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Here is a small tribute to the brave men and women of the armed forces who in many cases have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. These heroes embody courage, commitment and service. We wish all of the heroes and their families fair winds and following seas.
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Oregon Army National Guard's SGT Nathaniel "Brad" Lindsey
SGT Lindsey and his convoy were attacked when Taliban fighters set up a false checkpoint in Afghanistan on September 9, 2006. The enemies hit the convoy with either a roadside bomb or a rocket-propelled grenade, and then opened up small-arms fire on the vehicles. Lindsey, a gunner who had recently switched from a desk job at a secure base in Kandahar to a job training Afghan soldiers, died in the attack. He had volunteered for deployment to Afghanistan after having already served in Iraq and during Hurricane Katrina to protect an officer he had driven for since June 2004. Lindsey was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Meritorious Service Medals on September 22, 2006.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Missouri Air National Guard's MSgt Lettia Whitaker
During her deployment at Kirkuk Air Base from March to July 2003, MSgt Whitaker helped establish the first air-control service in northern Iraq since 1990. The service supported approximately 4,800 combat sorties, including covert operations, humanitarian airlifts and medical evacuations. She also supervised several covert flight operations using tactical radios and night vision goggles, and developed explosive-ordinance disposal procedures for the base. She co-authored airfield operating procedures for aero-medical evacuation of wounded Coalition forces that resulted in the rapid evacuation of more than 86 critically wounded soldiers and airmen. In May 2006, Whitaker became the first woman in history in the Missouri Air National Guard to receive the Bronze Star Medal.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Army Reserve SGT Ryan Gallucci
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Then-SP4 Gallucci and his six-member civil affairs team spent almost a year in Iraq between 2003 and 2004 helping to rebuild the infrastructure and improve the quality of life for the Iraqis. The team worked and lived in towns near the Iranian border, performing tasks such as getting schools and municipal governments up and running, and making sure the teachers and workers were on the payroll. Gallucci was responsible for about $4.7 million in public works projects during his deployment. In a village just outside the city of Khanaqin, Gallucci worked closely with Iraqi contractors to build a water pumping station and three wells, and located generators to help run the pumping station. He and his contractors also laid $20,000 worth of pipe, bringing water to several homes for the first time in 17 years. The team also built a landfill outside Khanaqin, and helped get the landfill workers on the payroll. In September 2005, Gallucci was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his work.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Army Reserve SSG Joseph P. Buhain
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SSG Buhain, a respiratory therapist, was activated as a medic and served in two combat zones from May 2004 to July 2005. Buhain was first sent to Baghdad, where he treated both Coalition Soldiers and insurgents. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for treating more than 1,500 injuries. Buhain was then sent to Afghanistan in September to be the medical noncommissioned officer in charge of the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team. During his time there, Buhain was instrumental in helping to build a respiratory school for Afghan medical students and an intensive care unit in a hospital in Kandahar. He also trained more than 350 Afghan and Pakistani medical students in CPR, life support functions and respiratory care management. Buhain took part in more than 150 missions, several of which were high risk. During one mission, he was injured in an IED attack. For his efforts in both countries, Buhain was awarded the Bronze Star Medal on March 10, 2005.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Marine Corps Reserve Cpl Todd J. Corbin
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Then-LCpl Corbin and the rest of his quick-reaction force responded to a call on May 7, 2005, to help block an insurgents' retreat in Haditha, Iraq. As the group searched the area, a vehicle laden with IEDs sped toward the convoy and blew up between two of the Humvees. Another blast followed as enemy fighters began firing upon the group. Three of the four vehicles were severely damaged, and 11 of 16 Marines were injured or killed. Corbin instantly took control of the situation and repositioned his vehicle to block the fire from hitting the wounded. He radioed in the situation and began directing a counter-attack. Corbin then ran back and forth several times through the line of fire recovering dead or wounded personnel and loading them into his Humvee, as he also shot at the enemy. Once he had everyone loaded, he drove his damaged truck through the kill zone to deliver the casualties to the battle aid station. For his leadership and actions, Corbin was awarded the Navy Cross on April 12, 2006.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Former Army National Guard's CPT Joel Arends
Then-1LT Arends and his team of 30 Soldiers operated just outside the Green Zone in and around Baghdad from February 2004 to April 2005. They were responsible for catching a number of terrorists, including one carrying bomb-making materials, jihadist propaganda and large sums of cash. The terrorist claimed to be a professor at a major university in the United States. They also captured one of Saddam Hussein's personal bodyguards. Another time, Arends's team rescued Iraqi civilians from burning vehicles when insurgents attacked a checkpoint near their patrol area. Members of the team rushed into the flames and pulled several Iraqi civilians out of burning vehicles and administered life-saving medical treatment. For his efforts, Arends was awarded the Bronze Star Medal in March 2005. Arends is now a Captain in the Army Reserve.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Marine Corps Sgt Jason A. Gagliano
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Sgt Gagliano's unit was conducting a reconnaissance patrol on January 7, 2006, when insurgents attacked using small-arms fire, severely injuring two of the Marines. Gagliano could not pinpoint the exact location of the assault, yet immediately directed his squad to return fire in the direction of the enemies as he threw a smoke grenade to help conceal the group. Another unit member was shot as he attempted to retrieve one of the fallen Marines. Gagliano had one team continue to lay down suppressive fire as he led another team into the street to recover the wounded Marines on three separate occasions. Despite the insurgents' heavy fire, Gagliano eventually got his team, including the three casualties, to a safer location. He then set up a casualty collection point for the medical evacuation team and helped direct the aiding Coalition forces to the suspected enemy position. For his efforts, Gagliano received the Bronze Star Medal on September 27, 2006.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Air Force 1st Lt Brian Lomax
Lt Lomax was serving as an antiterrorism/force protection officer at the US embassy in Baghdad on the eve of the Iraqi national elections. On January 29, 2005, insurgents fired a missile at the embassy, hitting Lomax's office. The room began filling with smoke and debris, some of which hit Lomax's forehead. Lomax instantly got to work, assessing the damage and pulling injured people out from under the rubble. After clearing the room, Lomax accounted for everyone and helped secure the building. During his six-month deployment, Lomax handled $5.2 million worth of security projects and oversaw a multimillion-dollar contract which provided personal security detail movements, site security, and intelligence dissemination throughout Iraq. For his work in Iraq, Lomax was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
South Carolina's Army National Guard CPT Brian J. Pipkin
CPT Pipkin was deployed from October 2004 to October 2005 to help support missions in Iraq. In December 2004, Pipkin was serving as the gunner in an Apache helicopter when his aircraft was hit numerous times by armor-piercing rounds fired by insurgents. His pilot was hit in the arm, leading Pipken to take over the controls and fly the helicopter back to the supporting hospital. After his pilot was admitted to the hospital, Pipkin called in coalition artillery on the machine gun nest, eliminating the position and the threat. During his deployment, Pipkin flew more than 200 hours providing air cover and serving as a quick reaction force to insurgent attacks.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Marine 1sLt Stephen J. Boada
1st Lt Boada was attached to a platoon on routine patrol in the mountains of Afghanistan when more than two dozen extremists attacked the Marines. As the unit's forward air controller, Boada directed air attacks on insurgent positions. After two Marines were hit by fire while approaching an enemy cave entrance, Boada and a fellow Marine worked their way from boulder to boulder across roughly 25 meters to rescue them, all the while under machine gun fire from the cave. Boada hurled grenades into the cave, killing the fighters inside. Boada later directed further air strikes to cover the platoon's withdrawal.
