Raiders Army
02-25-2005, 12:34 PM
Just received this in an email today (it is the narrative recommendation for the Silver Star):
On 9 April 2004, then PFC Jeremy Church was the convoy commander’s driver in the lead vehicle of an emergency fuel mission enroute to Baghdad International Airport (BIAP). His fuel convoy came under attack by elements of Sadr’s Militia along a four-mile stretch of highway. The complex ambush occurred on ASR Husky, a six-lane highway, on the north side of BIAP. Enemy insurgents attacked from built up areas that were dominated by two and three level houses with narrow side streets. Anti-coalition forces consisted of 150-200 fighters armed with rocket-propelled grenades, command detonated improvised explosive devices (IEDs), machine guns, and assault rifles. As soon as the convoy commander’s vehicle entered the kill zone, it started receiving small arms fire. No sooner did the small arms fire begin than command detonated IEDs blasted the convoy from both sides of the road. PFC Church drove aggressively to avoid detonating IEDs and enemy emplaced obstacles such as guardrails, concrete barriers, and vehicles that were placed across the road by the enemy to slow the movement of the convoy. Within the first five minutes of the ambush, an enemy sniper wounded the convoy commander with two shots to the head. PFC Church grabbed his first aid pouch, ripped it open and instructed 1LT Brown to place the bandage over his left eye as he continued to drive the HMMVV. He continued to engage targets with M16A2 and navigate through the obstacles and encouraged his platoon leader to prevent him from slipping into unconsciousness. He orders 1LT Brown to close the ballistic window to prevent further injury moments before another IED detonated on the front right side of the vehicle and blew out the front right tire. Continuing to engage enemy targets and change magazines with one hand, PFC Church kept his right hand on the wheel and pushed the vehicle ahead on three tires. He drove the vehicle like that for four miles. PFC Church found an exit ramp and led the convoy to a security perimeter established by C/2-12 CAV. He identified himself and informed the C/2-12 of the situation while still receiving small arms fire. PFC Church grabbed the convoy commander and carried him in to the casualty collection point for treatment and MEDEVAC. The C/2-12 Platoon Leader assisted in getting the wounded out of the area for further medical treatment. PFC Church rallied the troopers to mount an immediate recovery mission and escorted them back into the kill zone to assist other soldiers still pinned under fire. PFC Church identified the assistant commander’s vehicle amidst heavy black smoke and flaming wreckage of burning fuel tankers to find two more wounded soldiers and four civilian (KBR) truck drivers. He instinctively executed a hasty triage, identified the most serious, and administered first aid to a soldier suffering from a chest would. PFC Church put on a sucking chest wound bandage and carried the soldier over to one of the recovery vehicles while exposing himself to continuous enemy fire form both sides of the road. Once all the wounded were loaded, it was apparent that there was no room left for PFC Church to get in. He instructed cavalry troopers to take the wounded back approximately one mile to the casualty collection point and he would wait for their return. PFC Church climbed into the disabled HMMVV for cover, engaged enemy targets and killed several insurgents. The recovery team returned approximately 10 minutes later and spirited PFC Church out of the kill zone. He immediately rendered medical treatment to two more civilians with minor wounds and loaded them into vehicles for ground evacuation. Before leaving the area, PFC Church initiated a sensitive items and weapons sweep to prevent capture by enemy forces. PFC Church’s disregard for his personal safety and leadership under fire saved the lives of at least 5 soldiers and 4 civilians.
FYI/SA. Wanted all to know that tomorrow the Silver Star Award will be presented to SPC Jeremy Church (724th Trans Co (MT)) at Fort McCoy, WI. for heroism and gallantry inaction in Iraq. Award narrative is attached above). SPC Church is being cited for heroism in the same convoy ambush engagement in which SPC Maupin (724th Trans Co.) was abducted by the enemy.
We believe this award to be the first Silver Star awarded to an Army Transporter since Viet-nam. This is a tremendous testament to our great Army Transportation Corps soldiers.
