bobdina
08-06-2009, 03:00 PM
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third highest U.S. combat-only award. Established in 1918 as the Citation Star, in 1932 a provision allowed servicemen to receive it retroactively. It has been awarded for actions as far back as the Spanish-American War
Andrew Small
* Date of birth: 20 June 1987
* Home of record: Wiscasset, Maine
*
Andrew Small was Federalized from the Maine National Guard.
Awards and Citations
1.
Silver Star
Awarded for actions during the Global War on Terror
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Andrew R. Small, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action on 11 August 2006, while under intense hostile fire as a Squad Automatic Weapons Gunner, Company B, 1st Battalion, 32d Infantry Regiment, 3d Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, (Task Force CHOSIN), during combat operations in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, at Nuristan, Afghanistan. Private First Class Small's courage and dedication to duty were paramount as he ran into enemy gunfire in order to return fire on the enemy fortified position and allow a fellow wounded Soldier time to drag himself out of the kill zone. Private First Class Small's selfless and heroic actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service, reflecting great credit upon himself, the CHOSIN Battalion, the Spartan Brigade, Combined Joint Task Force-76, the United States Central Command, and the United States Army. NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD: Private First Class Andrew R. Small distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 32d Infantry Regiment, Task Force CHOSIN, during combat operations in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, in Afghanistan, on 11 August 2006. On that date, Private First Class Small was a gunner in the lead element of a 22-man platoon on patrol in the mountains of Nuristan, Afghanistan. Three hours into the patrol, the enemy ambushed the Americans, waiting until the patrol's point man had passed their concealed position before opening fire. The attack caught the entire lead group in the kill zone. Three Americans were killed immediately and the remainder of the platoon was pinned down under enemy fire. Private First Class Small was located as the sixth man in movement in an extremely tight trail. During the initial fire, he and the rest of the squad were pinned down by accurate small arms fire. The only cover available was to hug the side of the mountain, which did not allow his squad to return fire. His team leader, Sergeant Smallwood, was then hit by an RPG, which seriously wounded him and left him exposed to enemy fire. Private First Class Small exposed himself and laid down suppressive fire against the well-fortified enemy position. By doing this, he drew fire to his own position, but he refused to seek cover. The action allowed his team leader to drag himself over a cliff to cover. At this time, the enemy launched another barrage of rocket propelled grenades into Private First Class Small's position. This volley severely injured two soldiers who later succumbed to their wounds and struck Private First Class Small in the back by shrapnel. Even though Private First Class Small was wounded he got back up and continued to lay down suppressive fire, refusing to seek cover or medical aid until he was able to facilitate the maneuver of his squad out of the kill zone. Private First Class Small continued to engage and be engaged by the enemy who outnumbered him by seven to one. This allowed the rest of the platoon and close air support to suppress and kill the enemy. When the patrol leader was able to move up to Private First Class Small's position, he found him lying in the trails, weapon in his hands, orientated toward the enemy and out of ammunition. Private First Class Small's sacrifice directly saved the lives of three other squad members and denied the enemy an opportunity to pursue its advantage over the pinned down Americans and declares that his sacrifice was the most significant reason members of the squad were able to survive the ambush attack. Private First Class Small's selfless and heroic actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service, reflecting great credit upon himself, the CHOSIN Battalion, the Spartan Brigade, Combined Joint Task Force-76, the United States Central Command, and the United States Army.
Service: Army
Rank: Private First Class
The Silver Star is the third highest U.S. combat-only award. Established in 1918 as the Citation Star, in 1932 a provision allowed servicemen to receive it retroactively. It has been awarded for actions as far back as the Spanish-American War
Andrew Small
* Date of birth: 20 June 1987
* Home of record: Wiscasset, Maine
*
Andrew Small was Federalized from the Maine National Guard.
Awards and Citations
1.
Silver Star
Awarded for actions during the Global War on Terror
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Andrew R. Small, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action on 11 August 2006, while under intense hostile fire as a Squad Automatic Weapons Gunner, Company B, 1st Battalion, 32d Infantry Regiment, 3d Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, (Task Force CHOSIN), during combat operations in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, at Nuristan, Afghanistan. Private First Class Small's courage and dedication to duty were paramount as he ran into enemy gunfire in order to return fire on the enemy fortified position and allow a fellow wounded Soldier time to drag himself out of the kill zone. Private First Class Small's selfless and heroic actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service, reflecting great credit upon himself, the CHOSIN Battalion, the Spartan Brigade, Combined Joint Task Force-76, the United States Central Command, and the United States Army. NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD: Private First Class Andrew R. Small distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 32d Infantry Regiment, Task Force CHOSIN, during combat operations in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, in Afghanistan, on 11 August 2006. On that date, Private First Class Small was a gunner in the lead element of a 22-man platoon on patrol in the mountains of Nuristan, Afghanistan. Three hours into the patrol, the enemy ambushed the Americans, waiting until the patrol's point man had passed their concealed position before opening fire. The attack caught the entire lead group in the kill zone. Three Americans were killed immediately and the remainder of the platoon was pinned down under enemy fire. Private First Class Small was located as the sixth man in movement in an extremely tight trail. During the initial fire, he and the rest of the squad were pinned down by accurate small arms fire. The only cover available was to hug the side of the mountain, which did not allow his squad to return fire. His team leader, Sergeant Smallwood, was then hit by an RPG, which seriously wounded him and left him exposed to enemy fire. Private First Class Small exposed himself and laid down suppressive fire against the well-fortified enemy position. By doing this, he drew fire to his own position, but he refused to seek cover. The action allowed his team leader to drag himself over a cliff to cover. At this time, the enemy launched another barrage of rocket propelled grenades into Private First Class Small's position. This volley severely injured two soldiers who later succumbed to their wounds and struck Private First Class Small in the back by shrapnel. Even though Private First Class Small was wounded he got back up and continued to lay down suppressive fire, refusing to seek cover or medical aid until he was able to facilitate the maneuver of his squad out of the kill zone. Private First Class Small continued to engage and be engaged by the enemy who outnumbered him by seven to one. This allowed the rest of the platoon and close air support to suppress and kill the enemy. When the patrol leader was able to move up to Private First Class Small's position, he found him lying in the trails, weapon in his hands, orientated toward the enemy and out of ammunition. Private First Class Small's sacrifice directly saved the lives of three other squad members and denied the enemy an opportunity to pursue its advantage over the pinned down Americans and declares that his sacrifice was the most significant reason members of the squad were able to survive the ambush attack. Private First Class Small's selfless and heroic actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service, reflecting great credit upon himself, the CHOSIN Battalion, the Spartan Brigade, Combined Joint Task Force-76, the United States Central Command, and the United States Army.
Service: Army
Rank: Private First Class