1st Lt Boada received the Silver Star on February 1, 2006. When asked about his role that day, he said simply, "The Marines I was with that day deserve the recognition. They all need to be talked about, talked about more than me, they are all amazing."
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Army SGM William J. Doherty
In April of 2005, then 1SG Doherty was part of an operation to detain a high-profile member of an Iraqi insurgent group who was speaking in a public venue. When the suspect began to threaten Iraqi police and others with an active grenade, 1SG Doherty directed coalition personnel to safety while placing himself between them and the enemy. He was wounded by the suspect's grenade when it later exploded. 1SG Doherty killed the insurgent who was reaching for a second grenade and continued to command the operation until he was medically evacuated.
1SG Doherty was given the option to return home after his injuries, but chose to stay with his unit and recover in Iraq. He had participated in Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and in two deployments during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has three Bronze Stars, two with Valor.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Navy LT Brian Skubin
As an Explosive Ordnance Disposal officer on a six-month deployment to Al Anbar Province in Iraq, LT Brian Skubin played an essential role in disabling Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) that have been so deadly to Coalition forces. Skubin and his team were assigned to a support role with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), which performed various missions including providing security during Iraq's first elections. LT Skubin and his team completed 139 missions, 40 while under threat of insurgent attacks. By disabling numerous IEDs, LT Skubin and his team helped the 31st MEU to complete their mission and save numerous American and Iraqi lives. For his actions, LT Skubin received the Bronze Star on October 19th, 2006.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Army CW3 Lori Hill
CW3 Hill was piloting her Kiowa Warrior helicopter in Iraq in March 2006 when insurgents began firing at her and the other helicopter, targeting the lead helicopter. Hill quickly maneuvered her helicopter to draw fire away while providing suppressive fire for the troops fighting on the ground. Enemy fire hit and damaged her helicopter, yet Hill continued to provide aerial cover and communications for the ground forces attempting to reach safety. The enemies kept firing at Hill's aircraft, and a machine-gun round hit Hill in the ankle. She maintained her aerial position as long as her damaged Kiowa would allow. Despite flying a damaged aircraft and suffering injuries, Hill landed her helicopter safely, saving both her crew and the helicopter. For her actions, Hill received the Distinguished Flying Cross on Oct. 16, 2006.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Coast Guard PO3 Nathan B. Bruckenthal
Petty Officer Bruckenthal, a damage controlman, was on a security mission in the Persian Gulf on April 24, 2004, when suicide bombers initiated a waterborne assault on the Khawr Al Amaya oil terminal. Bruckenthal was severely wounded while defending the Iraqi terminal and later died from his injuries. He was serving aboard the USS Firebolt on his second tour of duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Bruckenthal was the first Coast Guardsman killed in combat since the Vietnam War. For his actions, he was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal in April 2004.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Air Force CMSgt John Gebhardt
Sgt Gebhardt, a superintendent of an Air Force medical group, recently returned from a deployment to Balad Air Base in Iraq. In addition to his regular duties, he volunteered extra time at the combat hospital. One day, Sgt Gebhardt met a young Iraqi girl whose family had been executed by insurgents and who had survived a gunshot to her head. The girl had a lot of difficulty in her recovery, but seemed comforted by Sgt Gebhardt. For many nights, he slept with her in a chair. With his own children grown and out of the house, Sgt Gebhardt enjoyed the opportunity to cradle the child. The Iraqi child continues to recover from her wounds.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Marine Corps Sgt Willie L. Copeland III
Sgt Copeland and his team were part of a 15-vehicle convoy traveling through the Al Anbar Province in Iraq on April 7, 2004, when a group of about 50 insurgents ambushed them. As the enemy fighters fired rocket-propelled grenades at the convoy, Copeland led five Marines through a deep, muddy canal toward the insurgents. Copeland directed his five-man team closer, and succeeded in killing 10 insurgents and pushing back many more. During the fight, his platoon commander was severely injured. Copeland responded by instructing the other Marines to remain in covered positions to avoid getting hit while he shielded the wounded officer and applied first aid. For his actions, Copeland received the Navy Cross on April 21, 2005.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Arizona Army National Guard's SFC Max Hamlin
Then-SSG Hamlin led a highly classified mission from May 20 to August 7, 2003, in which he provided security, planned routes and escorted a Department of Defense (DoD) survey team throughout Iraq. Hamlin and his 10-person squad guided and secured the DoD team through hostile routes in and around Baghdad, Fallujah, Kirkuk, Mosul and Tikrit, among other areas. In many instances, Hamlin's team was isolated from friendly forces and logistical support. The group often faced insurgents attacking with various deadly devices, yet Hamlin directed his team and the DoD survey group through each encounter. For his actions, Hamlin was awarded the Bronze Star on April 7, 2004.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Navy SCPO Reginald Dean
During his deployment to Iraq, SCPO Dean was the senior enlisted medical advisor and combat corpsman attached to a multinational security transition command. On April 12, 2005, Dean rushed to the scene of a suicide-bomb explosion near Fort Tal-Afar, which killed and wounded several Iraqi army Soldiers and civilians. Dean set up a triage for 10 wounded, including a 4-year-old boy with head injuries. He provided care for the child, and prepared him for medical evacuation, most likely saving the boy's life. While in Iraq, Dean was the primary provider of lifesaving emergency care to more than 45 wounded Soldiers and civilians during six mass casualty situations. For his lifesaving actions, Dean was awarded the Bronze Star on June 1, 2006.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Army COL James H. Coffman Jr.
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COL Coffman was a senior advisor to Iraqi Special Police commandos on November 14, 2004, when he joined a commando quick reaction force (QRF) that was sent to help a platoon under attack in a Mosul, Iraq, police station. The terrorists hit the QRF with heavy fire upon arrival, killing or seriously injuring all but one of the commando officers. Coffman rallied the remaining forces to continue the fight and radioed for more help. When a round shattered his shooting hand and damaged his rifle, Coffman bandaged up his hand and continued fighting with rifles he collected from the casualties piling up around him. Coffman and his team defended the station for four hours before help arrived. Coffman led the relief forces to his position and continued to fight, refusing medical evacuation until the battle was over. Once the threat was eliminated, 25 terrorists were killed and dozens were injured. For his actions and leadership, Coffman received the Distinguished Service Cross on August 24, 2005.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Kentucky Army National Guard's SSG F. Timothy Nein and SGT Jason I. Mike
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SSG Nein and then-SP4 Mike were part of a routine convoy escort on March 20, 2005, when a group of more than 30 insurgents ambushed the convoy. Enemy fighters had taken up positions in irrigation ditches along the road and in an orchard nearby. Insurgents disabled the lead vehicle, bringing the convoy to a halt in the middle of the kill zone. As insurgents began streaming toward the stopped convoy, Nein and his team leader, SGT Leigh Ann Hester jumped out of their vehicles and took cover near the enemy's trench. SP4 Mike's vehicle, which was toward the end of the convoy line, took up a position at the other end of the trench, trapping the enemy fighters. As Nein and Hester began clearing the trench of insurgents from one side, another wave of fighters attacked from the other side, wounding three of the four Soldiers around Mike. Mike, a medic, moved the injured Soldiers out of direct enemy fire, picked up two weapons and began defending from the attacks on both sides. After Mike eliminated the threat, he began treating the wounded.
