Narrative to accompany the award of the Silver Star to Master Sergeant Scott E. Ford - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

Narrative to accompany the award of the Silver Star to Master Sergeant Scott E. Ford

Master Sergeant Scott E. Ford, United States (US) Army, heroically distinguished himself by valorous conduct in the face of the enemy of the US, as Team Sergeant, Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) 3336, Special Operations Task Force — 33, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force — Afghanistan, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

On 6 April 2008, Sergeant Ford heroically fought for over an hour up a mountain while under intense enemy fire to rescue wounded members of his ODA pinned down by Insurgent fire.

Sergeant Ford was pinned down in a wadi by heavy sniper, Rocket Propelled Graneda, and machine gun fire after initial contact, as the ODA Command and Control (C2) element was fixed by multiple Insurgent firing positions on the mountain.

Sergeant Ford organized a counter assault to ascend up the mountain and reinforce his besieged teammates.

Over the next hour, he proceeded to fight his way up the mountain under intense Insurgent fire, leading Afghan Commandos and killing several insurgents, some at very close range.

Fighting with and leading his men across the wadi, up the mountain and terraced steps toward the village, Sergeant Ford exposed himself to Insurgent fire as he ran to render aid to a team mate wounded by shrapnel from an Rocket Propelled Grenade blast that blew him off his feet.

When he arrived at the forward C2 element and with disregard for his own safety, he exposed himself to Insurgent fire by providing precision fire against Insurgent fighting positions, killing at least one Insurgent fighter.

His courageous actions and accurate fire drew Insurgent fire away from his team mates, as Insurgent fighters focused their fire on Sergeant Ford.

His selfless act allowed further casualty treatment in preparation for moving them down to the wadi for medical evacuation.

His brave act and suppressive fire surely saved Coalition lives as Insurgent fire was now more accurate and hitting only inches away from the besieged element.

Sergeant Ford exposed himself again to Insurgent fire by moving laterally across the mountain in order to verbally direct the remaining elements in the wadi to move forward and assist with casualty evacuation.

As Sergeant Ford organized a Commando element to assist in moving casualties, he was shot in the chest plate by sniper fire.

He immediately regained his feet and continued to suppress the enemy until his upper left arm was nearly shot off by a second sniper round.

With a tourniquet on his arm to stop arterial bleeding, Sergeant Ford was able to conduct a courageous climb down the mountain, with the assistance of another teammate, under intense machine gun and sniper fire.

Sergeant Ford never stopped leading his men and continued to organize forces to assist his comrades until he was physically incapable of fighting and had to be evacuated.

His actions inspired his ODA members and the Afghan Commandos during the battle.

His actions are in keeping with the finest tradition s of military heroism and reflect distinct credit upon himself, Special Operations Task Force — 33, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force — Afghanistan, Special Operations Command Central and the United States Army.