserved honor......

JJ_BPK
02-15-2011, 08:01
Congratulations SFC Lawson.
Stay Safe..

Gypsy
02-15-2011, 18:18
Congratulations SFC Lawson, well done!

austinsf
02-15-2011, 21:08
Chad is an exceptional member of a truly exceptional ODA. I had the honor of working with this team last fall, and they are all over it. Thanks for what you do, Chad, and I look forward to seeing you soon. Congratulations, brother.

head
02-16-2011, 03:56
Great work, Chad. Way to represent one of the finest detachments in one of the most combat-proven battalions in the Regiment.

LongWire
02-16-2011, 09:37
Well Done Brother!!!!!

Red Flag 1
02-16-2011, 15:43
Good on ya SFC Lawson!

cowboy6
04-02-2011, 13:55
Just one word awesome and congratulations!!

Penn
04-02-2011, 16:50
Wishing you the Best always, Outstanding!!! SFC Lawson

akv
04-02-2011, 17:01
Congratulations and Thank You.

uplink5
04-02-2011, 20:50
2/14/2011
Petraeus said Lawson exemplified what he called the “new greatest generation.”

I agree...

Great Job SFC Lawson!!!

Blueboy
04-03-2011, 00:21
Outstanding!

Big Brad O
04-08-2011, 19:04
Congrats SFC Lawson, your statements are right on.

wet dog
04-08-2011, 20:41
Good job little brother!

JJ_BPK
04-09-2011, 03:58
Congratulation Chad.. :lifter:lifter:lifter:lifter

11B10V
04-17-2011, 21:49
Wish people would pay attention to things like this and not bs like Charley Sheen.