Meanwhile, as Soldiers provided cover fire, Nein and Hester moved through two trenches filled with enemy fighters. They cleared both trenches, killing 27 insurgents, wounding six and capturing one. The group also recovered several items of significance, including a video camera that the insurgents were using to film the ambush and another video tape in the pocket of a dead enemy fighter that showed a beheading.
For their actions, Nein and Mike received the Silver Star Medal in June 2005.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Navy PO3 Nathaniel R. Leoncio
Petty Officer Leoncio was on patrol with a group of Marines in southern Ramadi, Iraq, searching for weapons and insurgent activity on October 4, 2005. His convoy was hit by several IEDs, one of which disabled Leoncio's vehicle, killing the driver and injuring three others, including Leoncio. After being pulled to safety, Leoncio told one of the Marines how to apply a tourniquet to his badly damaged right leg. Although he sustained a shattered femur and internal bleeding, Leoncio refused medical evacuation, staying to treat the wounded, including his badly injured platoon commander. After the Marines convinced Leoncio that there were no others that needed attention, he agreed to be evacuated. Due to the severity of his injuries, Leoncio's right leg had to be amputated. For his actions, Leoncio was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat Distinguishing Service in April 2006.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Army Special Forces MSG Anthony S. Pryor
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MSG Pryor and his team were on a combat mission in Afghanistan on January 23, 2002, searching for suspected terrorists. As Pryor and his team began moving through the area, enemy fighters began firing upon the group. The team got separated, leaving Pryor and another Soldier clearing room by room. The other Soldier was distracted by an enemy fighter and stayed outside to return fire. Pryor continued forward and as an enemy fighter came charging out of a room, Pryor assisted in killing him. He pushed ahead and found himself alone with three insurgents. As he was engaged with the two who had guns, an insurgent crept up behind Pryor and began attacking, breaking a clavicle and dislocating his shoulder. Pryor wrestled with the assailants, engaging in a hand-to-hand struggle and eventually eliminating him. The two gunmen Pryor had shot revived during the fight and attempted to kill him, but Pryor responded by shooting at them again, this time killing them. He then rejoined the fight outside the building. When the battle ended, 21 enemy fighters had been killed. For his actions, Pryor received the Silver Star on June 12, 2003.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Washington Air National Guard's TSgt Kevin Whalen
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TSgt Whalen was part of a combat patrol in eastern Afghanistan on July 19, 2003, when his patrol was ambushed by a group of Taliban and al Qaeda fighters. Enemy fire hit the lead vehicle, forcing the convoy to halt in the middle of the kill zone. As insurgents attacked from three sides, Whalen opened fire on them, using an automatic grenade launcher. His quick reaction allowed his team to secure covered positions. After taking many hits, Whalen's grenade launcher malfunctioned. As he was attempting to fix his weapon, Whalen was hit in the arm and abdomen. He dropped to a more secure location and began self-administering first aid. He then radioed for close air support, communicating with and directing the two planes sent to aid the trapped group. After being taken to a hospital to recover, Whalen refused to stay there and returned to his team 48 hours after the fight to continue combat missions. For his actions and bravery, Whalen received the Silver Star in December 2004. Whalen is the first Washington Guardsmen to receive the Silver Star since the Vietnam War.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Indiana Army National Guard's SGT Joseph E. Proctor
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SGT Proctor, an aviation fueler, volunteered for a dangerous assignment as an embedded trainer to a group of Iraqi soldiers that routinely patrolled a violent section of the Anbar province. On May 3, 2006, Proctor was manning an isolated post in a barracks building near Ramadi when he heard shots outside. Hearing the commotion, Proctor threw on his protective gear, grabbed a weapon and left the secure location to assess the situation outside. Immediately, insurgents began firing heavily upon the compound while a large dump truck laden with explosives broke through the gate and headed toward the barracks. Proctor stood his ground and fired into the cab of the truck, eventually killing the driver. The explosives detonated, severely injuring Proctor. Because of his quick and fearless actions, the truck did not penetrate the compound deeply, and no one else was hurt. Proctor died as a result of the injuries he sustained from the attack. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star on December 20, 2006, making him the first Indiana National Guardsmen to receive the Silver Star since the Vietnam War.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Army SGT Tommy Rieman
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SGT Rieman and his team were sent on a reconnaissance mission near the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq on December 3, 2003. Before reaching its destination, the three-vehicle convoy came under heavy enemy fire. Rieman moved into position, using his own body to protect his gunner and began returning fire. The Humvees they were traveling in did not have doors, so Rieman was directly exposed to the enemy fire. He suffered two bullet wounds and 11 shrapnel wounds. After refusing medical help several times, Rieman took charge and moved the convoy off the main road, out of the line of fire, but encountered a smaller group of insurgents. He directed his men to return fire and eventually they suppressed the attack. Rieman set up a defensive perimeter so that a medical evacuation team could extract the wounded. For his efforts, Rieman was awarded the Silver Star in August 2004. Rieman was chosen as one of the faces of the US Army's "America's Army: Real Heroes" program.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Air Force Capt Jonathan E. Bennett
Capt Bennett was deployed to Iraq in August 2005 to help train and support Iraqi soldiers. On September 14, 2005, Bennett and his team were traveling on the main supply route from Baghdad when his convoy was ambushed. Bennett quickly directed his team to counter the enemy's attack as he laid down suppressive fire. Because of his actions, there were no Coalition casualties. During his year-long tour, Bennett managed a 10-man training team and 220 Iraqi Soldiers. For his leadership in developing and sustaining the Iraqi Security Forces, Bennett was awarded the Bronze Star on September 14, 2006.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Marine Corps Cpl Jason L. Dunham
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Cpl Dunham's squad was conducting a reconnaissance mission in Karabilah, Iraq, on April 14, 2004, when a nearby convoy returning to base was ambushed. Hearing gunfire, Dunham and his squad rushed over to help suppress the attack. He led a team a few blocks south of the immediate ambush site and ordered his squad to block seven vehicles attempting to leave. As they approached, an Iraqi insurgent jumped out of one of the vehicles and grabbed Dunham by the throat. As Dunham fought the enemy hand-to-hand, two Marines moved in to help. Dunham noticed that the enemy fighter had a grenade in his hand, and ordered his Marines to move back as he wrestled the insurgent to the ground. The enemy dropped the live grenade and without hesitating Dunham took off his Kevlar helmet, covered the grenade with it and threw himself on top to smother the blast. Dunham's actions saved the lives of the other two Marines. Dunham posthumously was awarded the Medal of Honor on January 11, 2007, the second serviceman and first Marine in the Global War on Terror to receive the award.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Air Force Maj Matthew R. Glover
