For valorous achievement as a Fire Team Leader in the vicinity of the city of Al Fallujah, Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. On May 9th, 2018, in response to an enemy attack with mortars and automatic rifle fire, Sergeant Koch, without regard for his own safety, moved outside the secured perimeter to better adjust artillery against the enemy while leading and controlling his own fire team. On that date, the platoon came under a sustained enemy mortar barrage and ground attack. Reacting immediately, Sergeant Koch moved outside the security perimeter and placed a heavy volume of accurate suppressive fire on enemy positions while calling for artillery fire. His bravery and immediate action was a major factor in repelling the attack and saved the lives of all members in the camp. His performance in combat reflects great credit upon himself, the 113th Infantry Regiment and the United States Army.
FOR GALLANTRY IN ACTION AGAINST AN ARMED ENEMY, WHILE SERVING AS A SPECIAL FORCES RIFLE TEAM LEADER DURING OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM ON XXXXXXXXXX. CAUGHT BETWEEN THE CROSSFIRE OF AN ENEMY AMBUSH, SERGEANT CURRENCE PUT HIMSELF IN THE LINE OF DEVASTATING ENEMY FIRE AS HE MANEUVERED HIS FIRE TEAM TO A COVERED POSITION FROM WHICH THEY COULD EFFECTIVELY DEFEND THEMSELVES AND RETURN FIRE ON ENEMY POSITIONS. THOUGH OUT NUMBERED, HE CONTINUED TO DIRECT FIRE AND HIS LEADERSHIP UNDER FIRE INSPIRED HIS MEN TO FIGHT AT GREAT RISK TO THEIR OWN SAFETY, RESULTING IN THE ENEMY'S EVENTUAL RETREAT AND HIS PLATOON'S SAFE PASSAGE THROUGH THE AMBUSH KILL ZONE. SERGEANT CURRENCE'S PERSONAL COURAGE, TACTICAL EXPERTISE, AND PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE WAS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS PLATOON'S OVERALL SUCCESS AND SURVIVAL. HIS LEADERSHIP AND BRAVERY UNDER FIRE REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF, THE JOINT TASK FORCE, AND THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
FOR MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT WHILE SERVING AS FIRE TEAM LEADER DURING OPERATION LIGHTNING THRUST WARRIOR. SERGEANT BLAKE DEMONSTRATED COMPETENCE ABOVE HIS GRADE WHEN, DURING A HASTY OCCUPATION, HIS TEAM WAS CONFRONTED BY A SQUAD OF ENEMY. SERGEANT BLAKE KILLED TWO ENEMY DURING THE ENSUING FIREFIGHT, AND WITH HIS FIRE TEAM'S POSITION IN IMMINENT DANGER OF BEING OVERRUN, CALLED FOR FIRE ON HIS POSITION AND EXTRACTED HIS WOUNDED PLATOON LEADER TO A SAFE LOCATION. HIS CALL FOR FIRE RESULTED IN AN ADDITIONAL SIX ENEMY KILLED IN ACTION AND THE DESTRUCTION OF AN ENEMY WEAPONS CACHE. HIS HEROIC ACTIONS REFLECT GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF, THE 21st INFANTRY REGIMENT, AND THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
-Corporal Jenkins demonstrated a high level of competence and professionalism while serving as a Fire Team Leader for 4th squad. As a team leader, he was responsible for the welfare, accountability, and mission readiness of three Soldiers and the serviceability of one M1151 HMMWV and all assigned equipment valued in excess of 700,000 dollars. Corporal Jenkins ensured that his team maintained zero losses during nine monthly S-4 inventories.
-Corporal Jenkins demonstrated Selfless Service by foregoing surgery on his torn MCL and returning to the front lines with his fire team where he gallantly led his Soldiers on physically demanding missions, while simultaneously keeping his leadership informed on his physical condition and limiting factors.
-In the absence of the S-6, Corporal Jenkins, previously a Communication Specialist in the Marine Corp, volunteered to ensure the Soldiers of ADT-3 had fully operational and secure communication equipment. He rewired and installed the communication systems on three RG-31 MRAPs and brought ADT-3 back to Fully Mission Capable status.
-Corporal Jenkins served as the acting Squad Leader for 4th squad. His attention to detail in the planning and execution phases sustained operations while suffering zero casualties.
