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 Staff Sergeant Gannon Edward Edgy, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 2d Brigade Combat Team, 3d Infantry Division, during combat operations in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, on 3 April 2003, in Iraq. His steadfast leadership in the face of the enemy saved the lives of his own men, the TF 1-15 TOC and Combat Trains, and defeated the enemy defense in the area.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD:
Staff Sergeant Edgy’s gallantry in action against a superior force on 3 April 2003 displayed his exceptional abilities to command and control under fire and resulted in the destruction of a well-executed near ambush of the Task Force 1-15 TOC and Combat Trains along Route CUBS. His uncommon valor and leadership by example on the ground, in the midst of intense RPG, small arms, and vehicle mounted crew-served weapons, saved the lives of his two vehicle scout section, as well as the TF 1-15 TOC and Combat Trains. This leadership resulted in a combined BDA of over 30 Republican Guard dismounted infantry KIA, 2 utility trucks with crew served weapons destroyed, 6 RPG teams destroyed, and one anti-aircraft weapon destroyed. Prior to his destruction of the enemy ambush on Route CUBS, Staff Sergeant Edgy was part of a two-section element operating over a continuous 24 hour period as the lead element of the TF-4-64 road march through the Karbala Gap. His mission of maintaining contact with the 1-9 Field Artillery trail elements precluded himself and his section from rest as they searched for bypasses of poor terrain and allowed TF 4-64 to conduct linkup with TF 1-15 at OBJ GARTH. He was part of a two section element from the scout platoon tasked with travel with TF 1-15 in order to conduct a route reconnaissance of Route BEAVERS and establish Traffic Control Points ahead of TF 4-64. Initial contact with the enemy began at approximately 0930 Z when TF 1-15 stopped along Route CUBS to allow an MLRS mission to OBJ SAINTS. The Republican Guard forces were hidden in prepared positions at ranges from five to one hundred meters along a 200 meter stretch of the road. At vicinity MB 375645, the enemy triggered its near ambush with an RPG that struck the M1A1 providing security for the TOC in the bustle rack. As the crew abandoned the tank due to secondary explosions, the four scout vehicles were the only remaining security for the TOC and Combat Trains. Staff Sergeant Edgy called up his contact report and dismounted his vehicle to engage five enemy soldiers within fifteen meters of his vehicle. Staff Sergeant Edgy then began directing both his own gunner and his wingman’s gunner to engage the increasing number of enemy dismounts o the Southern side of the road. Due to the deafening sound of RPG fire, machine guns, and small arms, the only method of communication available was hand and arm signals. Staff Sergeant Edgy instructed his driver to dismount as well to engage targets both on the North and South sides of the road. Recognizing that the enemy dismounts were using the tall grass along the dike to infiltrate within five meters of the vehicles, Staff Sergeant Edgy cleared the dike and returned to the vicinity of his vehicle to direct his section’s gunners. Staff Sergeant Edgy continued engaging targets on the South side of the road with his personal weapon, as well as organizing massed fires of MK-19 and M2 caliber .50 machine gun fire at targets further out. As the contact with the enemy eventually subsided to a sporadic level, Staff Sergeant Edgy reconsolidated his section and prepared to continue his route reconnaissance mission. His steadfast leadership in the face of the enemy saved the lives of his own men, the TF 1-15 TOC and Combat Trains, and defeated the enemy defense in the area.