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While transporting men and equipment from Baghdad to Fallujah by helicopter on November 13, 2004, Maj Glover and his wingman came under heavy fire from the ground. His crew immediately returned fire—but suddenly insurgents started shooting at them from the opposite direction as well. Glover and his co-pilot dodged enemy fire as his men tried to protect the other helicopter. After escaping the immediate kill zone, Glover realized that his wingman's helicopter had been damaged. He escorted the other helicopter to Baghdad. The evening wasn't quite over though; after arriving in Baghdad, Glover immediately directed his crew to reload their weapons to support a second mission planned for that night. That mission, an assault on an enemy safe house, led to the capture of three high-value targets and the detention of 10 suspected insurgents. For his leadership and actions, Glover received the Distinguished Flying Cross on June 10, 2005.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Army LTC Brian E. Winski
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On the night of September 13, 2006, LTC Winski led a team to capture a high-value terrorist leader east of Baghdad. As the group approached its target, insurgents opened fire, crippling one of the vehicles. Paying no attention to the gunshots exploding around him, Winski drove to the immobilized vehicle, hooked chains around it and pulled it to safety. As the ground commander of the raid, Winski was not finished: he had to keep his scattered men focused on the mission and aware of their surroundings and enemies. Under fire, Winski moved from position to position to gather firsthand information to lead a counterattack. While he gleaned information from one part of his team, two insurgents approached; Winski and his team killed them. By this time, the enemy had surrounded themselves with civilians as shields. Ever mindful of the civilians, Winski directed an air response to support the mission on the ground. By the end of the 90-minute firefight, Winski and his team had killed at least 11 insurgents and forced the rest to flee. For his leadership and actions, Winski received the Bronze Star with Valor in September 2006.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Army Reserve SSG Martin K. Richburg
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Checking e-mail was never supposed to be this dangerous. On March 27, 2006, SSG Richburg was talking to his wife on his cell phone outside an Internet café on a base in Iraq. As he sat there, he noticed a man approaching the café with a blue bag. Something about the situation seemed slightly off. Earlier that day, Richburg recalled, a suicide bomber had killed several civilians near the base's gate. Richburg watched the man place the bag on top of the café's air conditioner. Then the man turned and ran, but not fast enough to escape Richburg, who jumped out of his truck, chased the man down and quickly learned that the bag held a bomb. Richburg managed to clear the building just before the bomb destroyed the entire café. Richburg's actions saved the lives of 12 Soldiers and five Iraqi civilians. In March 2006, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal with a "V" and has been nominated for a Bronze Star.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Marine Corps 1stLt Elliott L. Ackerman
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Insurgents had a relatively free run of Fallujah in the six months preceding November 2004. With little or no Coalition presence in the city, they had turned the urban landscape into a warren-like maze of fortified positions, booby traps and sniper positions. The terrain could not have been more demanding for the Marines called in to clear the city. First, however, they had to establish a foothold, a task that fell in part to then-2ndLt Ackerman and his platoon. On November 10th, he and his men entered the city in what became a six-day struggle to open operational lines.
Insurgents attacked from numerous directions as Ackerman's Marines pushed into the city. Twice in the early moments of the shooting, Ackerman braved enemy fire to pull injured Marines to safety – and then organized their evacuation. But in the midst of the battle, the vehicle sent to recover the injured could not find their position. Ackerman charged from his cover into the open, dodged what his citation calls a "gauntlet of deadly enemy fire" and directed the vehicle to the Marines. Later, as Ackerman and his team were clearing a building, he noticed that his Marines were exposed on a rooftop. After ordering them down, he took their place and began marking targets for tanks as insurgents fired at him from all directions. Despite suffering shrapnel wounds, Ackerman continued to direct the attack, and coordinated four medical evacuations. "There is only one alternative," Lt Ackerman said later. "It is to do it or not do it." For his leadership and actions, Ackerman was awarded the Silver Star on January12, 2007.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Army Reserve CPT Brian S. Freeman
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For an adrenaline junkie, few sports offer a greater rush than "skeleton": on a tiny sled, the competitor whips headfirst down an ice course at a maximum speed of 80 miles per hour. It is by no means for the faint of heart, which is perhaps why Capt Freeman was attracted to it. Freeman was part of the Army World Class Athlete Program and competed in bobsled and skeleton at some of the highest levels of both sports. In the spring of 2006, he was deployed to Iraq on an even tougher mission: to act as a liaison between the military and local Iraqis to help rebuild civic institutions in the Shiite holy city of Karbala. He quickly established strong relationships with the governor and citizens of the area. Not only did he help obtain more equipment and training for the Iraqi security forces and additional funding for renovation projects, but he developed personal bonds with those he worked with. When his interpreter died in the line of duty, Freeman helped secure death benefits for the family and condolence payments that had been previously turned down. He also made arrangements for a Karbala police officer's son to travel to the United States for heart surgery.
On January 20, 2007, Freeman was meeting with Iraqi leaders at a provincial headquarters when insurgents attacked and killed five US Soldiers, including Freeman. US Skeleton program manager Steve Peters told ABC News that, "Brian will always be remembered for his willingness to ride with any driver so that the driver could gain more valuable experience driving the track, even if that meant crashing a few times." Even at the moment of his death, Freeman was helping a very different set of drivers learn to drive a very different track.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
North Carolina Army National Guard's SFC Chad M. Stephens
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Urban combat often devolves into a series of actions that traverse winding streets and narrow alleys – sometimes for hours. That was certainly the case for SFC Class Stephens on June 24, 2004, in Baqubah. That morning, Stephens and his platoon were called in to assist another platoon taking heavy fire from insurgents. Stephens's platoon helped the others fight through the engagement and then proceeded further into Baqubah. And then they ran into the first ambush of the day. His company commander was severely wounded, and elements of the company disengaged to evacuate him – leaving an even slimmer force. Undaunted, Stephens's platoon fought through the ambush and continued the offensive as it wound through the city.