Brian I. Geehan
Major General, USA
Commanding
On 9 April 2004, then PFC Jeremy Church was the convoy commander’s driver in the lead vehicle of an emergency fuel mission enroute to Baghdad International Airport (BIAP). His fuel convoy came under attack by elements of Sadr’s Militia along a four-mile stretch of highway. The complex ambush occurred on ASR Husky, a six-lane highway, on the north side of BIAP. Enemy insurgents attacked from built up areas that were dominated by two and three level houses with narrow side streets. Anti-coalition forces consisted of 150-200 fighters armed with rocket-propelled grenades, command detonated improvised explosive devices (IEDs), machine guns, and assault rifles. As soon as the convoy commander’s vehicle entered the kill zone, it started receiving small arms fire. No sooner did the small arms fire begin than command detonated IEDs blasted the convoy from both sides of the road. PFC Church drove aggressively to avoid detonating IEDs and enemy emplaced obstacles such as guardrails, concrete barriers, and vehicles that were placed across the road by the enemy to slow the movement of the convoy. Within the first five minutes of the ambush, an enemy sniper wounded the convoy commander with two shots to the head. PFC Church grabbed his first aid pouch, ripped it open and instructed 1LT Brown to place the bandage over his left eye as he continued to drive the HMMVV. He continued to engage targets with M16A2 and navigate through the obstacles and encouraged his platoon leader to prevent him from slipping into unconsciousness. He orders 1LT Brown to close the ballistic window to prevent further injury moments before another IED detonated on the front right side of the vehicle and blew out the front right tire. Continuing to engage enemy targets and change magazines with one hand, PFC Church kept his right hand on the wheel and pushed the vehicle ahead on three tires. He drove the vehicle like that for four miles. PFC Church found an exit ramp and led the convoy to a security perimeter established by C/2-12 CAV. He identified himself and informed the C/2-12 of the situation while still receiving small arms fire. PFC Church grabbed the convoy commander and carried him in to the casualty collection point for treatment and MEDEVAC. The C/2-12 Platoon Leader assisted in getting the wounded out of the area for further medical treatment. PFC Church rallied the troopers to mount an immediate recovery mission and escorted them back into the kill zone to assist other soldiers still pinned under fire. PFC Church identified the assistant commander’s vehicle amidst heavy black smoke and flaming wreckage of burning fuel tankers to find two more wounded soldiers and four civilian (KBR) truck drivers. He instinctively executed a hasty triage, identified the most serious, and administered first aid to a soldier suffering from a chest would. PFC Church put on a sucking chest wound bandage and carried the soldier over to one of the recovery vehicles while exposing himself to continuous enemy fire form both sides of the road. Once all the wounded were loaded, it was apparent that there was no room left for PFC Church to get in. He instructed cavalry troopers to take the wounded back approximately one mile to the casualty collection point and he would wait for their return. PFC Church climbed into the disabled HMMVV for cover, engaged enemy targets and killed several insurgents. The recovery team returned approximately 10 minutes later and spirited PFC Church out of the kill zone. He immediately rendered medical treatment to two more civilians with minor wounds and loaded them into vehicles for ground evacuation. Before leaving the area, PFC Church initiated a sensitive items and weapons sweep to prevent capture by enemy forces. PFC Church’s disregard for his personal safety and leadership under fire saved the lives of at least 5 soldiers and 4 civilians.
FYI/SA. Wanted all to know that tomorrow the Silver Star Award will be presented to SPC Jeremy Church (724th Trans Co (MT)) at Fort McCoy, WI. for heroism and gallantry inaction in Iraq. Award narrative is attached above). SPC Church is being cited for heroism in the same convoy ambush engagement in which SPC Maupin (724th Trans Co.) was abducted by the enemy.
We believe this award to be the first Silver Star awarded to an Army Transporter since Viet-nam. This is a tremendous testament to our great Army Transportation Corps soldiers.
Brian I. Geehan
Major General, USA
Commanding