Master Sgt. Petter Jacobson, Master Sgt. Sean Kirkwood, Master Sgt. Raymond Lancey and Staff Sgt. Gregory Keller received Silver Stars during a ceremony at the James E. Bruce Convention Center in Hopkinsville, Ky for action in January 28th in Najaf, Iraq. All are members of the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) of Fort Campbell, Ky.
From the Associated Press
Detachment 566 received an urgent call from Iraqi army scouts at about 7 a.m. Jan. 28, requesting immediate assistance just north of An Najaf, the Army said. The small group of Iraqi scouts was outnumbered by enemy fighters and engulfed in gunfire, according to the military.
The Special Forces soldiers arrived to find the scouts isolated and suppressed by gunfire and were fired on by enemy small arms, machine guns and rocket-propelled-grenade and mortar fire, the Army said in describing the battle. Lancey returned fire from his .50-caliber machine gun before leaving his vehicle. He led a three-man team through a barrage of bullets in order to reach the trapped Iraqi soldiers.
Keller left his vehicle and organized the Iraqi soldiers into defensive positions before moving 50 meters through heavy fire to a position that supported better defense for the trapped scouts.
Keller was wounded but maintained his position, continuing to fire his rifle and grenade launcher.
After noticing the same scouts, Jacobsen left his vehicle and fired at their attackers from inside a shallow ditch.
Kirkwood led an assault after reinforcements arrived.
