David Hardt's Column

David Serves with the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team from Fort Lewis. He reports from Baghdad.

The day started out as usual in the AO. Overnight the insurgents had produced more problems for coalition forces, having us resolve the issues quickly and in a hurry, therefore giving the insurgents no morale booster. During the late afternoon, around 2:50 p.m., a 1st Platoon element had been taking contact near the Shihabi mosque and the adjacent shanty town. When something happens to any coalition forces — especially your own company — something rises in you to go above and beyond to assist. It’s like having a little brother who gets into a fight with that one bully at school. Your first response after hearing what has been done to your little brother is you want to find that bully and kick his ass. The American blood runs deep when messing with the boys from America.

The plan for the day was to conduct the regular patrol. Upon getting ready for the patrol the commanding officer, Capt. Rowland, received word that 1st Platoon had been taking regular effect fire for a span of 15 minutes. Due to the pressing circumstances, the need and desire to get out there expediently and support went up immensely. The TAC, or Tactical Command and Control element, left 30 minutes earlier than scheduled. Making their way to the trucks, the apprehension ran effervescently through the men. While outside, a quick PCI, or Pre-combat Inspection, was conducted by the leaders, leaving no chance for failure once crossing the wire. They mounted; men manned the air century, and immediately, the young and old soldiers put on the face of pure determination and battle focus, for what they were to face no one new. The commander went on the radio and gave the situation report, “TAC, be prepared for a close fight.”

In the MEV Vehicle:
As 1st Sgt. Ward settled in, he quickly glanced over at Spc. Evens, the gunner of the truck, and asked politely and with concern, “Did you clean the gun?” Evens looked at the first sergeant and gave him the look of “Are you kidding me?” But he responded with a confident “Roger, first sergeant.” The first sergeant nodded his head with avowal and then continued getting ready for the unpredictable situation.


As the trucks left the wire the commander did an enemy analysis, giving the order to go to the west to regain contact. They left the hardball road, moving onto the rough terrain and north through an open field. There were houses to the immediate left. All eyes were scanning and looking for any possible insurgents making an attempt to ambush. As the elements made their way closer, two Iraqi nationals tried to get the elements’ attention by giving hand gestures. The men could have been trying to tell the element what was about to happen, but we will never know. Due to the evolving situation at the mosque, the element had to haul ass to the firefight that ensued. They were making their way to 1stt Platoon, but as soon as the all of the trucks hit the hardball, all hell broke loose. AK-47 rounds came raining down from the roofs like something out of a movie.

First Sgt. Ward’s reaction was one of disbelief. “I can’t believe these s@#% heads have the balls to shoot at us,” he said. He stayed up in the hatch taking rounds zipping and popping over his head. He bravely stood his ground, giving the insurgents a blaze of plentiful M-4 5.56 rounds in their direction.


Riding in the truck in the rear, Sgt. Sutherland uttered the infamous word “contact.” Then the word came over the radio “contact left.” The driver and vehicle commander took immediate action turning quickly into the kill zone, making all elements vulnerable to automatic gunfire. Sgt. Sutherland and Sgt. Young went into action and started to suppress the enemy with their weapons. As those two were in the fight back and forth, 1st Sgt. Ward continued to be fired upon. He quickly realized that these insurgents wanted to fight the fight, so he started making more sweet music. As elements suppressed the enemy, the insurgents — about 10 to 15 with various automatic weapons and a possible RPG — started getting more aggressive, making the firefight more than just a one-round fight; this was the real rocky. Suppression fire from everyone in the element cracked through early evening. At this time, Sgt. Jojo took decisive action and manned the 50 cal. As he began to shoot, his 50 malfunctioned and action was required to conceal himself from the fray of enemy fire that zipped by. His was face unnerved, and without thought or any care in the world, he knew what he had to do to help in this fierce and dangerous firefight — that was jump on top of the Stryker to the free gun, the 50 cal.

