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When U.S. Army Reservist
Staff Sergeant Patrick
Jordan took control of
the C66 tank he was
riding in on April 4,
2004, he had never
served as tank commander
before.
It was during a long day
of constant attacks by
the Mahdi Army in Sadr
City, Iraq. Nineteen
Infantrymen had been
isolated and in constant
contact with the enemy
for over three hours,
when Jordan and his
company traveled across
the city to reach and
evacuate them.
When the company
commander moved to
another tank due to
communications problems,
he left the then-
Sergeant to take the
lead.
Despite no prior
experience and though he
had no radio
communications, Jordan
"commanded his tank
during a brilliant
four-hour attack against
elements of the Mahdi
Army," according to the
award citation of the
Silver Star he earned
for his actions that
day.
The company was fighting
through densely urban
terrain as they tried to
reach the isolated
soldiers.
Jordan's tank was
constantly assailed from
both sides by hundreds
of enemies firing both
small arms and rocket
propelled grenades (RPGs).
But he commanded the
tank from its open hatch
throughout the entire
attack and evacuation.
He ensured that his
gunner fought the tank
properly, and provided
security at the rear of
the combat column they
were fighting in. |
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While commanding the tank and checking
his gunner's work for proper fire
control, Jordan also fought with every
weapon at his disposal, through the
extremely close quarters of the urban
terrain.
In all they traversed over four
kilometers to reach the 19 soldiers.
As his company commander coordinated the
evacuation, Jordan provided cover from
the enemy attacking the evacuation
effort. And as the company moved towards
safety, Jordan's tank again took up the
rear.
When the Humvee traveling in front of
him was hit and lost multiple tires as
well as its engine, Jordan, of his own
initiative and without orders, loaded
the remaining infantrymen into his tank.
He then pushed the damaged Humvee at
speeds as slow as five
kilometers-per-hour for over a
kilometer. All the while they were still
in heavy contact with enemy forces
attacking from buildings on his
immediate right flank.
Jordan remained out of the hatch
throughout this journey, engaging and
eliminating enemies with the array of
weapons at his disposal.
Jordan persevered until he pushed the
damaged Humvee back to camp, and safely
delivered the infantrymen riding in his
tank back to their base camp, as well.
Jordan was awarded the Silver Star in
2004 for his leadership and bravery
which were key in evacuating those 19
men, and ensuring they all reached
safety.
"I might've got the Silver Star, but
we're all heroes," said Jordan, who has
since been promoted to staff sergeant.
"Everyone who served. They're all
heroes. No matter what war they fought
in or if it was peacetime. They took
time out of their lives to serve. Not
everybody does that." |