Then came a second ambush. In a barrage of fire from all directions, one of the Bradleys was disabled by an RPG round – leaving a wounded man trapped in the open. As enemies continued to pour down a heavy stream of fire, Stephens leapt from his vehicle and sprinted 50 meters in the open to reach the injured Soldier. As rounds ricocheted off the metal, Stephens climbed into the open hatch to pull the Soldier out of the wrecked vehicle. Medics crouched on the protected side of the vehicle, and Stephens lowered the injured man to them. He then ran back across the open space, dodging the enemies' fire. Stephens rallied his men and pushed on through the city, repelling numerous attacks as they evacuated the wounded Soldier. Despite an injury, Stephens led his men to the opposite side of the city to a nearby base, where they hoped to save their downed man. Unfortunately, his wounds were too grave. For his selfless act in retrieving a fellow Soldier while under enemy fire, Stephens was awarded the Silver Star on October 22, 2006.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Marine Corps Sgt Chadwick L. Winegar
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One of the key goals for remnants of the Taliban is to prevent a democratic government from succeeding in Afghanistan. In the Kunar province, the lead-up to the 2005 elections was a time of robust Coalition operations to thwart an increasingly brazen enemy. As part of a patrol, then-Cpl Winegar and his platoon found themselves confronting numerous enemies who attacked by stealth and under the cover of darkness. On the nights of both August 15 and 16, insurgents ambushed Winegar's convoy as it traversed the rugged Pech River Road. In both attacks, enemy fighters fired RPGs from a nearby ridgeline, followed by a hail of machine-gun fire. Winegar not only commanded the lead vehicle, but he manned its machine gun. On both nights, while cut off from his Combat Anti-Armor Team, he unleashed his weapon on the ridgeline, holding back the Taliban to give the rest of his convoy time to set up a defense and return fire.
In November 2005, Winegar again faced danger – again as part of an ambushed convoy. On the morning of the 17th, his platoon's convoy came under heavy fire, and Winegar saw RPGs heading straight toward his vehicle. He ducked into the turret to avoid the inevitable; fortunately, the RPGs landed a few feet off target. Without pausing to consider his good fortune, he grabbed his machine gun and returned fire. Even though his convoy was cut off from other units, Winegar's quick reactions and responsive fire allowed it to push through the ambush without backup. For his actions, Winegar was twice awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a Combat "V" in August and September, 2006.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Army SGT Micheaux M. Sanders
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Straight out of basic training, then-SP4 Sanders deployed to Iraq in 2003 in the early stages of the conflict – but it was not until April 4, 2004, that he faced his greatest challenge on the battlefield. A platoon of 20 men was trapped deep within Sadr City, which was in the midst of an uprising. Sanders's tank crew and two others from his unit were called to aid the rescue. The first two attempts failed, and during the second, Sanders took a bullet through his left shoulder. Sanders waved the medics away, and instead hopped on another tank for a third rescue attempt, one which pushed through numerous firefights and impromptu roadblocks, such as burning tires and washing machines, to reach the stranded men. Sanders told the Chicago Tribune later, "All I needed was a Band-Aid." Because Sanders's unit had previously been scheduled for transport, the tanks were carrying a minimum load of ammunition. At one point Sanders ran out of ammo and resorted to throwing rocks and anything else he could find at the enemy. Sanders was awarded the Silver Star in October 2004.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Air Force SSgt Joshua J. Abrahamson
SSgt Abrahamson was deployed to Kirkuk Regional Air Base in Iraq to support counterinsurgent missions in the area. From January 22 to June 5, 2006, Abrahamson assisted with several successful operations, including overseeing the safety and workload of 16,000 Coalition forces, multinational contractors and local Iraqis. During that time, Abrahamson managed more than 150 combat missions within a 68,000-square-mile area under the constant threat of insurgent attacks. These missions allowed Coalition forces to find and destroy deadly IEDs and weapons caches. While supporting one combat team, Abrahamson found and destroyed 70 IEDs emplaced along vital supply routes connecting cities in northern Iraq. For his work, Abrahamson received the Bronze Star on January 24, 2007.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Air Force Reserve SMSgt Paul S. Veresko
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When then-MSgt Veresko arrived at Baghdad International Airport in April 2003, less than a month had passed since Coalition forces had taken control of the airfield. The newly renamed airport was a hub of activity – a central artery for materiel and manpower entering the war zone. As such, it was also a central target for enemy forces. Veresko was tasked with coordinating and managing the safe arrival and departure of all planes. Even as enemy forces repeatedly assailed the area with bombs and mortar attacks, Veresko not only sustained airfield operations, but increased them – which helped boost numerous humanitarian missions. In a short period of time, he oversaw the movement of an astounding 9.4 million pounds of war materiel and 24,800 war fighters. Veresko also used his knowledge to survey and help secure other airports in hostile sections of Iraq. For his work, Veresko received the Bronze Star on December 5, 2004.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Marine Corps Reserve SSgt Kent Padmore
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On June 23, 2005, then-Sgt Padmore was leading a security force near Fallujah, Iraq, when his convoy was ambushed. The attack began when a suicide car bomber crashed into the lead vehicle. Padmore immediately jumped out to assess the damage. Even with enemy fighters firing from rooftops – and with .50 caliber rounds firing off in all directions as the vehicle burned – Padmore dashed across 200 yards of open ground to reach those injured by the blast. Padmore, an emergency medical technician in civilian life, quickly set to removing the men from danger and administering medical attention. Padmore dragged six Marines to safety, then returned to the vehicle to save the four still at the scene. Despite second-degree burns on his hands suffered during the rescue, Padmore helped set up a triage and gave medical attention to the injured. He is credited with saving the life and leg of one of the wounded Marines, which earned him a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with "V."
The Trinidad and Tobago native credits his background growing up in a third-world country with helping him better understand the way Iraqis are used to conducting business and everyday life – which made him instrumental in helping bridge the societal and cultural differences between US troops and local Iraqis. For his actions in Iraq and his service, Padmore was named the 2006 Marine Corps Times Marine of the Year.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Oregon Army National Guard's SSG Jo Turner and SP4 Cheryl Ivanov
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When SSG Turner and SP4. Ivanov first deployed to Afghanistan as combat medics attached to an Afghan National Army (ANA) brigade, they had a hard time earning respect – especially from Afghan soldiers, who had never seen women in combat before. But all that changed as they proved themselves time and again during high-risk missions and during life-saving operations in the midst of battle.
During one patrol, Kandak Soldiers were ambushed by insurgents; without hesitation, Turner, who was driving a Humvee for embedded trainers, drove her vehicle directly into the firefight while another Soldier manned the weapon in the turret and helped cut off the enemy's direct line of fire. In another incident, the team responded to an attack on a nearby Kuchi camp. Upon arrival, they saw that instead of hitting the intended American base, insurgents had hit the camp, wounding and killing several civilians. Turner and Ivanov quickly began providing medical care to the civilians despite the rockets still exploding in the area.
