Silver Star

From the Fayetteville (NC) Observer

Decoration was not a solo affair, Wolford Says

Staff Sgt. Gerald Wolford received a Silver Star, the Army's third-highest award for valor, Feb. 12 for his performance last spring during a battle in Samawah, Iraq.

When asked about his award, Wolford is quick to note the actions of his cohorts from the 3rd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, during the four-hour battle March 31 and April 1.

He mentions Spc. Cory Christiansen, for example - the gunner who never left the turret despite being nearly shot 23 times. Or Spc. Michael Woodward, a driver, who stayed calm and returned to the fight after taking shrapnel during a rocket-propelled grenade attack.

Spc. Derick Rippee returned to battle, not once but twice. The first time after he was wounded in the grenade attack. The second time was after he passed out in the truck.

"The only reason that I was recognized was because of the work of my guys," Wolford said last week before heading to Oregon on leave.

"Those guys, I don't think, got the recognition they deserved."

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"Once the bullets started flying it was a pretty shocking ordeal," Flippo said. "Everyone pretty much knew this was it." Christiansen saw a truck across the river with a heavy machine gun mounted on the back. Wolford gave the signal to fire.

The fight was on. As the platoon continued toward the second bridge, the Iraqis on the other side of the river shadowed the troops. The second bridge was the primary target because it provided the link over the Euphrates for Highway 8, the main north-south Iraqi highway.

Wolford's vehicle pulled into a little dip in the road. He didn't know that's what the Iraqis had been waiting for.

"Once we got into that position a guy literally popped up in the window with an RPG," Wolford said.

The man fired a grenade that struck the bridge above Wolford's truck. Woodward and Rippee took the brunt of the blast.

Wolford took the injured men to get medical attention. Both came back to the fight. The platoon continued taking fire, even as they were ordered to pull out.

After the battle, Wolford counted the bullet marks around Christiansen's turret. There were 23. "Somebody was looking out for him," he said.

"I had freedom of movement because they were doing their jobs."

Wolford's only injury was a ¼-inch piece of shrapnel that embedded under his right eye.

Heroes are all around you. Read the whole thing.