For extraordinary heroism in action in the vicinity of Zormat, Afghanistan on October 28, 2009. Although wounded while his company was occupying an exposed front line position under heavy rifle and machine gun fire, he maintained fire with his automatic rifle, thereby greatly assisting in repelling several waves of strong enemy attacks on his position. When his company was ordered to withdraw, he gallantly remained behind and continued to provide covering fire with his automatic rifle to cover the withdrawl of his platoon to a protected location. His display of personal bravery and devotion to duty is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, Provincial Reconstruction Team Paktya, the Task Force Yukon and the United States Army.
For valor and gallantry in the face of enemy fire as a result of gallant actions taken during and after a total aircraft loss crash on August 26, 2010. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kyle Miller distinguished himself by acts of courage and quick thinking under intense pressure. As Pilot in Command, after the engine failure of his CH-47G helicopter, he made the split-second decision to intentionally crash land the aircraft to maximize the survivability of his crew and passengers. Despite the hostile environment and enemy fire, CW2 Miller maintained his composure and conducted a rescue operation for all souls on board the downed aircraft. His decisive actions and leadership were instrumental in organizing his crew to secure and defend the passengers and the fallen. He successfully coordinated with nearby units to summon a rescue aircraft, ensuring the quick and safe return to base of all survivors. His brave actions reflect great credit upon himself, the 2/160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and the United States Army.
FOR VALOR IN CONNECTION WITH GROUND OPERATIONS IN OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. TECHNICAL SERGEANT ADAMS DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF ON 25 DECEMBER 2012 WHILE SERVING AS DUTY OFFICER DURING COMBAT OPERATIONS IN BAGRAM, AFGHANISTAN. WHILE MEETING WITH UNDISCLOSED U.S. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TECHNICAL SERGEANT ADAMS' PARTY RECEIVED SMALL ARMS FIRE FROM AN UNIDENTIFIED ENEMY FORCE. ARMED ONLY WITH A PISTOL, SERGEANT ADAMS IMMEDIATELY TOOK CHARGE, GOING THROUGH EVERY DOOR FIRST AND LEADING THREE UNARMED CIVILIANS AND THREE SERVICE SUPPORT SOLDIERS DOWN THREE FLOORS TO THE EXIT. WHEN ESCORT VEHICLES ARRIVED AND DREW FIRE, SERGEANT ADAMS SUCESSFULLY ENGAGED THE ENEMY, THEREBY ALLOWING OTHERS TO BE EXTRACTED. HE REFUSED TO BOARD UNTIL HE KNEW ALL SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS WERE SAFELY INSIDE ARMORED VEHICLES. HIS ACTIONS WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN PREVENTING THE THEFT OF $425,000 AND THE SUCCESSFUL AND SAFE EVACUATION OF UNARMED CIVILIAN PERSONNEL. TECHNICAL SERGEANT ADAMS' PERSONAL BRAVERY AND DEVOTION TO DUTY WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MILITARY SERVICE AND REFLECT GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE.
For valorous actions on 12 May 2011 while serving as Dismount Squad Leader during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM XII. Sergeant Myer's actions and courage while under heavy enemy fire assisted in saving other Soldiers' lives. His bravery and dedication to duty under the most extreme circumstances were in keeping with the finest military traditions of never leaving a fallen comrade behind and reflect distinct credit upon himself, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Special Troops Battalion, First Armored Brigade Combat Team, Fourth Infantry Division and the United States Army.
FOR VALOROUS ACHIEVEMENT AS A RANGER IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM FROM 25 APRIL 2004 TO 10 MAY 2004. SERGEANT BOLITA'S ACTION AND COURAGE UNDER ENEMY FIRE IN ASSISTING HIS WOUNDED COMRADE SAVED THE LIFE OF A FELLOW RANGER. HIS DECISIVENESS AND QUICK ACTIONS WERE IN THE FINEST RANGER TRADITION OF NEVER LEAVING A FALLEN COMRADE BEHIND. HIS DEDICATION TO DUTY AND COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE REFLECTS GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF, THE JOINT TASK FORCE, AND THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
For distinguishing himself by meritorious valor and heroism during operations in Sahrani. Sergeant Taylor assumed command of Yankee 1-1 and assaulted the Western edge of Bagango during the 173rd's final push against the Sahrani military. During this assault, his team effectively neutralized the enemy motorpool while maintaining squad combat effectiveness. After neutralizng the motorpool, Sergeant Taylor led his squad to assist Yankee 1-3 which had suffered heavy casualties from indirect fire while maintaining the 173rd's position in the city. His squad also suffered heavy casualties during this assist operation and Sergeant Taylor assumed command of all remaining operating 173rd forces within the area to complete the final offensive against the Sahrani military. Against all odds and with risk to his life, Sergeant Taylor and his team accomplished the assigned mission. His actions reflect great credit upon himself, the 173rd Airborne Brigade and the United States Army.