Besides providing medical support for the ANA, Afghan police and US personnel during missions, Turner and Ivanov serve as mentors to ANA healthcare providers and conduct classes for Kandak medics. They also serve in a humanitarian role by coordinating medical assistance for Afghans in nearby villages – an opportunity to make friends with locals and gather intelligence, which has led to actionable information. Ivanov and Turner have both earned Combat Medical Badges for their work under fire.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Army CPL Clinton A. Warrick
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September 18, 2006, was a typical morning for platoon medic CPL Warrick: The sun was bright, and US military police and Iraqi policemen were conducting their usual transitional training at the Al Huria police station in Iraq. Suddenly, without warning, small-arms fire erupted from all directions. The base was under siege. Coalition forces concentrated fire on the attackers, but then a speeding pick-up truck crashed through the entrance and careened toward the center of the station. The truck detonated its 200-pound aircraft bomb, throwing CPL Warrick several meters and knocking him unconscious. Rubble from the explosion buried him. Warrick's platoon leader saw what happened and quickly pulled him from the debris. Warrick's legs were on fire – so the platoon leader used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames. When Warrick regained consciousness, he realized that he was badly burned – but he also realized that if he sat in one place, he would go into shock. He requested morphine, but his medic bag was buried in the burning building. As a medic, he knew that without pain medication, his only choice to avoid slipping into shock was to stay active. So he climbed through a hole in the building to see how he could assist. With a heavy stream of fire still reigning down on the station, and suffering from third-degree burns over 45 percent of his body as well as shrapnel wounds and smoke-inhalation injuries, Warrick went about the work of a medic: he assessed injured Soldiers and Iraqi policemen – and told the nearby support battalion what injuries they could expect. That vital information helped save the lives of seven Iraqi policemen.
Warrick realized he couldn't fight off shock much longer, so he moved to the north side of the station where he could be evacuated to the medical station himself. For his life-saving actions while suffering from life-threatening wounds, Warrick was awarded the Silver Star on December 11, 2006.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
South Carolina Army National Guard WO3 Austin Norris
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You simply cannot keep some people away from battle – despite injuries that would sideline most. Then-WO2 Norris was deployed to Iraq in November 2004. One month after his arrival, Norris and his gunner, CPT Pipkin, were called in to support a unit taking fire from insurgents in Mosul. Soon after they arrived, the insurgents scattered. Instead of flying back to base, Norris and Pipkin flew their Apache back toward the center of the city in response to a tip that a vehicle-borne IED was heading toward the unit they were supporting. As they approached, insurgents on the ground began firing at the helicopter, which was hit several times by armor-piercing rounds. One of the rounds ricocheted and hit Norris's forearm, shattering his radius. CPT Pipkin took over the helicopter's controls and delivered Norris safely to the Mosul hospital.
Norris wanted to return to battle, and after six operations – including a metal plate in his arm and a bone graft – and three months of therapy, he got his wish. Norris went on to support several other combat missions, including an incident in July 2005 that led to the killing of at least eight insurgents. In August 2005, he supported a US Special Forces unit and Iraqi SWAT team during a night air assault near Baghdad. As the team gathered in the area, heavy ground fire erupted – but Norris's team managed to locate and eliminate the enemies. During that engagement, Norris's aircraft was hit and the engine severely damaged. Despite this, Norris managed to make it back to base safely. In all, he logged 470 combat flying hours.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Air Force Maj Kim N. Campbell
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The A-10 Warthog may be one of the slowest, ugliest planes in the Air Force, but it's the best friend a Soldier or Marine could have in a close fight. And it's the last thing an enemy ever wants to see – especially if the pilot's call sign stands for "Killer Chick."
On April 7, 2003, then-Capt Campbell and her flight lead responded to a call for air support in downtown Baghdad, where an elite unit of the Iraqi Republican Guard had US forces pinned against the Tigris River. Campbell and her wingman faced bad weather before they dove out of the sky and devastated the enemy with rockets and the Warthog's feared 30mm Gatling gun. After successfully hitting their targets, the pilots turned back toward base – and that's when Campbell's jet was rocked by a large explosion and immediately began pulling to the left and toward the ground. With numerous caution lights flashing, the one that worried Campbell the most was the hydraulic light. A quick check confirmed her suspicions: her hydraulic system had been fried. She would later discover that one of her engines was badly damaged and the fuselage was riddled with hundreds of bullet holes.
Campbell quickly switched to manual inversion, allowing her to fly her Warthog under mechanical control. She then had a decision: try to fly 300 miles back to base, or parachute into hostile territory. This was dicey terrain, so she decided she had to make the flight. Despite the heavily damaged aircraft and terrible weather – including massive dust storms – "Killer Chick" persevered. With the help of a seasoned pilot on her wing, Campbell landed safely back at base – fully prepared to take to the skies again and unleash the Warthog, as well as her moniker, on any opposing forces
For her actions and bravery, Campbell was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for Heroism.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Army COL Michael E. Stout
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There's an old saying that a small idea is the birthplace of great accomplishments. For COL Stout, who was deployed to Afghanistan from September 2002 to April 2003, that small idea was the realization that rebuilding the war-torn country would require a joint effort by the military, civilians, members of the community and local organizations. His idea has grown into one of the central components of the war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan: the Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs), deployed throughout the host nation to rebuild and revitalize infrastructure and institutions.
In Afghanistan, Stout met with military commanders, civilian leaders, US interagency members and Afghan Ministry officials – and slowly his recommendations crystallized. He created the first three PRTs – in Gardez, Bamyan and Kunduz – by conducting a thorough analysis of the provinces and towns, and then securing the support and resources necessary to make a tangible impact. The PRTs in those three areas are still carrying out their work – and also are offering an opportunity for other nations to help the Afghans. Today, the Bamyan PRT is led by New Zealand, and the Kunduz PRT is led by Germany, with support from Belgium, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Romania and Switzerland.
Stout's initial model played a key role in shaping both the Department of Defense and US Central Command's approaches to conducting future reconstruction operations. For his leadership and contributions in Afghanistan, Stout was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal on December 13, 2006.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Army SSG Jeremy Wilzcek, SP4 Jose Alvarez, SP4 Gregory Pushkin and SGT Michael Row
Part of the Soldier's Creed is never to leave behind a fallen comrade. On the night of March 13, 2006, then-SGT Wilzcek, SGT Row, then-PFC Alvarez, then-PFC Pushkin and the rest of their squad risked life and limb to live up to that promise.
Row, the point man, was leading the Soldiers through dark, narrow alleys in the city of Ramadi as the squad headed back to base. Suddenly two men darted into a nearby house – and at that hour, Row saw that as a clear sign of imminent danger. He stopped the team, but within seconds the street exploded with an onslaught of machine-gun and small-arms fire, RPG explosions and hand grenades. The squad dropped to the ground and directed fire at the enemy's position.
Alvarez moved to a covered position to reload his weapon, and he noticed one of his comrades had been hit and was lying in the middle of the firefight. Without hesitation, Alvarez rushed into the kill zone to check the soldier’s vital signs – but it was too late. He covered the Soldier's body with his own and continued firing on the enemy. When he ran out of ammunition, Alvarez stood up and started dragging the soldier out of the line of fire. Row, who was pinned down nearby, provided cover fire as Alvarez struggled to move the body. When Wilzcek and Pushkin saw Alvarez's difficulties, they ran into the open to help. But as the three moved back toward cover, two RPGs exploded 10 meters away, knocking them down and sending a volley of shrapnel into Alvarez's right knee. The men stood up and continued dragging their comrade to the safety of a nearby courtyard.
