Gen. McChrystal Awards Four Silver Stars for Valor

Soldiers receive a Silver Star for exceptional valor from U.S. Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the commander of the International Security Assistance Forces and U.S. Forces in Afghanistan, at Forward Operating Base Fenty in eastern Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, April 9, 2010.

U.S. Army Capt. Christopher B. Cordova, U.S. Army 1st Lt. Andrew L. Bundermann, Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan G. Hill and U.S. Army Sgt. Thomas C. Rasmussen, all with 3rd Sqdn., 61st Cav. Regt., were awarded the Silver Star by McChrystal during the ceremony.

Hill exemplified the skill and bravery of a Cavalry Scout while leading his platoon in the platoon leader's absence during the battle of Combat Outpost Keating. Hill led and directed his platoon while exposing himself to a heavy barrage of enemy fire, and organized multiple efforts to recover fallen Soldiers under effective, accurate fire.

Bundermann orchestrated the defense of Combat Outpost Keating, preventing it from falling into the hands of a Taliban force of more than 400 fighters.

Rasmussen volunteered to assault the ammunition supply point and establish a stronghold at Combat Outpost Keating after it was overrun by more than 400 insurgent fighters. He was a critical member of the assault team that pushed to a battle position and recovered two American Heroes.

Cordova was recognized for displaying mental endurance and technical competence in treating and evacuating 16 U.S. and Afghan National Security Forces casualties and an additional 27 'walking wounded' during a violent engagement with enemy forces last October.

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan G. Hill, from Blacksburg, Va., with Troop B, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Destroyer, receives a Silver Star for exceptional valor from U.S. Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the commander of the International Security Assistance Forces and U.S. Forces in Afghanistan, at Forward Operating Base Fenty in eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, April 9. Hill exemplified the skill and bravery of a Cavalry Scout while leading his platoon in the platoon leader's absence during the battle of Combat Outpost Keating. Hill led and directed his platoon while exposing himself to a heavy barrage of enemy fire, and organized multiple efforts to recover fallen Soldiers under effective, accurate fire. U.S. Army Capt. Christopher B. Cordova, U.S. Army 1st Lt. Andrew L. Bundermann and U.S. Army Sgt. Thomas C. Rasmussen, all with 3rd Sqdn., 61st Cav. Regt., were also awarded the Silver Star by McChrystal during the ceremony. Photo by Pfc. Elizabeth Raney.


U.S. Army 1st Lt. Andrew L. Bundermann, from Bovey, Minn., with Troop B, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Destroyer, receives a Silver Star for exceptional valor from U.S. Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the commander of the International Security Assistance Forces and U.S. Forces in Afghanistan, at Forward Operating Base Fenty in eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, April 9. Bundermann orchestrated the defense of Combat Outpost Keating, preventing it from falling into the hands of a Taliban force of more than 400 fighters. U.S. Army Capt. Christopher B. Cordova, Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan G. Hill and U.S. Army Sgt. Thomas C. Rasmussen, all with 3rd Sqdn., 61st Cav. Regt., were also awarded the Silver Star by McChrystal during the ceremony. Photo by Pfc. Elizabeth Raney

U.S. Army Sgt. Thomas C. Rasmussen, from Mound, Minn., with Troop B, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Destroyer, receives a Silver Star for exceptional valor from U.S. Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the commander of the International Security Assistance Forces and U.S. Forces in Afghanistan, at Forward Operating Base Fenty in eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, April 9. Rasmussen volunteered to assault the ammunition supply point and establish a stronghold at Combat Outpost Keating after it was overrun by more than 400 insurgent fighters. He was a critical member of the assault team that pushed to a battle position and recovered two American Heroes. U.S. Army Capt. Christopher B. Cordova, U.S. Army 1st Lt. Andrew L. Bundermann and Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan G. Hill, all with 3rd Sqdn., 61st Cav. Regt., were also awarded the Silver Star by McChrystal during the ceremony. Photo by Pfc. Elizabeth Raney

U.S. Army Capt. Christopher B. Cordova, from Mechanicsville, Md., with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Destroyer, receives a Silver Star for exceptional valor from U.S. Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the commander of the International Security Assistance Forces and U.S. Forces in Afghanistan, at Forward Operating Base Fenty in eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, April 9. Cordova was recognized for displaying mental endurance and technical competence in treating and evacuating 16 U.S. and Afghan National Security Forces casualties and an additional 27 'walking wounded' during a violent engagement with enemy forces last October. U.S. Army 1st Lt. Andrew L. Bundermann, Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan G. Hill and U.S. Army Sgt. Thomas C. Rasmussen, all with 3rd Sqdn., 61st Cav. Regt., were also awarded the Silver Star by McChrystal during the ceremony.

SOURCE: Posted by MsMarti - on Sunday, April 11, 2010 at 17:30 in Afghanistan News, Hall of Heroes - Stories of Valor, Honoring Our Heroes. | Permalink.

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