Bronze Star Recipient
Ed Malone |
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Currently,
one of
the
primary
tasks
for Army
Sergeant
First
Class Ed
Malone
is
mentoring
young
cadets
who come
from
backgrounds
where
the
military
and its
challenges
are
unfamiliar
to them.
Four
years
ago on
June 25,
2005, he
was
mentoring
as well
– but
under
fire.
Malone
used his
tactical
prowess
and
aggression
to keep
his
platoon
and some
Iraqi
Security
Forces
members
alive
despite
his own
injuries.
The 3rd
Platoon,
Grim
Troop,
2nd
Squadron,
3rd
Armored
Cavalry
Regiment,
was
conducting
a joint
combat
patrol
with the
Iraqi
Army in
the
extremely
hostile
Surai
district
of
Tal’Afar,
Iraq,
when
Malone’s
dismounted
patrol
came
under
withering
enemy
machine
gun
fire,
RPG fire
and hand
grenades.
According
to
Malone,
the
mission
was “in
support
of an
initiative
to make
the
Iraqi
Security
Forces
more
visible
to the
local
populace.”
Following
an
attack
initiated
by the
enemy
and
without
immediate
direct
fire
support
from his
Bradley
Fighting
Vehicles,
Malone
ordered
his men
to
establish
a
defensive
posture
and
return
fire.
He
directed
his
grenadier
to take
out
several
targets
firing
from a
rooftop,
resulting
in the
battle’s
first
enemy
casualties.
During
the
firefight
and
without
regard
for his
own
safety,
Malone
repeatedly
exposed
himself
to enemy
fire.
First,
to
retrieve
a piece
of
equipment
that was
accidently
dropped
by one
of his
Soldiers
in the
enemy’s
kill
zone,
then to
evacuate
women
and
children
caught
in the
crossfire
between
hostile
and
friendly
forces,
and then
again to
drag one
of his
severely
wounded
non-commissioned
officers
out of
the line
of fire
and into
cover. |
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According to the Bronze Star Medal with Valor narration, Malone’s
actions resulted in the speedy medical evacuation of the wounded
Soldier, which ultimately saved his life.
“Our primary objective was to ensure the Iraqi Security Forces
continued to develop into a well-trained and aggressive combat ready
force who would adopt a more offensive rather than defensive
posture.”
Refusing to give up ground until reinforcements arrived, he and his
team successfully held the position for over an hour while pinned
down by heavy machine gun and enemy sniper fire. They deployed hand
grenades and laid down suppressive fire to counter the insurgents’
assault.
Malone spotted automatic weapons fire coming from a house. When
Iraqi Army Soldiers refused to assist, Malone led a three-man
assault team toward the objective by clearing the courtyard with a
grenade upon entry. The blast wounded an enemy insurgent, whom
Malone immediately began administering first aid to, while his
Soldiers uncovered large amounts of various explosives and
munitions.
Once a foothold was established, Malone and two of his Soldiers
moved to secure the rooftop to fend off enemy insurgents moving in
on their location.
As Malone and his men were leaving the strike zone, Malone suffered
a gunshot wound to the foot while trying to protect the wounded
enemy combatant under his care.
Risking his life to save an enemy, Malone explained, “As per the
laws of warfare outlined in the Geneva Conventions, once an enemy
combatant is captured, it is our responsibility to provide care and
protection as we would like the same treatment if the roles were
reversed.”
Malone’s unmatched example of courage and selfless service inspire
every Trooper in the Regiment, according to the Bronze Star
citation.
Malone concluded, “one of the Soldiers who helped save my life and
provide initial treatment after I got hit was Specialist Hoby F.
Bradfield Jr. I’ve known him since he was first assigned to my
platoon as a private. He was killed on July 9, 2005, in another
heavy firefight my platoon was involved in. In never saw him again
after the day I was wounded. I never had the opportunity to
personally thank him for helping to save my life. |
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Photo and information courtesy of US
Army /
Dept. of Defense |
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Bronze Star Recipients |
Other Heroes | |
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