HARRIMAN, Stanley L. Chief Warrant Officer

Two

For gallantry in action on 1-2 March 2002 during the battle of Shah-e-Kot.6 Harriman’s officially issued citation and Silver Star certificate are at Figures 12 and 13.

JOHNS, Stephan, Sfc., U.S. Special Operations Command

For gallantry in action on 30 May 2004. While serving as a sniper on a Special Operations Team, Sfc. Johns was in the last helicopter of a group mounting an assault on al Qaeda and Taliban fighters in a valley in northeast Afghanistan. When his helicopter was hit and briefly forced down, Sfc. Johns jumped out and set up a one-man defensive position between a group of enemy fighters and the main American assault group. Alone on the ground for 30 minutes before being picked up by another helicopter, Sfc. Johns killed nine enemy fighters who repeatedly rushed him.7

LaCAMERA, Paul J. Lt. Col., 1st Bn., 87th Infantry Regt., 10th Mount. Div.

For gallantry in action against the enemy during the period of 25 February 2002 to 14 March 2002, while serving as the Task Force Commander for Task Force 1-87 Infantry as part of the coalition Joint Task Force Mountain, Bagram, Afghanistan, in direct support of Operation Anaconda. Lieutenant Colonel LaCamera’s exemplary display of courage, dedication to duty and commitment to mission accomplishment under the most extreme circumstances of combat led directly to the success of Operation Anaconda and protected the lives of his soldiers)

LaCamera’s Silver Star was the first awarded for

gallantry in Afghanistan. The lack of detail in the citation

was intentional, given the unwillingness of LaCamera’s

superiors to reveal any information that might aid al

Qaeda or the Taliban. It is highly probable, however,

that the recommendation for the Silver Star was based

on LaCamera’s actions while in command of 85 light

infantryman in an 18-hour battle with enemy forces in

the Shah-e Kot valley. A photograph of then Lieutenant

Colonel Paul LaCamera is at Figure 14. Now Colonel

LaCamera is the commander of the 75th Ranger

Regiment.

Figure 14: Lieutenant Colonel Paul J. LaCamera.

PRYOR, Anthony S., MSgt., Co. A, 1st Bn., 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)

For gallantry in action during a night raid on a

suspected al Qaida and Taliban compound north

of Kandahar, Afghanistan in January 2002. While

under heavy fire, MSgt. Pryor killed shot and killed

three enemy fighters. He was then attacked from

behind by an enemy fighter who hit him over the

shoulder. In a hand-to-hand struggle, Pryor killed

his attacker despite having a broken clavicle and

dislocated shoulder?

A photograph of Master Sergeant Pryor is at Figure 15.

SAR, Saran. MSgt., Special Forces, US Special Operations Command.

For gallantry in action in eastern Afghanistan. On the day of the attack [in early 2005], Sar’s unit was conducting aerial reconnaissance. In fog and extreme cold, at an altitude of 9,000 feet on a snow- covered mountain, the first of two Blackhawk helicopters landed. It immediately came under enemy fire. MSgt. Sar was in the second helicopter and, when it landed, he immediately dismounted and rush to prevent the Taliban and al Qaida forces from damaging the first helicopter or harming its occupants. MSgt. Sar pursued one of the attackers

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into a building, and was wounded when he was struck in the helmet with¯ a bullet from an AK-47 assault rifle fired at him from a distance of 10 feet. For a moment he was disoriented, but within a few seconds MSgt. Sar had established that the wound was not life-threatening, and he continued to fight. After the battle, he and his men administered first aid to two injured Afghan civilians, stabilizing them for medical evacuation to a Coalition hospital.

A photograph of Master Sergeant Sar is at Figure 16.

Figure 16: Master Sergeant Saran Sar.

TILLMAN, Pat. Spc., Co. A, 2rid Bn., 75th Ranger Regt

For gallantry in action on 22 April 2002. After his team was ambushed by al Qaida and Taliban forces, Tillman "ordered his team to dismount and then maneuvered the Rangers up a hill near the enemy’ s location. As they crested the hill, Spc. Tillman directed his team into firing positions and personally provided suppressive fire. Tillman’s voice was heard issuing commands to take the fight to the enemy force emplaced on the dominating high ground. Leading his Rangers without regard to his own safety, Tillman was shot and killed while focusing his efforts on the elimination of the enemy forces and the protection of his own team members.’’10

Distinguished Flying Cross. There have been 55 awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross to soldiers in Operation Enduring Freedom. While the decoration may be awarded for both heroism and achievement in the air, and while it is possible that one or more of these Distinguished Flying Crosses were awarded for achievement (unlike the Air Force, the Army does use the "V" for valor device on the Distinguished Flying Cross to distinguish heroism awards from those for achievement), this is highly unlikely. A small sample of citations for Distinguished Flying Crosses follow:

HARDY, James. Chief Warrant Officer 4, 101 st Airborne Div.

