3 soldiers receive Silver Star

[Dan]

http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=291716

3 soldiers receive Silver Star
By Henry Cuningham
Military editor


Three soldiers from Fort Bragg’s 7th Special Forces Group on Thursday received the Silver Star for their actions in Afghanistan.

The Army’s third-highest award for valor was pinned on Master Sgt. Robert Sanderlin, 31; and Sgts. 1st Class Abram Hernandez, 32, and Eric Horton, 39.

“I don’t think it’s an individual award,” Sanderlin said after a ceremony at Tucker Physical Fitness Center. “I think it’s basically a culmination of all the activities the teams did while they were in Afghanistan.”

Lt. Gen. Robert Wagner, commander of U.S. Army Special Operations Command, said Sanderlin’s actions probably could have qualified him for a higher award.

According to an Army narrative of the events, Sanderlin was knocked unconscious by shrapnel from a rocket-propelled grenade when his unit was ambushed April 8, 2007, in the Upper Sangin Valley in Helmand province. He recovered and moved under heavy enemy fire to help a wounded team member who was in danger during an eight-hour battle. He moved on foot — under fire and through difficult terrain — the length of three football fields to set up a helicopter landing zone to evacuate the wounded soldier. After the helicopter left, Sanderlin continued to shoot at the enemy from the rear vehicle of a convoy. His vehicle was hit 11 times by enemy fire. Then he helped direct an Air Force special operations AC-130 gunship overhead that killed 195 enemy fighters.

“Actually, I really wasn’t afraid,” Sanderlin said. “I think it’s a testament to the training that the unit receives. Everything you do in combat is an instinctual act.”

Sanderlin, a detachment team sergeant in the 1st Battalion, also received the Purple Heart for being wounded in combat.

“I’m fine now,” he said.

Horton received the award for his actions July 2, 2006, during a four-hour battle against 100 Taliban fighters in Helmand province. He is credited with 35 confirmed kills using a .50-caliber sniper rifle.

Enemy machine-gun fire hit Horton in the left shoulder, knocking him back 10 feet and causing extensive injuries to his upper back.

“Fellow team members came to his aid, but Sgt. 1st Class Horton refused treatment and limped to an unmanned M-240B machine gun and began destroying enemy targets with his one good arm,” the narrative said. He kept firing as team members packed his bleeding wound. Only when ordered did he leave his position.

“I’m surprised,” Horton said after the ceremony. “It has been a long time coming. I’ve been waiting almost two years to get it. I’m thrilled and happy. This does not do justice to the guys who paid the ultimate price.”

Horton, an intelligence sergeant in the 3rd Battalion, also received the Purple Heart.

Hernandez came under heavy enemy fire from a larger force June 24, 2006, at a compound in Kandahar province.

“To engage the enemy, Sgt. Hernandez had to expose his upper body above the top of the wall, causing the Taliban to concentrate their fires on Sgt. Hernandez,” the narrative said.

He maneuvered the length of two football fields under fire.

“He bounded from one covered position to the next before sprinting the last portion through a hail of machine-gun fire to reach his wounded comrade,” the narrative said. He helped motivate Afghan soldiers to repel the attack.

Hernandez was an engineer sergeant in the 2nd Battalion. He has left the Army and returned to Fort Bragg from south Texas to attend the ceremony.

“It feels good, coming back to see the guys,” he said. “This award reflects pretty much the whole team, not just myself.”

Soldiers of the 7th Group also received 22 Bronze Stars for valor and 21 Purple Hearts for being wounded in combat.

Wagner said it would be appropriate to hold a separate ceremony for each soldier who received a Bronze Star for valor.

“To talk to each of these soldiers, you would find them to be loving fathers, husbands and sons,” said Col. Sean Mulholland, the group commander. “What lies beneath the surface are the true warriors with courageous character within each of them.”

Military editor Henry Cuningham can be reached at cuninghamh@fayobserver.com or 486-3585.

[SF_BHT]

Congratulations and Thank you for your service....

[Team Sergeant]

Great job Warriors!

TS

"Horton received the award for his actions July 2, 2006, during a four-hour battle against 100 Taliban fighters in Helmand province. He is credited with 35 confirmed kills using a .50-caliber sniper rifle."


My new hero......

[The Reaper]

Well done, hermanos!

I saw yesterday that the AF gave a BS to a female LTC for running stress clinics in theater. Glad to see that some people still earn awards the old fashioned way-through personal valor.

TR

[CoLawman]

Very Well Done!

[Retired W4]

Amen to personal valor.

[vsvo]

Great job gents!