Photo By Staff Sgt. Shawn Miller | U.S. Forces-Iraq Deputy Commanding General of Operations Lt. Gen. Robert W. Cone...... read more read more
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq – U.S. Forces-Iraq Deputy Commanding General of Operations Lt. Gen. Robert W. Cone presented awards for valorous actions to soldiers of 2nd Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, during a ceremony at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Iraq Dec. 2.
Sgt. 1st Class Kristopher Verrett, platoon sergeant, 2nd Platoon, Company B, deployed in support of Operation New Dawn, was awarded the Silver Star Medal for his actions during an enemy ambush, Sept. 7, in northern Iraq.
Eighteen of Verrett's, “Wolfhound” soldiers of Company B also received awards during the ceremony for their valorous actions that day.
Cone commended the soldiers for their character, discipline and fortitude during the attack.
“Valor is all about character,” said Cone. “In an instant a challenge comes – in an instant, a horrible thing happens, and either valor is there or it is not. The fact of the matter is for the people in this platoon it was there.”
During a mission in support of Commando Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division, Verrett’s platoon came under small-arms fire from an Iraqi soldier.
Simultaneously, the platoon was ambushed coming under fire from enemy forces at a secondary location.
During the initial barrage, 11 U.S. soldiers received wounds including Verrett.
Despite a 7.62 mm round lodged in his shoulder, Verrett continued to lead his platoon, repeatedly putting himself in the line of fire to gain full accountability of his soldiers and prevent U.S. Soldiers and Iraqi Forces from firing on each other.
While evacuating the area, Verrett ignored his injuries and assisted in the movement of 10 other wounded soldiers into medical evacuation helicopters, only seeking medical attention himself after a direct order.
“I was humbled, shocked and proud when I got on the ground in Tuz that day,” said Lt. Col. Donald Brown, commander, 1st Bn., 27th Inf. Regt. “When I heard about what Sgt. 1st Class Verrett had done in spite of his wounds – how he had refused evacuation – when I heard what all of these men had done, I knew that nothing could break these men or this company.”
Despite his actions, Verrett, a native of Newberry, Mich. said he believes his soldiers deserve more honor than him.
“I want to make it clear, I am not deserving of anything,” said Verrett. “All of these young soldiers deserve so much more credit, sure they received awards today, but it is not nearly enough.”
“I could not serve with a better bunch of guys,” he said. “I do not believe anybody could.”
During the attack, two 2nd Platoon soldiers, Staff Sgt. Philip Jenkins and Pfc. James McClamorock, both infantryman, made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their nation.
“To the guys that did not make it – I love you,” said Pfc. Christopher Dunham an infantryman, from Houston, who received the Army Commendation Medal for his actions during the attack. “You never know how much somebody means to you until they are gone.”
The Bronze Star Medal with valor device was presented to Capt. Christopher Defiori, commander, Company B, from Houston; Sgt. Hairom Abraham, infantryman, from Micronesia; Spc. Zachary Gardner, infantryman, from Aurora, Ill.; and Pfc. Ryan Jones, infantryman, from West Alexandria, Ohio.
The Army Commendation Medal with valor device was presented to 1st Lt. Andrew Batule, from Schofield Barracks, Hawaii and Pfc. Christopher Horton, a combat medic from Zypher Hills, Fla.
The Army Commendation Medal was presented to 1st Lt. David Tyson, from Savannah, Ga.; Staff Sgt. Destry McMaster, a transportation specialist from Dexter, N.M.; Sgt Adam Costello, a combat medic from North Beach, Mass.; Cpl. Joshua Castleman, an infantryman from Bellingham, Wash.; Cpl. Tyler Royal, an infantryman from Maple Grove, Minn.; Spc. Kevin Higgins, an infantryman from Sulphur, Okla.; Spc. Derrick Kozlowski, an infantryman from Staten Island, N.Y.; Spc. Jeremy Tonkin an infantryman from Morgan Hill, Calif.; Pfc. Jose Nieves, an infantryman from El Paso, Texas; Pfc. Mark Ocaba, an infantryman from Richtown Park, Minn.; and Pfc. Bryan Ward an infantry man from Duncanville, Texas.
Costello, a veteran of multiple deployments, said he believed the entire platoon deserved recognition for their efforts Sept. 7.
“You never know how people react until a situation happens, and I could not have asked for better,” he said. “All of our guys did a spectacular job and we are getting recognized for something that was really a platoon effort.”
Command Sgt Maj. Alan Higgs, senior enlisted leader, 1st. Bn., 27th Inf. Regt., said solid training and good leadership is what brought his Soldiers though the ordeal.
“It is unfortunate this event happened, particularly in the progress of trying to advise and assist our Iraqi counterparts, but I could not be prouder of the way 2nd Platoon, Company B reacted to the attack,” Higgs said. “It is one thing to know where your enemy is at and to fight him, but it is another thing not to expect the enemy and to react with courageousness and determination.
"The actions of this platoon and the decisions they made that day definitely prevented additional casualties from occurring, and I think they are heroes, every one of them.”
| Date Taken: | 12.02.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 12.03.2010 15:06 |
| Story ID: | 61301 |
| Location: | TIKRIT, IQ |
| Web Views: | 1,224 |
| Downloads: | 4 |
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