Army Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Schloesser, Combined Joint Task Force 101 commander, presented Army Capt. William G. Cromie of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat team with the Silver Star Medal in honor of Cromie’s valor.
Cromie’s platoon was called out to perform route clearance on a portion of the Korengal Road on Nov. 16, 2007, after receiving a tip that an improvised explosive device, IED, may have been placed there.
“While traveling down the road, our first vehicle struck an IED,” Cromie said. “Immediately, we were ambushed on three sides by heavily armed militants.”
Two of Cromie’s soldiers managed to maneuver into a better position that allowed them to cover the platoon, but they were soon pinned down and running dangerously low on ammunition. Grabbing more ammunition, Cromie took off through the small-arms crossfire to re-supply his two soldiers.
The platoon called for close-air support and mounted a counterattack that pushed the militants back to a fortified compound. The platoon then cleared the compound and killed the militants.
“I really would like to thank the squad leaders — they really acted professionally even under a stressful situation like that — and the guys in 3rd Platoon for their bravery,” Cromie said.
