Narrative to accompany the award of the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Luis G. Morales - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

Narrative to accompany the award of the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Luis G. Morales

Staff Sergeant Luis G. Morales, United States (US) Army, historically distinguished himself by valorous conduct in the face of the enemy of the US as Intelligence Sergeant for Special Forces 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 Morales heroically distinguished himself as a member of the lead assault element combat advising a one hundred man company of Afghan Commandos in Shok Valley; the mission was to kill or capture a Joint Priority Effects List target of the Hezebela Islami Gulbadin Insurgent group.

After inserting via CH-47 into the objective area at nearly ten thousand feet, Sergeant Morales led his partnered Afghan Commando force through a fast moving stream and began the climb up the ice covered mountain toward the objective.

Approximately half way up mountain, the Insurgents engaged all elements simultaneously with a heavy volume of extremely accurate machine gun, sniper, small arms, and Rocket Propelled Grenade fire coming from all directions on the surrounding high ground.

The lead assault element fought desperately to find cover as they engaged numerous Insurgent positions.

Within minutes, they were completely pinned down by extremely effective Insurgent fire.

Amid the initial chaos, Sergeant Morales took charge and immediately called for Close Air Support knowing that all fires would be danger close.

As bombs dropped less than two hundred meters away, Sergeant Morales instinctively rallied his Commandos and led the charge to reinforce the besieged Command and Control (C2) element trapped against a 60 foot cliff.

Despite well aimed machine gun and sniper fire from one hundred to two hundred insurgents occupying the surrounding high ground, Sergeant Morales courageously fought for over an hour through the continuous fire to rescue the pinned down C2 element.

As he maneuvered his element into position and began placing a heavy volume of suppressive fire against the elevated Insurgent positions, one detachment member in his assault force was critically wounded along with several Afghan Commandos.

With total disregard for his own personal safety, Sergeant Morales heroically ran back out into the line of fire to render aid using his body to shield his teammate until he, himself was wounded. Ignoring the severity of his wound, and losing a tremendous amount of blood, he quickly administered self aid and then returned to providing life saving aid to his more severely wounded teammate until he, himself, became critically wounded by a second gunshot.

After being pulled back to cover, Sergeant Morales assisted in treating three other critically wounded casualties, reassuring both junior Soldiers and Commandos.

At one point during the six and a half hour battle, his position was nearly overrun by Insurgent fighters, but Sergeant Morales held his ground killing multiple Insurgents.

During evacuation down a 60 foot cliff, he again put forth a momentous effort by refusing assistance allowing other detachment members to move more seriously wounded casualties.

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.