Three Special Forces Soldiers receive Silver Stars

[Dan]

RELEASE NUMBER: 070516-02
DATE POSTED: MAY 16, 2007

Three Special Forces Soldiers receive Silver Stars
By Staff Sgt. Jason Cauley
3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) Public Affairs Office

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, May 16, 2007) – Three soldiers from 3rd Special Forces Group were awarded the Silver Star Medal Tuesday for gallantry in action during the unit’s 2005 rotation to Afghanistan in support of the Global War on Terror.

Maj. Christopher B. Wells and Sgts. 1st Class Cliff Roundtree and Nicholas S. Gross were presented their medals by Lt. Gen. Robert Wagner, commander U.S. Army Special Operations Command, during a ceremony held in Heritage Auditorium at the USASOC Headquarters here.

“Each one, to the man, will tell you he just did his job,” stated Maj. Gen. Thomas R. Csrnko, commander U.S. Special Forces Command (Airborne), prior to the presentation of the medals.

Wells received his medal for his actions taken after he and his men came under immediate attack upon entering the village of Syachow in southern Afghanistan on July 25, 2005. Then a team captain, Wells acted as the ground commander during the 14-hour battle in temperatures reaching 115 degrees. His actions resulted in the killing or capture of nearly 30 enemy fighters and dozens of light and heavy enemy weapons.

Typical of most Silver Star recipients, Wells gives the credit for his successes to his team members saying, “Me by myself up there…I wouldn’t be here. They did things that inspired me.”

Roundtree, a weapons sergeant, and Gross, a communications sergeant, echoed Wells sentiments. Each gave more of the credit to one another and to their fellow team members. Both men received the Silver Star for actions taken during a reconnaissance patrol in the mountains of southern Afghanistan in August 2005. Their patrol turned into a 56-hour running firefight that included seven enemy ambushes. Both men were serving as gunners in the first and second vehicles of the convoy.

Their continuous efforts to engage the enemy, despite their constant exposure to heavy enemy fire and dwindling ammunition, are credited as being the instrumental factor in the team’s overall security and success in the mission. One Special Forces soldier, Staff Sgt. Christopher Falkel, perished during the battle.

“We lost one of our brothers that day. He can’t wear his,” said Roundtree. “We’ll wear this for him.”

All three men serve in 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group.

--usasoc--