Photo By Dustin Gautney | Staff Sgt. Kelly Young, 3-7 Cavalry, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry...... read more read more
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FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAREZ, Iraq — Staff Sgt. Kelly Young, 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor device during a ceremony held at Forward Operating Base Diamondback Theater, March 12.
Young distinguished himself while guarding a major roadway against explosive device "emplacers," about 14 miles south of Mosul, 10:34 p.m., Jan. 7.
Emplacers are insurgents that generally use the cover of night to plant improvised explosive devices near main thoroughfares to target Soldiers and civilians.
Four men carrying rifles and a heavy object were discovered. After identifying the individuals, two M2 Bradley fighting vehicles went to investigate the suspicious individuals' activities.
The four men walked behind a hill; out of the Soldiers' line-of- sight. As the Bradley's crested the hill, the four men started shooting heavy, small-arms and throwing grenades at the Bradley team.
After the initial contact, the enemy insurgents entrenched themselves in a large wadi—a dried river bed—on the backside of the hill, which provided the four men cover and concealment from the Bradleys' weapons.
One Bradley returned fire, but its crew-served 7.62 mm M240B machine gun jammed; it had to pull-out of the engagement area. After hearing that, senior scout Young decided to retain the initiative and have the Bradley section "hand-off" the targets to him.
Young led two Humvees to the objective, so they could neutralize the four insurgents.
His platoon leader was also en route to the objective, while coordinating Army air and ground assets.
Once near the objective, Young exited his vehicle and assembled a five-man squad, and they started to clear the ditch that the armed enemies occupied.
Placing himself at risk by personally leading the patrol, he walked into a hostile area with unknown tactical conditions, against an enemy force that possibly possessed an IED. Young deliberately crossed to the far side of the ditch and used his own weapon-light to draw the enemies fire to his direction and not against his squad.
While clearing the first section of the ditch Young identified two dead insurgents and one he believed was severely wounded.
Placing himself at personal risk again, Young moved forward alone to try and render aid to the wounded enemy. But according to Young once he was less than 10 meters away from the "wounded" man, who was feigning death, the insurgent reached for a nearby AK-47 and started shooting at Staff Sgt. Young and his dismounted team.
Staff Sergeant Young dove out of the enemy's direct fire path, returned fire and ordered his patrol to seek cover.
Maj. Gen. Tony Cucolo, the Task Force Marne and 3rd ID commander personally pinned the Bronze Star awarded to Young to congratulate him for his duty.
Young killed the insurgent and likely saved the lives of his Soldiers. He then formulated a plan that allowed the dismounted patrol to clear the remainder of the ditch, killing the last insurgent. Items recovered from the insurgents includes three AK-47 rifles, one rocket propelled grenade, several grenades, one IED, night vision optics, and tactical gear on their persons.
| Date Taken: | 03.12.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 03.14.2010 14:55 |
| Story ID: | 46664 |
| Location: | FORWARD OPERATING BASE DIAMONDBACK THEATER, IQ |
| Web Views: | 353 |
| Downloads: | 169 |
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