Army Awards Single Special Forces Unit 10 Silver Stars For One Battle

America's best in action, taking the fight to the bad guys.

A harrowing, nearly seven-hour battle unfolded on that mountainside in Afghanistan's Nuristan province on April 6, as Walton, his team and a few dozen Afghan commandos they had trained took fire from all directions. Outnumbered, the Green Berets fought on even after half of them were wounded -- four critically -- and managed to subdue an estimated 150 to 200 insurgents, according to interviews with several team members and official citations.

Today, Walton and nine of his teammates from Operational Detachment Alpha 3336 of the 3rd Special Forces Group will receive the Silver Star for their heroism in that battle -- the highest number of such awards given to the elite troops for a single engagement since the Vietnam War.

Later in the article it's explained that 'subdue' means kill. Why they used a passive word like that I haven't a clue. Beyond that stupid word choice, it's a great article and well worth your time, you know if American heroes killing bad guys is your thing. One might even say this story of courage, skill, selfless sacrifice and success might make a good movie. Nah, that's just crazy talk.

While the awards and recognition are well deserved it's obviously not why these men do what they do.

The raid, the soldiers say, proved there will be no safe haven in Afghanistan for terrorists. As for the medals, the soldiers see them as emblems of teamwork and brotherhood. Not valor.

"When you go to help your buddy, you're not thinking, 'I am going to get a Silver Star for this,'" Walding said. "If you were there, there would not be a second guess on why."

Thank God they are on our side.

(h/t to Dave in Texas who emailed me the WaPo story literally as I was reading the AP version. Moronic minds think alike you know).

posted by DrewM. at 11:43 AM

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