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View Full Version : U.S. Stephen Bass ,Navy Cross ,(SEAL,SBS) Afghanistan



bobdina
07-31-2009, 03:08 PM
The Navy Cross is the highest medal that can be awarded by the Department of the Navy and the second highest award given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard but could be awarded to all branches of United States military as well as members of foreign militaries. It was established by Act of Congress (Pub.L. 65-253) and approved on February 4, 1919. The Navy Cross is equivalent to the Distinguished Service Cross (Army) and the Air Force Cross




Stephen Bass
During the same battle for which Stephen Bass became the first Navy SEAL to earn the Navy Cross since the invasion of Panama in 1989, Army Special Forces Major Mark Mitchell also earned the Distinguished Service Cross.

Awards and Citations

1.
Navy Cross

Awarded for actions during the Global War on Terror

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Chief Boatswain's Mate Stephen Bass, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism as a member of Sea-Air-Land Team ONE (SEAL-1), while serving with the British Special Boat Service during combat operations in Northern Afghanistan on 25 and 26 November 2001. Chief Petty Officer Bass deployed to the area as a member of a Joint American and British Special Forces Rescue Team to locate and recover two missing American citizens, one presumed to be seriously injured or dead, after hard-line Al Qaeda and Taliban prisoners at the Quala-I-Jangi fortress in Mazar-e-Sharif over powered them and gained access to large quantities of arms and ammunition stored at the fortress. Once inside, Chief Petty Officer Bass was engaged continuously by direct small arms fire, indirect mortar fire and rocket propelled grenade fire. He was forced to walk through an active anti-personnel minefield in order to gain entry to the fortress. After establishing the possible location of both American citizens, under heavy fire and without concern for his own personal safety, he made two attempts to rescue the uninjured citizen by crawling toward the fortress interior to reach him. Forced to withdraw due to large volumes of fire falling on his position, he was undeterred. After reporting his efforts to the remaining members of the rescue team, they left and attempted to locate the missing citizen on the outside of the fortress. As darkness began to fall, no attempt was going to be made to locate the other injured American citizen. Chief Petty Officer Bass then took matters into his own hands. Without regard for his own personal safety, he moved forward another 300-400 meters into the heart of the fortress by himself under constant enemy fire in an attempt to locate the injured citizen. Running low on ammunition, he utilized weapons from deceased Afghans to continue his rescue attempt. Upon verifying the condition and location of the American citizen, he withdrew from the fortress. By his outstanding display of decisive leadership, unlimited courage in the face of enemy fire, and utmost devotion to duty, Chief Petty Officer Bass reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Service: Navy

Rank: Chief Petty Officer

Presented at the Naval Special Warfare Center, Coronado, CA, on September 12, 2003

nastyleg
07-31-2009, 03:16 PM
WTF he deserves MOH for his actions. He did his job and then some. Ran though operational AP minfield. Damn.

bobdina
07-31-2009, 03:27 PM
I agree I really think the military has screwed the pooch on some of these , That's why I try and let the public see what's going on. You sure as hell won't see these guy's on the new's at night unless god forbids one of them screw's up somehow. FTM

Cruelbreed
07-31-2009, 03:28 PM
running through a minefield... It's amazing how he took it on him self to go 300-400 meters closer for the rescue. It's very interesting to see Navy SEALS working with the SBS.

bobdina
07-31-2009, 05:12 PM
sounds like he was with them as well
http://www.apacheclips.com/boards/showthread.php?t=2868

Mel
07-31-2009, 07:28 PM
Keeping your wits about you in a mine field while being shot at. Simply amazing.