FOR EXCEPTIONALLY VALOROUS ACTION IN THE FACE OF OVERWHELMING ODDS AND DIRECT HOSTILE AGGRESSION AS THE COMMUNICATIONS SERGEANT FOR AN ADVANCED TEAM CONDUCTING COMBINED COMBAT OPERATIONS IN IRAQ. STAFF SERGEANT LYNCH'S EXCEPTIONAL COURAGE, DEDICATION TO MISSION, AND PERSONAL SACRIFICE DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE RESCUE OF 33 AMERICAN SOLDIERS. HIS REMARKABLE PERFORMANCE AND SELFLESS COMMITMENT TO HIS FELLOW COMRADES-IN-ARMS UNDOUBTEDLY SAVED LIVES AND REFLECTS THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF MILITARY TRADITION. STAFF SERGEANT LYNCH'S ACTIONS WHILE ENGAGED IN COMBAT OPERATIONS DURING OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM REFLECT GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF, THE 25TH INFANTRY DIVISON AND THE UNITED STATES ARMY. THE "V" DEVICE FOR VALOR IS AUTHORIZED.
For heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force in Iraq. Sergeant Dumas distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action on 4 October 2015, while serving as a Special Operations rifleman at Forward Operating Base Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. Sergeant Dumas continually exposed himself to enemy fire during the attack and prevented many friendly casualties by warning his comrades of an enemy ambush and directing fire. Sergeant Dumas continued effective fire at the enemy even after being wounded by indirect enemy fire and then assisted in getting other wounded comrades medical attention. His display of personal bravery and devotion to duty is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 1st Special Forces Group and the United States Army.
FOR GALLANTRY IN ACTION AGAINST AN ARMED ENEMY, WHILE SERVING AS A RANGER RIFLE TEAM LEADER DURING OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM ON 22 APRIL 2007. CAUGHT BETWEEN THE CROSSFIRE OF AN ENEMY AMBUSH, SSG LEE EXPOSED HIMSELF TO 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 WOUNDED, HE CONTINUED TO DIRECT FIRE AND HIS LEADERSHIP UNDER FIRE INSPIRED HIS TEAM TO FIGHT AT GREAT RISK TO THEIR OWN SAFETY, RESULTING IN THE ENEMY'S EVENTUAL RETREAT AND HIS PLATOON'S PASSAGE THROUGH THE AMBUSH KILL ZONE. SSG LEE'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 extraordinary heroism in action in the vicinity of Najaf, Iraq on January 28, 2007. Although wounded while his company was occupying an exposed front line position under heavy rifle and machine gun fire, he maintained fire with his automatic rifle, thereby greatly assisting in repelling several waves of strong enemy attacks on his position. When his company was ordered to withdraw, he gallantly remained behind and continued to provide covering fire with his automatic rifle to cover the withdrawl of his platoon to a protected location. His display of personal bravery and devotion to duty is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, the 101st Air Borne Division (Air Assault) and the United States Army.
For distinguished action with an armed enemy near Baghdad International Airport, Baghdad, Iraq on 31 March 2003. On that day, Staff Sergeant Luis' Task Force was violently attacked by a company-sized enemy force. Sergeant Luis quickly organized a hasty defense, and, as the fight developed, braved hostile enemy fire to personally engage the enemy with hand grenades and anti-tank weapons. Sergeant Luis moved under withering enemy fire to man a .50 caliber machine gun mounted on a damaged armored personnel carrier. In total disregard for his own life, he maintained his exposed position to suppress enemey fire. His courageous actions helped defeat the enemy attack and resulted in as many as 30 enemy soldiers killed, while allowing the safe withdrawal of numerous wounded soldiers. Staff Sergeant Luis' extraordinary heroism and uncommon valor are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon the 7th Special Forces Group and the United States Army.
