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 Figure 14: Lieutenant Colonel Paul J. LaCamera. LaCAMERA, Paul J. Lt. Col., 1st Bn., 87th PRYOR, Anthony S., MSgt., Co. A, 1st Bn., 5th Infantry Regt., 10th Mount. Div. Special Forces Group (Airborne) For gallantry in action against the enemy during For gallantry in action during a night raid on a the period of 25 February 2002 to 14 March 2002, suspected al Qaida and Taliban compound north while serving as the Task Force Commander for of Kandahar, Afghanistan in January 2002. While Task Force 1-87 Infantry as part of the coalition under heavy fire, MSgt. Pryor killed shot and killed Joint Task Force Mountain, Bagram, Afghanistan, three enemy fighters. He was then attacked from in direct support of Operation Anaconda. behind by an enemy fighter who hit him over the Lieutenant Colonel LaCamera’s exemplary display shoulder. In a hand-to-hand struggle, Pryor killed of courage, dedication to duty and commitment to his attacker despite having a broken clavicle and mission accomplishment under the most extreme dislocated shoulder? circumstances of combat led directly to the success of Operation Anaconda and protected the lives of A photograph of Master Sergeant Pryor is at Figure 15. his soldiers) SAR, Saran. MSgt., Special Forces, US Special LaCamera’s Silver Star was the first awarded for Operations Command. gallantry in Afghanistan. The lack of detail in the citation was intentional, given the unwillingness of LaCamera’s For gallantry in action in eastern Afghanistan. On superiors to reveal any information that might aid al the day of the attack [in early 2005], Sar’s unit was Qaeda or the Taliban. It is highly probable, however, conducting aerial reconnaissance. In fog and that the recommendation for the Silver Star was based extreme cold, at an altitude of 9,000 feet on a snow- on LaCamera’s actions while in command of 85 light covered mountain, the first of two Blackhawk infantryman in an 18-hour battle with enemy forces in helicopters landed. It immediately came under the Shah-e Kot valley. A photograph of then Lieutenant enemy fire. MSgt. Sar was in the second helicopter Colonel Paul LaCamera is at Figure 14. Now Colonel and, when it landed, he immediately dismounted LaCamera is the commander of the 75th Ranger and rush to prevent the Taliban and al Qaida forces Regiment. from damaging the first helicopter or harming its occupants. MSgt. Sar pursued one of the attackers Vol. 57, No. 5 11 into a building, and was wounded when he was Distinguished Flying Cross. There have been 55 awards struck in the helmet with¯ a bullet from an AK-47 of the Distinguished Flying Cross to soldiers in Operation assault rifle fired at him from a distance of 10 feet. Enduring Freedom. While the decoration may be For a moment he was disoriented, but within a few awarded for both heroism and achievement in the air, seconds MSgt. Sar had established that the wound and while it is possible that one or more of these was not life-threatening, and he continued to fight. Distinguished Flying Crosses were awarded for After the battle, he and his men administered first achievement (unlike the Air Force, the Army does use aid to two injured Afghan civilians, stabilizing them the "V" for valor device on the Distinguished Flying for medical evacuation to a Coalition hospital. Cross to distinguish heroism awards from those for achievement), this is highly unlikely. A small sample of A photograph of Master Sergeant Sar is at Figure 16. 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 Figure 16: Master Sergeant Saran Sar. Military Awards Branch, a total of 10,327 Bronze Star Medals have been awarded for achievement or service TILLMAN, Pat. Spc., Co. A, 2rid Bn., 75th Ranger in Afghanistan. There have been 528 Bronze Stars Medals Regt awarded for combat heroism--with the "V" device. For gallantry in action on 22 April 2002. After his team was ambushed by al Qaida and Taliban forces, At least eight Bronze Stars with "V" for valor device Tillman "ordered his team to dismount and then were awarded for the same March 3-4, 2002 firefight in maneuvered the Rangers up a hill near the enemy’ s which Rangers received the Silver Stars discussed above. location. As they crested the hill, Spc. Tillman directed his team into firing positions and CUNNINGHAM, Chris M. Spc. 1st Bn., 75th personally provided suppressive fire. Tillman’s Ranger Regt. voice was heard issuing commands to take the fight to the enemy force emplaced on the dominating For exceptionally meritorious service while serving high ground. Leading his Rangers without regard as a squad automatic weapons gunner during to his own safety, Tillman was shot and killed while Operation Enduring Freedom. Spc. Cunningham’s focusing his efforts on the elimination of the enemy valorous actions, in particular during a battle on forces and the protection of his own team March 4, 2002, contributed immeasurably to the members.’’10 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 For valorous actions on March 4, 2002. Spc. Miceli relieve the pressure on Chalk 1, who had been excited the aircraft, fought his way to the closest fighting the enemy for over two hours. Spc. covered and concealed position and suppressed the Cunningham was instrumental in providing security enemy with his M249 squad automatic weapon. As for the aid and litter teams and facilitated the an integral member of the assault team, he assaulted consolidation of all casualties to a safe area. The an enemy fortified position, up a steep slope in gallantry displayed by Spc. Cunningham during 18 knee-deep snow, through a hail of enemy fire, in hours of combat is in keeping with the highest broad daylight. standard of valor. PAZDER, Randy J. Spc., 1st Bn., 75th Ranger ESCANO, Oscar J. Spc., 1st Bn., 75th Ranger Regt. Regt. For valorous actions while serving as a M240B For valorous actions while serving as a M203 Machine Gunner on March 4, 2002. Spc. Pazder Gunner on March 4, 2002. Spc Escano was an moved with Chalk 2 over arduous terrain at an integral member of the assault force that moved extremely high altitude and under heavy enemy fire over two hours through arduous terrain to destroy to relieve the enemy pressure on Chalk 1. Spc. an enemy fortified position and relieve enemy Pazder suppressed the enemy fire and facilitated pressure on Chalk 1. Additionally, Spc. Escano the assault on the enemy position. assisted in providing security for aid and litter teams during two counterattacks by enemy forces. POLSON, Jonas O. Spc., 1st Bn., 75th Ranger Regt. GEORGE, Patrick. Sgt., 1st Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment For valorous actions while serving as a Squad Automatic Weapons Gunner on March 4, 2002. For valorous actions while serving as a Team Spc. Polson moved under direct and indirect enemy Leader on March 4, 2002. Sgt. George moved for fire to link up with Chalk 1, which was under enemy two hours with Chalk 2 over arduous terrain at an fire for over two hours. As part of the assault force, extremely high altitude and under heavy enemy fire. he moved over arduous terrain at an extremely Sgt. George led the assault on an enemy fortified difficult altitude to provide integral suppressive position to relieve the enemy pressure on Chalk 1. fires on the enemy. Additionally, he played a critical role in securing the objective and consolidating the casualties. The VELA, Omar J. Spc., 1st Bn., 75th Ranger Regt. gallantry displayed by Sgt. George during 18 hours of combat is in keeping with the highest standards For valorous actions while serving as a M240B of valor. Assistant Gunner on March 4, 2002. Spc. Vela moved with Chalk 2 to relieve the enemy pressure GILLIAM, David B. Pfc., 1st Bn., 75th Ranger on Chalk 1.