Staff Sgt. Seth E. Howard awarded Silver Star - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

Staff Sgt. Seth E. Howard awarded Silver Star

Staff Sergeant Seth E. Howard, United States (US) Army, heroically distinguished himself by valorous conduct in the face of the enemy of the United States, as the Weapons 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 Howard heroically fought for over an hour up a mountain while under intense Insurgent fire to rescue wounded members of his ODA pinned down by Insurgent fire.

Sergeant Howard was fixed in a wadi by heavy sniper, Rocket Propelled Grenade, small arms and machine gun fire on initial contact.

Without hesitation, Sergeant Howard directed his Afghan Commandos to fire on Insurgent positions while he engaged numerous positions with his sniper rifle and an 84 millimeter recoilless rifle.

His accurate suppressive fire killed numerous Insurgent fighters and drew fire on his position, allowing the command and control (C2) element to move to covered positions.

Sergeant Howard left his covered position and heroically fought across a 60 foot cliff under intense fire from multiple locations after hearing that the C2 element received two critically wounding ODA members and were in danger of being overrun.

Despite the treacherous terrain and the intense volume of effective fire focusing on him, Sergeant Howard killed multiple insurgents before reaching his comrades.

Sergeant Howard’s arrival at the C2 position was vital to the survivability of the small force, placing himself between his wounded comrades and the enemy fire.

Sergeant Howard courageously exposed himself as bullets impacted all around him while he engaged Insurgent fighters with precision sniper and fortified positions with a recoilless rifle fire in order to mark targets for Close Air Support strikes.

Sergeant Howard’s efforts succeeded in destroying multiple Insurgent fighting positions and slowing Insurgent fire long enough for fellow ODA members to reposition and render aid to the critically wounded.

As Insurgent fighters moved to within 40 feet of the C2 location, Sergeant Howard, with complete disregard for his personal safety, moved into the open and engaged advancing Insurgent fighters.

Sergeant Howard’s composure and courage were remarkable as he provided counter sniper fire, killing between ten and twenty insurgents, including at least four trained Insurgent snipers.

While his teammates made a daring descent down a sheer cliff, under fire, Sergeant Howard continued to provide suppressive fire. He refused to withdraw from his position, although he had less than a magazine left of ammunition, until all of his ODA and Commandos were off the mountain.

His courageous actions undoubtedly prevented the C2 position from being overrun on two separate occasions, and his counter sniper fires helped save the lives of his ODA and their Afghan Commandos.

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