For heroism while piloting an AH-64 Apache helicopter in support of Operation Anaconda. In the middle of the battle, CWO4 Hardy volunteered to swap helicopters in order to fly to safety an Apache that was so badly damaged by enemy fire that it had lost all its transmission oil.1~

RYAN, William. Capt., 101 st Airborne Division.

For heroism while piloting an AH-64 Apache helicopter in support of Operation Anaconda. Capt. Ryan led his helicopter squadron through withering fire to support U.S. troops who were in close combat with al Qaida forces in the early hours of Operation Anaconda. He was wounded after enemy machine gun fire shattered is helicopter’s cockpit and cut his face.12

Bronze Star Medal with V. According to the Army Military Awards Branch, a total of 10,327 Bronze Star Medals have been awarded for achievement or service in Afghanistan. There have been 528 Bronze Stars Medals awarded for combat heroism--with the "V" device.

At least eight Bronze Stars with "V" for valor device were awarded for the same March 3-4, 2002 firefight in which Rangers received the Silver Stars discussed above.

CUNNINGHAM, Chris M. Spc. 1st Bn., 75th Ranger Regt.

For exceptionally meritorious service while serving as a squad automatic weapons gunner during Operation Enduring Freedom. Spc. Cunningham’s valorous actions, in particular during a battle on March 4, 2002, contributed immeasurably to the tremendous success of the task force. Spc Cunningham was an integral member of the assault

12 JOMSA

force that attacked a fortified enemy position to relieve the pressure on Chalk 1, who had been fighting the enemy for over two hours. Spc. Cunningham was instrumental in providing security for the aid and litter teams and facilitated the consolidation of all casualties to a safe area. The gallantry displayed by Spc. Cunningham during 18 hours of combat is in keeping with the highest standard of valor.

ESCANO, Oscar J. Spc., 1st Bn., 75th Ranger Regt.

For valorous actions while serving as a M203 Gunner on March 4, 2002. Spc Escano was an integral member of the assault force that moved over two hours through arduous terrain to destroy an enemy fortified position and relieve enemy pressure on Chalk 1. Additionally, Spc. Escano assisted in providing security for aid and litter teams during two counterattacks by enemy forces.

GEORGE, Patrick. Sgt., 1st Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment

For valorous actions while serving as a Team Leader on March 4, 2002. Sgt. George moved for two hours with Chalk 2 over arduous terrain at an extremely high altitude and under heavy enemy fire. Sgt. George led the assault on an enemy fortified position to relieve the enemy pressure on Chalk 1. Additionally, he played a critical role in securing the objective and consolidating the casualties. The gallantry displayed by Sgt. George during 18 hours of combat is in keeping with the highest standards of valor.

GILLIAM, David B. Pfc., 1st Bn., 75th Ranger Regt.

For valorous actions while serving as a M240B Machine Gunner on March 4, 2002. Pfc. Gilliam immediately exited the aircraft and suppressed the enemy. He was able to suppress the fortified enemy bunker while a four-man element assaulted the position. Pfc. Gilliam played an integral role in the entire operation by providing suppression on enemy positions to facilitate the capture of the high ground, the defeat of two enemy counterattacks and the consolidation of friendly wounded.

MICELI, Anthony R. Spc., 1st Bn., 75th Ranger Regt.

For valorous actions on March 4, 2002. Spc. Miceli excited the aircraft, fought his way to the closest covered and concealed position and suppressed the enemy with his M249 squad automatic weapon. As an integral member of the assault team, he assaulted an enemy fortified position, up a steep slope in knee-deep snow, through a hail of enemy fire, in broad daylight.

PAZDER, Randy J. Spc., 1st Bn., 75th Ranger Regt.

For valorous actions while serving as a M240B Machine Gunner on March 4, 2002. Spc. Pazder moved with Chalk 2 over arduous terrain at an extremely high altitude and under heavy enemy fire to relieve the enemy pressure on Chalk 1. Spc. Pazder suppressed the enemy fire and facilitated the assault on the enemy position.

POLSON, Jonas O. Spc., 1st Bn., 75th Ranger Regt.

For valorous actions while serving as a Squad Automatic Weapons Gunner on March 4, 2002. Spc. Polson moved under direct and indirect enemy fire to link up with Chalk 1, which was under enemy fire for over two hours. As part of the assault force, he moved over arduous terrain at an extremely difficult altitude to provide integral suppressive fires on the enemy.

VELA, Omar J. Spc., 1st Bn., 75th Ranger Regt.

For valorous actions while serving as a M240B Assistant Gunner on March 4, 2002. Spc. Vela moved with Chalk 2 to relieve the enemy pressure on Chalk 1. The assault force movement culminated in an assault on an enemy fortified position where Spc. Vela assisted the aid and litter teams and provided security under a withering enemy counterattack.

Some other recipients are:

AMERINE, Jason. Capt., 5th Special Forces Group

BRAULT, Roberto. SSgt., 1st Bn., 87th Inf., 10th Mountain Div.

BROSSIE, James. Spc., 1st Bn., 87th Inf., 10th Mountain Div.

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