U.S. Elliot Ackerman, Silver Star, Iraq

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Elliot Ackerman

* Place of birth: Washington, D.C.
* Home of record: Washington, D.C.
*

Awards and Citations

1.
Silver Star

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Awarded for actions during the Global War on Terror

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Elliot L. Ackerman, United States Marine Corps (Reserve), for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as Platoon Commander, First Platoon, Company A, First Battalion, Eighth Marines, Regimental Combat Team 7, FIRST Marine Division in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM II from 10 to 15 November 2004. During a ferocious enemy counter-attack in the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah, with complete disregard for his own safety, Second Lieutenant Ackerman twice exposed himself to vicious enemy fire as he pulled wounded Marines out of the open into shelter. When the amphibious tractors sent to evacuate his wounded men could not locate his position, he once again left the safety of his covered position and rushed through a gauntlet of deadly enemy fire to personally direct the amphibious tractors towards his wounded Marines. On 11 November as the battle continued, Second Lieutenant Ackerman recognized the exposed position of his Marines on the rooftops and ordered them to seek cover in the buildings below. Shortly afterwards, he personally assumed the uncovered rooftop position, prompting a hail of deadly fires from the enemy. With rounds impacting all around him, he coolly employed an M240G machine gun to mark targets for supporting tanks, with devastating effects on the enemy. Throughout the battle and despite his own painful shrapnel wounds, he simultaneously directed tank fires, coordinated four separate medical evacuations, and continually attacked with his platoon directly into the heart of the enemy with extreme tenacity. Second Lieutenant Ackerman's bold leadership, personal initiative, and total devotion to duty reflected great credit upon him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Service: Marine Corps Reserve

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The Story:

Insurgents had a relatively free run of Fallujah the six months preceding November 2004. With little or no Coalition presence in the city, they had turned the urban landscape into a warren - like maze of fortified positions, booby traps, and sniper positions. The terrain could not have been more demanding for the Marines called in to clear the city. First, however, they had to establish a foothold, a task that fell in part to then-2nd Lt. Ackerman and his platoon. On November 10th, he and his men entered the city in what became a six-day struggle to open operational lines.

Insurgents attacked from numerous directions as Ackerman’s Marines pushed into the city. Twice in the early moments of the shooting, Ackerman braved enemy fire to pull injured Marines to safety - and then organized their evacuation. But in the midst of the battle, the vehicle sent to recover the injured could not find their position. Ackerman charged from his cover into the open, dodged what his citation calls a “gauntlet of deadly enemy fire,” and directed the vehicle to the Marines.

Later, as Ackerman and his team were clearing a building, he noticed that his Marines were exposed on a rooftop. After ordering them down, he took their place and began marking targets for tanks as insurgents fired at him from all directions. Despite suffering shrapnel wounds, Ackerman continued to direct the attack, and coordinated four medical evacuations. “There is only one alternative,” Lt. Ackerman said later. “It is to do it or not do it.” For his leadership and actions, Ackerman was awarded the Silver Star on Jan. 12, 2007.