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4 Green Berets awarded Silver Stars

HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. — Four soldiers assigned to 5th Special Forces Group received the Silver Star Medal Wednesday for gallantry and heroism in a prolonged battle that took place nearly 10 months ago.

During a midmorning ceremony at the James E. Bruce Convention Center, the awards were given to Master Sgt. Petter Jacobson, Master Sgt. Sean Kirkwood, Master Sgt. Raymond Lancey and Staff Sgt. Gregory Keller.

In a Jan. 28 fight near the southern Iraqi city of Najaf, the Green Berets went to the assistance of Iraqi soldiers and police who had taken multiple losses quickly when they were engaged by an overwhelming number of heavily armed fighters.

The U.S. soldiers fought alongside their Iraqi counterparts for more than 12 hours, killing hundreds of enemy, members of a cult known as Soldiers of Heaven, whose plan was the takeover of Najaf and its holy shrine.

The Special Forces soldiers also risked their lives when they went to the aid of two American Apache attack helicopter pilots who died when their aircraft was shot down by the enemy.

DISCUSS: The heroic efforts