Redleg Hero: 1st Cav PFC earns Silver Star

FA Journal, Nov-Dec, 2004 by Bill Putman

Redleg Private First Class Christopher Fernandez was awarded a Silver Star Medal for Valor on 13 August by 1st Cavalry Division Commander Major General Peter Chiarelli at Camp Ferrin-Huggins in Baghdad. Private Fernandez is a Multiple-Launch Rocket System (MLRS) Crewmember in A Battery, 1st Battalion, 21st Field Artillery (A/1-21 FA), 5th Brigade Combat Team, deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Private Fernandez, a native of Tucson, Arizona, was awarded the medal for his actions on 5 May. While on patrol in Baghdad's Saidiyah neighborhood, insurgents ambushed his unit. An improvised explosive device (IED) hit the patrol's rear vehicle. Immediately after the explosion, the patrol was hit with a barrage of small-arms fire. The patrol rapidly returned fire with their crew-served weapons, an M-240B machine gun and .50 caliber machine gun.

The IED explosion killed two US Soldiers, wounded five others and rendered their high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV) inoperable.

Private Fernandez returned fire with his M-249 squad automatic weapon. He reloaded his weapon at least once during the short engagement that had a tremendous volume of fire.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

In the chaos, Private Fernandez saw that the stricken vehicle's M-240B machine gun was not being fired. He knew that another weapon would suppress the enemy's fire long enough to evacuate the wounded and leave the area.

He left his vehicle, ran to the disabled HMMWV and recovered the machine gun and ammunition. Private Fernandez then opened fire on the enemy.

As his Battery Commander Captain Thomas Pugley said, "What made all this spectacular is the condition of the recovered weapon." The hand guards covering the machine gun's barrel that prevent the gunner's hands from burning were blown off in the explosion. But Private Fernandez continued to fire, even though his hands were burning.

Almost 10 minutes later, the wounded had been loaded onto Private Fernandez's vehicle and the ambush site abandoned.

Captain Pugley said. "He bought those Soldiers time."

Major General Chiarelli said "PFC Fernandez represents the best of us. He embodies Army Values and Warrior Ethos."

Photo/Story by CPL Bill Putman

122d Mobile Public Affairs Det.