FOR VALOR IN CONNECTION WITH GROUND OPERATIONS IN BAGHDAD, IRAQ WHILE SERVING AS WEAPONS SERGEANT AND SNIPER, 75TH RANGER REGIMENT. WHILE UNDER FIRE FROM A SUPERIOR HOSTILE FORCE, SFC LEWIS MANEUVERED ACROSS OPEN TERRAIN TO ESTABLISH A DEFENSIVE POSITION ON A HILLSIDE AND PROVIDED SUPPRESIVE FIRE SO HIS SQUAD COULD MOVE TO COVERED POSTIONS. WHILE THE SQUAD WAS MOVING, TWO MEMBERS WERE HIT WITH SMALL ARMS FIRE AND SEVERELY WOUNDED. WITHOUT REGARD FOR HIS OWN SAFETY, SFC LEWIS MOVED FROM COVER AND MOVED HIS INJURED SQUAD MEMBERS TO COVER AND THEN LAID DOWN EFFECTIVE FIRE AND CALLED FOR AIR ASSETS TO EVACUATE THE WOUNDED. SFC LEWIS THEN ASSUMED CONTROL OF THE AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN AND ENGAGED THE ENEMY, PREVENTING THEIR ADVANCE AND INFLICTING SEVERAL INJURIES. SFC LEWIS THEN DIRECTED THE HELICOPTERS ARRIVING ON SCENE TO TARGET AREAS WHILE HE CONTINUED TO LAY DOWN SUPPRESSIVE FIRE AND REFUSED TO BOARD THE HELICOPTER UNTIL ALL MEMBERS OF HIS SQUAD WERE SAFELY ON BOARD. BY HIS HEROIC ACTIONS, SFC LEWIS SAVED THE LIVES OF HIS EIGHT MAN SQUAD AND REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF, THE 75TH RANGER REGIMENT AND THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
FOR HEROISM IN CONNECTION WITH GROUND OPERATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN. CPL VAISEY DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF ON 29 MARCH 2002 WHILE SERVING AS A RIFLE TEAM LEADER DURING COMBAT OPERATIONS IN THE SHAHI-KOT VALLEY, AFGHANISTAN. WHILE SET UP IN A NIGHT DEFENSIVE POSITION, CPL VAISEY'S PLATOON CAME UNDER ROCKET, GRENADE, AND SMALL ARMS FIRE FROM A NUMERICALLY SUPERIOR ENEMY FORCE AND SUSTAINED NUMEROUS CASUALTIES. DESPITE THE OVERWHELMING ODDS, CPL VAISEY ASSUMED HIS POSITION AND DELIVERED ACCURATE AND DEVASTATING SUPPRESSIVE FIRE. HE CONTINUALLY SUBJECTED HIMSELF TO THE INTENSE BARRAGE TO ADMINISTER TO THE WOUNDED AND HELP ORGANIZE HIS PLATOON'S DEFENSE. WHEN MEDICAL EVACUATION HELICOPTERS ARRIVED AND DREW FIRE, CPL VAISEY AGAIN SUCESSFULLY ENGAGED THE ENEMY THEREBY ALLOWING THE WOUNDED TO BE EXTRACTED. HIS ACTIONS WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN GAINING FIRE SUPERIORITY AND EVENTUALLY ROUTING THE ENEMY FROM THE AREA. CPL VAISEY'S LEADERSHIP, PERSONAL BRAVERY UNDER FIRE AND DEVOTION TO DUTY WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MILITARY SERVICE AND REFLECT GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF, THE 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION, AND THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
FOR HEROISM IN CONNECTION WITH GROUND OPERATIONS IN THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM. PRIVATE FIRST CLASS THYOT DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF ON 29 MARCH 1971 WHILE SERVING AS LEAD MAN DURING COMBAT OPERATIONS IN THUA THIEN PROVIENCE, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM. WHILE SET UP IN A NIGHT DEFENSIVE POSITION, PRIVATE THYOT'S PLATOON CAME UNDER ROCKET, GRENADE, AND SMALL ARMS FIRE FROM A NUMERICALLY SUPERIOR ENEMY FORCE AND SUSTAINED NUMEROUS CASUALTIES. DESPITE THE OVERWHELMING ODDS, PRIVATE THYOT ASSUMED HIS POSITION AND DELIVERED ACCURATE AND DEVESTATING SUPPRESSIVE FIRE. HE CONTINUALLY SUBJECTED HIMSELF TO THE INTENSE BARRAGE TO ADMINISTER TO THE WOUNDED AND HELP ORGANIZE HIS PLATOON'S DEFENSE. WHEN MEDICAL EVACUATION HELICOPTER ARRIVED AND DREW FIRE, PRIVATE THYOT AGAIN SUCESSFULLY ENGAGED THE ENEMY, THEREBY ALLOWING THE WOUNDED TO BE EXTRACTED. HIS ACTIONS WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN GAINING FIRE SUPERIORITY AND EVENTUALLY ROUTING THE ENEMY FROM THE AREA. PRIVATE FIRST CLASS THYOT'S PERSONAL BRAVERY AND DEVOTION TO DUTY WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MILITARY SERVICE AND REFLECT GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF, HIS UNIT, AND THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
