via: Battlesight Zero · On October 14, 2018, Technical Sergeant Cody Smith protected his Special Operations team with air power, despite being shot and blasted by mortars and RPGs. The team was moving back to base when nearly 600 Taliban fighters opened up their ambush. As he returned fire with his rifle, Smith guided in Apache helicopters for strafing runs on enemy positions and F-16s to drop their bombs. For several hours, the team fought on through the ambush. Intercepted Taliban radio traffic revealed that they had identified Smith as the team's JTAC and were specifically targeting him to end the American air strikes. At one point, a mortar round landed only 2 meters away from Smith. It knocked him down and left him with a Traumatic Brain Injury. An enemy bullet targeting Smith hit home. Luckily, the round was stopped by his chest plate. He was hit a 3rd time when an RPG exploded on his vehicle. Through all of it, Smith refused medical treatment to continue his critical role. The Taliban began closing in on the convoy. Smith drove them back with 500 lb bombs and strafing runs as close as 50 meters away. The journey back to base took 12 hours. Smith remained with his team the whole time, despite his injuries. During the battle, Smith called in 11 danger-close strikes, 9 bombing runs, and numerous strafing runs. He is credited with 195 enemy fighters killed and 18 enemy positions destroyed. Smith was one of two Americans sustaining TBI, and several others were wounded by bullets or shrapnel. His actions helped ensure no one was killed and the team could not be overrun. For his critical role in the battle, Smith was awarded the Silver Star. He was also named the 2019 Airman of the Year. #battlesightzero #bzo #history #military #militaryhistory #veteran #veterans #america #airforce #usairforce #afsoc #silverstar #cct

USAF Special Warfare Recruiting · Todays Hero Story: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Master Sergeant Timothy A. Stamey, United States Air Force, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with the 18th Air Support Operations Group in Afghanistan, from 8 November 2001 to 5 January 2002. During this period, Sergeant Stamey served as Operational Detachment Alpha Tactical Air Control Party Sergeant in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. While assisting host nation forces, he courageously operated in enemy territory in advance of the forward line of troops, frequently negotiating minefields under continuous fire and threat of attack, with no immediate support. Sergeant Stamey provided positive terminal attack control on over eighty sorties of fighters and bombers destroying over seventy-five tanks, mobile anti-aircraft systems, and vehicles, four ammo-dumps, numerous command and control facilities and bunkers, inflicting 2,139 enemy casualties. As a result, Northern Alliance forces were able to push forward cities of Taloqan, Khanabad and Konduz. From 13 to 15 November 2001, enemy forces initiated a counter-attack. Accordingly, the team received continuous small arms, direct heavy weapons and indirect and direct tank fire. Sergeant Stamey called in strikes against the attackers until they withdrew. On 23 November 2001, as allied forces were preparing for a final attack toward Khanabad and Konduz, Sergeant Stamey and the team members received sniper and heavy machine gun fire from enemy positions on three sides. He contacted a B-52, declared an emergency situation, and briefed the pilot. Sergeant Stamey then assisted in suppressing the enemy with small arms fire. With his team running low on ammunition, he passed his remaining ammunition out to the team members. Without regard for his personal safety and under intense fire, Sergeant Stamey crawled to their ammunition storage point, returned to resupply the team, and then resumed accurate sniper fire while awaiting additional close air support. When the aircraft arrived, he resumed terminal attack control and destroyed the advancing enemy. Sergeant Stamey's efforts directly contributed to the team's mission success. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Sergeant Stamey has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force. #silverstar #honor #courage #bravery #airforce #specialwarfare #tacp #jtac #thestrongshallstand TACP Association | TACP Foundation

The Foundation for Exceptional Warriors - The FEW - 4 Jan, 2022 He was the first. On this day in U.S. Army SF history, 04-January, 2002: US Army Special Forces Staff Sgt. Ross Chapman was killed by enemy fire near Khost, Afghanistan. He became the first US military service member to be Killed In Action by enemy fire after 9/11. Chapman's military career spanned 13 years and included combat service in Haiti, Panama and the Persian Gulf War. In 1989, he parachuted into Panama during the invasion of that country. He also served in Operation Desert Storm and later attended the U.S. Army Special Forces School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Assigned to the 1st Special Forces Group following the 11 September attacks, Chapman was directing troop movements from the back of a flatbed truck when he was shot. He did not die instantly from the attack, which also saw a CIA Paramilitary Operations Officer from Special Activities Division wounded. Rest Easy, Brother - We Remember... DOL #exceptionalwarriors #TheFEW #purpleheart #SOF #Valor #Heroes #warfighter #America #armyranger #navySEAL #MARSOC #JSOC #SOCOM #greenberet #ranger #PJ #jtac #deltaforce #OGA