U.S. David Hutchinson, Silver Star, Afghanistan

[bobdina]

Silver Star

The Silver Star is the third highest U.S. combat-only award. Established in 1918 as the Citation Star, in 1932 a provision allowed servicemen to receive it retroactively. It has been awarded for actions as far back as the Spanish-American War.



David Hutchinson

* Place of birth: Humble, Texas
* Home of record: Brenham, Texas
*

Awards and Citations

1.
Silver Star

Awarded for actions during the Global War on Terror

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Specialist David R. Hutchinson, United States Army (Reserve), for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as a MK-19 Gunner with the 420th Engineer Brigade Personal Security Detail, 101st Airborne Division, on 21 May 2008, during convoy operations in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Private First Class Hutchinson's quick assessment and valorous actions during a coordinated enemy ambush prevented Anti-Afghan Forces from fixing and destroying his convoy. After being injured, Private First Class Hutchinson provided critical combat lifesaver skills to a severely wounded comrade without hesitation or consideration for his own wounds. Private First Class Hutchinson's valorous actions under enemy fire are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Task Force CASTLE, the 101st Airborne Division, and the United States Army. NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD: On the morning of 21 May 2008, the weather was eighty-nine degrees with sunny skies and unlimited visibility. The 420th Engineer Brigade Personal Security Detail (PSD) was traveling southeast on a ASR jeep towards Forward Operating Base Orgun-E. The convoy consisted of four vehicles with seventeen personnel. Private First Class Hutchinson was serving as a MK19 gunner in the third gun truck with the PSD when his convoy was decisively engaged by determined Anti-Afghan Forces (AAF) in a coordinated ambush. Approximately 15 to 20 AAF opened the ambush with multiple RPG's immediately followed by PKM Machine Gun fire, AK-47's, AK-74's and sniper rifles from elevated, fortified fighting positions approximately 50 to 70 meters away in the mountains surrounding the wadi roadway that the convoy was traveling in. The AAF fighters were very bold in their efforts to fix and destroy the convoy by attempting to disable the lead and trail gun trucks with RPG's. Three of the four gun trucks immediately returned suppressive fire. Displaying an extreme determination, several AAF moved from cover into the open to engage the gun trucks under the devastating fire provided by Private First Class Hutchinson and the gunners from the other three gun trucks. The AAF had fire superiority until Private First Class Hutchinson quickly assessed the PKM Machine Gun nest on a hill top as the most lethal threat to himself and his fellow gunners in the convoy. He then precisely engaged the nest with devastating firepower, thereby destroying it. Private First Class Hutchinson's fire was so effective in disrupting the enemy's efforts to fix and destroy the convoy that the enemy concentrated its fires on his vehicle, focusing on him specifically and his MK19. Private First Class Hutchinson stayed in his position under intense fire, placing accurate effective fire on the remaining AAF in total disregard of his own peril. PSD members later counted well over 100 bullet strikes on his turret. Private First Class Hutchinson expended an entire ammo can destroying a fixed machine gun position and killing no less than five enemy insurgents before he was seriously wounded by a RPG that entered the crew compartment of his M1151 HMMVW. Shrapnel from the RPG hit his right leg and caused him to collapse from his gunner position into the crew compartment. After collapsing from his wounds, Private First Class Hutchinson saw that First Sergeant Gussbery was severely injured with gaping shrapnel wounds to the face and head. Despite his own serious wounds and his right leg going numb, he calmly administered first aid to his First Sergeant effectively controlling the bleeding as the convoy moved out of the engagement area. Even as the MEDEVAC arrived, Private First Class Hutchinson refused to be carried on a litter so that others could use it to carry out the First Sergeant despite his serious wounds. This freed other soldiers to provide security and reduced the time the MEDEVAC spent on the ground. Private First Class Hutchinson's actions were without a doubt, the primary disrupter preventing the AAF from destroying the convoy. His actions contributed to the safety of 17 soldiers and showed extraordinary courage, loyalty and selfless service under fire beyond expectation.

Service: Army Reserve

Rank: Specialist

[bobdina]

On June 6, 2009, the 65th anniversary of D-Day, SPC David Hutchinson became only the fifth Army Reserve Soldier to receive the Silver Star. While deployed in Afghanistan, he was instrumental in saving the lives of 16 fellow Soldiers.

It was the morning of May 21, 2008; the weather was eighty-nine degrees with unlimited visibility.

The 420th Engineer Brigade Personal Security Detail unit consisted of 17 Army Reservists traveling in a four-vehicle convoy southeast on an ASR jeep headed towards Forward Operating Base Orgun-E.

Then-Private First Class David Hutchinson was serving as a MK19 gunner in the third gun truck when suddenly they were ambushed by determined Anti-Afghan Forces (AAF).

Approximately 15-20 AAF opened fire with an arsenal of rocket propelled grenades, PKM machine guns, and AK-47s. Hutchinson's unit was also being attacked by sniper rifles hidden in the surrounding Afghanistan mountains approximately 50 to 70 meters away.

The AAF fighters were bold in their efforts to destroy the convoy by attempting to disable the lead and trail gun trucks with RPGs.

Three of the four trucks immediately engaged in combat returning suppressive fire. Being the aggressors, the AAF moved from cover into the open to engage the gun trucks under devastating fire provided by Hutchinson and his fellow soldiers.

The AAF had fire superiority until Hutchinson quickly assessed the PKM machine gun nest on top of a hill. This position was most lethal to Hutchinson and his fellow soldiers in the convoy. His fire was so effective in disrupting the AAF's efforts to destroy the convoy that they began focusing their wrath specifically on him and his MK19.

Hutchinson stayed in his position under intense fire, placing accurate effective fire on the remaining enemies with total disregard for his own life.

Members of his unit later counted well over 100 bullet strikes on his turret.

Hutchinson expended an entire ammo can destroying a fixed machine gun position and killing no less than five enemy insurgents before he was seriously wounded by a RPG that entered the crew compartment of his M1151 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle.

Shrapnel from the RPG hit his right leg and caused him to collapse from his gunner position into the crew compartment.

After collapsing from his wounds, Hutchinson observed that his First Sergeant was severely injured with gaping shrapnel wounds to the face and head. With total disregard for his own serious injuries and his right leg going numb, he calmly administered first aid to his First Sergeant. His actions controlled the bleeding as the convoy proceeded out of the engagement area.

When the MEDEVAC arrived, despite his own serious wounds, Hutchinson refused to be carried on a litter so that others could carry the wounded First Sergeant. This act freed other soldiers to provide security and reduced the time the MEDEVAC spent on the ground.

Hutchinson was medically evacuated out of Afghanistan with a serious leg injury after being in theater only a week.

His actions contributed to the safety of 16 soldiers and showed extraordinary courage, loyalty and selfless-service under fire beyond expectation.

[nastyleg]

Woohooo go Reserves.....he did a geat job.