As Sgt. Jojo was on top of the truck lighting the enemy up, Sgt. Young made his way out of the hatch and made himself vulnerable to bullets whizzing through the air. Sgt. Jojo continued to shoot rounds until he ran out of rounds — “chu-clunk.”
At that point 1st Sgt. Ward got the dings of his life and reacted aggressively and shot back until he made the decision to dismount and take high ground and flank the enemy. As 1st Sgt. Ward ran across the street, bullets popped over his head and splashed by his footsteps. As he ran over to the gate he expected Sgt. Sutherland and Sgt. Young to follow, but when he turned his back he realized he was all by himself and that his special attachment was still pinned down on the truck by heavy fire. The thought of “oh s@#%, my wife would not be happy right now” ran through his mind.

While on the truck, Sgt. Sutherland and Sgt. Young gained a new sense of urgency and started to PID, or positively identify, the brazen insurgent eliminating them. As Sgt. Sutherland shot his rife, he rambled, “What’s my name b@#$&?” He did this to pump himself up and take the fight out of the enemy. After all was done, the enemy couldn’t withstand the onslaught of fire and escaped cowardly into the night. Just in time a white horse arrived. Lt. Packard arrived to assist in the clearance of houses. After everything was said and done, no one was hurt and morale was up.

All of the men in this firefight put their necks on the line for everyone. Due to his valiant courage under direct fire while manning the 50 cal on top of the Stryker, Sgt. Jojo has been put in for the bronze star and V for valor. In this fight everyone did his job and did it to the T, leaving the insurgents to lose another battle. Over the time we have been here there’s been a fierce fight here and there, but at no time has the resolve of the men who take the street every day been shaken. The men have become stronger and even more willing to get caught up in some wild s@#%, because we know we always win in the end.

History
The award that eventually became the Bronze Star Medal was conceived by Col. Russel P. "Red" Reeder in 1943, who believed it would aid morale if there was a medal that could be awarded by captains of companies or batteries to deserving people serving under them. Reeder felt the medal should be a ground equivalent of the Air Medal.
“The fact that the ground troops, Infantry in particular, lead miserable lives of extreme discomfort and are the ones who must come in close personal combat with the enemy, makes the maintenance of their morale of great importance. The award of the Air Medal has had an adverse reaction on the ground troops, particularlythe Infantry riflemen who are now suffering the heaviest losses, air or ground, in the Army, and enduring the greatest hardships.”
Valor device

The Valor device (also known as V-device, "V" device, and Combat V) is an award of the United States military, which is authorized by the military services as an attachment to certain awards and decorations.
Criteria
The Valor device denotes those individuals who were awarded a decoration in recognition of valorous acts performed during direct combat with an enemy force. It may also denote an accomplishment of a heroic nature in direct support of operations against an enemy force. Generally, the Valor device is for specific heroic acts during or supporting direct combat with the enemy. The award must also be personally recommended by a superior and is not an automatic decoration or upgrade.
The Valor device is awarded as a single, one-time decoration only. A service member may not receive several Valor devices on the same decoration.
History
The first Valor devices were authorized in 1944 as an attachment to the Bronze Star Medal. Since then, the Valor device is authorized to medals that are awarded for combat and noncombat actions. This is to distinguish those who were awarded a decoration through combat, compared to those who were awarded a medal for support roles or meritorious service.
In 1996, the Valor device gained public attention after Admr. Jeremy Boorda committed suicide, apparently because of media reports that he had worn the Valor device without authority. Boorda had placed the Valor device on his Navy Commendation and Navy Achievement Medal for services rendered during the Vietnam War as an afloat commanding officer. It was later confirmed that his Valor devices were in fact authorized[d and that his suicide had most likely been the result of personal issues combined with mental illness.
The facts from this story are from sworn statements and individual interviews.

Comments

[Kathleen Santiago]

Wow what day! Thank you so much for this article and BIG thank you to Sgt. Sutherland, Sgt. Young & Sgt. Jojo for their bravery and to my brother 1SGT Ward, I would expect nothing less from you….Giving them HELL! ...what true team work. You are all heroes!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, and keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers.

Kathleen Santiago
Woodland, CA

[BigSis]

David. Once again I am amazed at all you are going through. You are so strong, and I feel very grateful for you and your buddies and all that you do. I am thinking of you this Christmas and am praying for you, your guys, and your family. A big hug to you from my family and me...

BigSis
California