After establishing a safe area for the injured, Pushkin and Wilzcek ran back and forth several times from the courtyard into the line of fire to rescue trapped Soldiers. Meanwhile, the RPG explosions had also injured Row's elbow with shrapnel. Even so, he continued firing on the enemy position to help the others reach safety. Once everyone was clear, Row, who was alone in the middle of the street, called for help. As Row remembered later, "I was trapped in the street, and [Pushkin and Wilzcek] pulled me out of there."
The squad was now in the courtyard and medical assistance was being administered – but their work was not done: enemy fire continued to light up the area. When the squad started planning the next phase, Alvarez refused to be moved with the other injured Soldiers, staying to help in the fight.
The insurgents, seeing the evacuation in progress, focused their fire on the rescuers. Wilzcek, already on the roof, began firing back. After clearing the rooms below, Pushkin and his team hurried up to the roof to help Wilzcek. Row grabbed a Bunker Defeat Munition – a shoulder-launched explosive for use against fortified positions – but his injured elbow prevented him from using it. He ran up to the roof, handed the weapon to Pushkin, and helped guide Pushkin toward the targets. With Row and Wilzcek providing cover fire, Pushkin took aim and fired – destroying the enemy's position and killing a number of insurgents. With that, the squad was able to leave the area safely.
On February 15, 2007, Wilzcek, Alvarez and Pushkin were awarded the Silver Star for their bravery and actions; Row was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Marine Corps LCpl Christopher S. Adlesperger
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When then-PFC Adlesperger and his squad approached a house on November 10, 2004, in the city of Fallujah, they faced one of the most difficult and dangerous battlefield situations: an entrenched enemy in an urban setting – with an entrenched machine gun.
As they entered the house, a volley of insurgent fire and grenades rained down upon them, immediately killing Adlesperger's point man and injuring two others. Without pausing, Adlesperger took control and moved out front, despite receiving minor wounds. As Adlesperger began firing back from the point position, he became the main target of enemy fire – but with most of his squad pinned down by insurgent fire, he had no choice but to push forward on his own.
Adlesperger single-handedly cleared the stairs to the rooftop, which allowed the unit to move injured Marines upstairs to receive medical attention. And as US forces gathered for a major assault on the building, Adlesperger, still inside, began moving from one spot to another, eliminating enemies in close quarters or forcing them to move out of entrenched positions to areas where US forces were waiting.
Finally, an assault vehicle broke through a wall on the main floor. Adlesperger rejoined his platoon and demanded to take point for the final attack on the entrenched machine gun. He entered the courtyard first, and eliminated the final enemy at close range. By the end of the battle, Adlesperger was credited with having killed at least 11 insurgents.
One month later, Adlesperger was killed while clearing other houses in Fallujah. For his actions on November 10, 2004, Adlesperger was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross on April 13, 2007.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Washington Air National Guard MSgt Henry Stroisch and TSgt Michael Frady
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In the current conflicts the United States is engaged in, a premium is placed on versatility and flexibility. So it was not much of a surprise that MSgt Stroisch and TSgt Frady, two Washington airmen and long-time friends, were called to do what is generally regarded as Soldiers' jobs: train Soldiers, set up computer networks and fill in as gunners on supply trucks.
The two airmen were deployed to Balad, Iraq, from March to September 2004 and were temporarily assigned to an Army transportation company, which turned out to be the first unit assigned to security convoys. The two quickly put skills they learned as civilians to use: Frady, a systems administrator at a financial software company, set up the computer network for the camp; Stroisch, a sheriff's deputy, created a training program to help new guardsmen become acquainted with the multiple duties they would be expected to perform.
Stroisch and Frady were also called to help man trucks guarding supply convoys traveling along the dangerous routes to and from Balad Air Base. On April 30, 2004, Stroisch and Frady were part of security teams for separate convoys. As Stroisch was returning to base through Baqubah, he heard a loud blast nearby – a blast that hit the other convoy and made Stroisch fear the worst for his friend. Luckily, however, the insurgents had mistakenly planted the bomb backwards, sending most of the blast and shrapnel into the desert rather than toward the convoy. The explosion flung Frady shoulder-first into the truck's bed. Temporarily dazed, he stood up and checked another airman – both of them had suffered hearing loss. Using hand signals, the two communicated that they were okay, allowing the commander to get the convoy moving as soon as possible.
For their work, Stroisch and Frady received the Bronze Star on March 4, 2007.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Navy SCPO Jason D. Taggart
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There is rarely a break for those chosen to be part of a personnel security detachment (PSD) team – the individuals charged with providing security and transportation for military leaders on the ground. The task requires a state of readiness 24 hours a day, seven days a week – and it requires a keen awareness on the battlefield, since any senior military leader is a high-value target for insurgents.
Chief Taggart, a submariner, was sent to Iraq in the summer of 2003 as a communications specialist. When he arrived, however, Taggart found that his background in law enforcement made him an obvious choice to take over as the Coalition Military Assistance Team's PSD commander – a job that required him to form, train and deploy the PSD forces. And a job that required versatility in widely diverse settings: patrolling busy streets, scouting dangerous roadways and securing the sites before and after high-level meetings, whether in a municipal building or a palm grove.
Taggart quickly formed two five-man teams, which completed more than 200 missions stretching from Iraq's border with Turkey and Syria down to Kuwait. Their duties were often dangerous: twice the teams encountered roadside IEDs, which forced them to clear the area, set up security and wait for the explosive ordnance disposal teams to declare the area safe before they could move on. In one incident, Taggart was injured by an IED but refused to leave the area until the mission was complete. He was also involved in four separate firefights with enemy forces.
While it is quite unusual for a Sailor to perform what would normally be considered a Soldier's job, Taggart was eager to gain the experience. "Throughout my military career, I volunteered to go many places. . . . I've been trying to do something different than just submarines." For his leadership and work, Taggart received the Bronze Star with Combat "V" on March 4, 2005.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Former Kentucky Army National Guard SP4 Ashley Pullen
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The Kentucky National Guard's 617th Military Police Company has turned out a long list of heroes – among them SGT Leigh Ann Hester SSG Timothy Nein and SGT Jason Mike. SP4 Pullen is yet another addition to those ranks.
On March 20, 2005, Pullen was driving one of three Humvees providing security for a 30-vehicle convoy traveling in Iraq. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary – which is often how the prelude to an ambush appears. Suddenly insurgents sprung a complex operation and began pouring heavy fire from multiple directions, stopping the convoy in its tracks. Pullen's unit moved out from behind the convoy to flank the insurgents and prevent them from escaping. Pullen’s team began firing back.
Then she heard a call for help over the radio. Pullen backed her Humvee into a better position, jumped out and ran 90 meters through the line of fire toward the injured Soldier. She administered first aid and tried to calm him down. As she was treating him, another Soldier launched a shoulder-held rocket toward a nest of insurgents. Although he warned of the impending firing, Pullen couldn't move out of the way fast enough. She threw her small frame over the wounded Soldier to protect him from the blast – a blast that threw her off the Soldier onto her backside.
