Pirate's Cove

Hmm, I wonder why I haven’t seen this on TV, in the papers, or the Internet news sites?

PATROL BASE OLSON, Iraq, Aug. 1, 2007 — An 82nd Airborne Division Paratrooper was awarded the nation’s fourth highest decoration, the Silver Star, July 31, 2007, at Patrol Base Olson in Samarra, Iraq, for valorous actions during a near ambush February 2, 2007, in Samarra.

U.S. Army Capt. Brennan Goltry, 27, 2nd Platoon leader, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, joins a coveted list of Silver Star recipients, including Senator John McCain and Audie Murphy. He’s the first from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team and sixth 82nd Airborne Division Paratrooper to receive the Silver Star amidst the global war on terror campaign in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The sun had just set on Goltry and his platoon’s routine mounted patrol in Samarra. He noticed the brightness of the full moon as his convoy turned south on 20th Street, because it gave the enemy an advantage of extra visibility on the U.S. patrol, he said.

The five up-armored humvees progressed south, when they began taking automatic weapons and sniper fire from the south and west.

“It was an ‘L-shaped’ ambush,” said the Bakersfield, Calif., native. “(Insurgents) engaged, we identified every position we could, and returned fire.”

The lead humvee was disabled immediately, so Goltry had his driver pull their vehicle perpendicular and in front of it to provide cover. Goltry spotted a shooter to his right, opened his door, and returned fire. He received two gun shot wounds to his left leg but continued fighting until the shooter was killed.

Goltry took cover and gathered his men; like him, some of them were wounded. It is unknown how many attackers were involved, but Goltry led his men south on foot with suppressive fire and basically ran through the objective until the enemy was constrained. The ability to gain fire superiority allowed for his more seriously wounded Paratroopers to receive medical care.

Well, done, Captain Goltry! Thank you for your brave service!

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