U.S. Soldiers Awarded Highest German Medal for Bravery During Rescue

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Chlosta | German soldiers congratulate, from center to right, U.S. Army Spc. Matthew Baker and U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jason Brown from the 5th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment, Katterbach, Germany, May 12 after the U.S. Soldiers received the German Gold Cross Medal, which has never been awarded to foreign troops before, for their bravery evacuating wounded German Soldiers while under fire near Kunduz on April 2.  

KUNDUZ, AFGHANISTAN

05.12.2010

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Chlosta 

International Security Assistance Force HQ Public Affairs

PROVINCIAL RECONSTRUCTION TEAM, KUNDUZ, Afghanistan - Under an overcast sky, on the same airfield where they carried wounded German soldiers to safety only five weeks before, 14 U.S. Soldiers were awarded the highest German medal for bravery, May 12.

International Security Assistance Force Chief of Staff German Army Lt. Gen. Bruno Kasdorf, presented the German Gold Cross of Honor medals to the medical evacuation helicopter pilots and crew from the 5th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment, Katterbach, Germany.

The German Gold Cross is equivalent to the U.S. Medal of honor, only four other German Soldiers have ever been awarded it. The medal is for outstanding deeds at the risk of one's life.

The aircrew rescued 11 German soldiers who had come under attack by insurgents during a dismounted patrol outside the Chahar Dara District, southwest of Kunduz, on April 2.

"It is an honor for me to day to hand over these badges to the U.S. service members, who risked their lives to bring their German wounded comrades to safety," Kasdorf said.

On that day, the German soldiers had been on a foot patrol searching for IEDs when insurgents attacked them with small arms fire and rocket propelled grenades.
The volume of fire was so intense that the American MedEvac helicopters couldn't land on their first attempt.

"I was the responsible person on the ground for getting the helicopters to the landing zone," German paratrooper Master Sgt. Patrick Bonneik, said. "My biggest concern was that they would leave us.

"You could see the sparks coming off the helo [from small arms fire]," the joint terminal attack controller said.

Rocket propelled grenades passed under one of the helicopters by 10 meters, added the bearded Bonneik.

The helicopters were able to land on their second attempt. They continued their rescue mission under fire as they flew the wounded German troops back to the PRT Kunduz base.

"Our doctors said, if the helicopters wouldn't have landed three more would be dead," Bonneik said. "They're amazing Soldiers. On that day, those guys showed - [guts]. They just did what they would've done for an American unit. It was extremely brave."

"My thought was just for the wounded Soldiers," U.S. Army Sgt. Steven Shumaker, crew chief, 5th Bn., 158th Av. Rgmt., said.

"My own safety wasn't a concern, Shumaker added as he choked up. "Our goal was to get those guys out or die trying."

Three of the Germans rescued later died from their wounds. The other eight survived.
After the ceremony concluded the German Soldiers and Americans lined up and faced each other similar to two opposing teams at the end of a tightly contested soccer game.

They walked toward each other. As they moved each American Soldier shook hands with a passing German troop. Before they let go each and everyone gave the other a deep, heartfelt embrace. You could really feel and sense that these Soldiers had shared a life changing moment in time and had survived but were now, forever changed.

"We didn't know each other before," Bonneik said, "but now we're like brothers."

• Date Taken: 05.12.2010
• Date Posted: 05.13.2010 14:35
• Story ID: 49603
• Location: KUNDUZ, AF