About 27 insurgents were killed during the fight, and six were injured. For her efforts, Pullen was awarded the Bronze Star with "V" on June 16, 2005.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Marine Corps Maj Armando Espinoza
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The opening phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom in March and April of 2003 will go down as one of the most impressive advances in military history. So impressive, in fact, that it is easy to forget how heated some of the battles were, and how hard some of Saddam Hussein’s forces fought.
On April 9, 2003, the 5th Marines took control of one of Saddam's palaces in Baghdad. Fedayeen fighters in the area refused to give up the fight and continued to launch offensives. The battle continued through the night and into the next morning – at which point then-Capt Espinoza and his team were called in to evacuate the casualties.
As Espinoza's team flew over the Tigris River toward the palace, they began receiving small-arms and RPG fire. Espinoza and his wingman maneuvered through the attacks and approached a seemingly impossible landing zone: There was only room for one helicopter to land beside a swimming pool surrounded by large palm trees. Espinoza put his helicopter down amidst sniper shots from the rooftop and small-arms fire from numerous other directions. His corpsman quickly identified four injured Marines and loaded them onto the helicopter. After stabilizing them, Espinoza started the flight back to the casualty point, ordering his gunners to fire back at the enemy as he weaved through a maze of gunfire.
Four more times that day, Espinoza and his team returned to retrieve wounded Marines. He dodged bullets, landed under enemy fire and his gunners helped suppress the large enemy attack. That night his team also ran a re-supply mission, dropping off much-needed ammunition, water and equipment to Marines on the ground. On his final trip, Espinoza and his team returned to the combat zone to evacuate Iraqi civilians caught in the line of fire.
At the end of the long and weary battle, Espinoza's team had safely evacuated 28 Marines and a family of 7 Iraqis. For his leadership and actions, Espinoza was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on February 25, 2005.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Air Force SSgt Edward B. Albietz
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SSgt Albietz's job often sounds more like the script from an episode of "24" than the everyday occurrence that it is: rush into enemy territory, oftentimes under fire, locate bombs and defuse them before they can go off and harm troops or civilians.
Albietz was the leader of an explosives team at Kirkuk Regional Air Base in Iraq and was tasked with locating and disarming or destroying homemade bombs throughout a 42,000-square-kilometer area. As a result, Albietz was often caught in dangerous situations, with insurgent attacks always looming. In total, he was involved in more than 110 combat missions.
In one such mission, Albietz and his team were called in to disarm a bomb that was blocking a logistical convoy trying to pass through the area. As the enemy fired from multiple locations, Albietz's team successfully disabled the bomb. In a different mission, his team was sent to the city of Sulayman Bak to look for four pressure-switch-activated bombs that were hidden within a six-block area. Insurgents were trying to blow up Iraqi security and government buildings, but Albietz and his team of experts located each explosive and defused them before any harm could be done.
During his time in Iraq, Albietz contributed to the recovery and destruction of more than 40,000 explosives, most of which were roadside bombs of the type that have inflicted numerous casualties on Coalition forces.
For his work and leadership, Albietz received the Bronze Star on March 2, 2007.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Marine Corps Reserve Cpl Mark A. Camp
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In May of 2005, Marines stationed in Anbar province began a week-long hunt to root out insurgents and foreign fighters in the volatile areas around the Syrian border. Dubbed Operation Matador, those tasked with carrying out the mission encountered enemies who had dug in and were ready to fight: deadly roadside bombs, sniper attacks, and several well-planned ambushes.
One day after the operation began, then-LCpl Camp and his company were sent to New Ubaydi on a house-clearing mission. As Camp's squad entered one of the houses, insurgents hiding in a closet and in an underground crawlspace opened fire, shooting four Marines. Camp, outside, heard the gunfight and immediately ran inside to help. Three separate times he entered and exited the building to recover his squad members and clear the house of insurgents.
On May 11, Camp was again tested. This time, his company was heading to another small town to clear other insurgent strongholds. Camp was standing at the top hatch of his amphibious assault vehicle when he noticed an eerie silence. Camp was instantly on alert – but that could not stop the roadside bomb that detonated at that moment, hitting the vehicle and throwing the man standing next to Camp into a nearby field.
Shrapnel dug into Camp's right thigh, and the explosion lit his hands and face on fire. He was thrown back into the burning vehicle, and he began beating out the fires all over his body and head.
Then, Camp heard the call of one of his teammates still trapped inside. As he crawled back into the wreckage, heat was cooking off ammunition all around him, ammunition that ricocheted inside even as insurgents continued to fire from outside. And then there was another explosion. Camp fell back out of the vehicle, on fire once more. Again, he beat his body until the flames subsided.
His comrade was still in the vehicle. So Camp went back inside and tried to grip the Marine's pack, his helmet – anything – but by then Camp's skin was melting from his hands. Camp later told the Columbus Dispatch, "I [was] screaming for someone to help me . . . someone with fresh hands." Finally, some Marines answered his calls and pulled Camp and the other Marine free.
For his actions and bravery, Camp was awarded the Silver Star on May 15, 2006.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Army Reserve MAJ Derek P. Bonaldo
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For many, it may be hard to believe that people volunteer specifically to go to Iraq, given the known dangers and hardship. For MAJ Bonaldo, it was a question of duty and service: "I volunteered to go in part because I had never deployed before . . . I felt that I needed to step up . . . [and] I felt I could make a difference." For the fledgling Iraqi police force he helped, his contributions were invaluable.
In 2006, Bonaldo deployed to help train and support Iraqi policemen. As a logistics military advisor with an 11-man Iraqi police transition team, it was Bonaldo's job to advise the Iraqi national police leadership on the logistics of battlefield procedures – including preparation, training and combat operations. Bonaldo also served as the logistics liaison between the national police and Coalition forces.
During his year in Iraq, Bonaldo worked from bases in Baghdad, Kadhimiy and Taji. As part of the transition team, he frequently went out on missions with the policemen, oftentimes encountering enemies who attacked with IEDs, small arms and mortars. Fortunately, Bonaldo's team did not lose anyone.
Upon returning to the United States, Bonaldo said that "the most gratifying part of my deployment was receiving positive feedback from the Iraqi people for how grateful they were for the job we are doing there."
For his work, Bonaldo received the Bronze Star in February 2007.
Text and photos from the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs
Air Force SSgt Earl I. Covel
For a Special Forces team in the heat of battle, air cover can be the difference between life and death. SSG Covel was assigned in Iraq to work with an elite team of 8 Army special-forces Soldiers and 10 "peshmerga” – indigenous Kurdish guerilla fighters. In June 2004, part of the team headed from its safe house in the city center back to base to re-supply. While they were gone, they received a call that an attack on the safe house had begun. Based on previous engagements, however, the team assumed it would be a quick skirmish – even though some intelligence had warned of a massive offensive that was in the works. By the time the team returned to the house, they realized they were under an
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