Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Specialist

    Batallion:

    2d Battalion

    Regiment:

    37th Armored Regiment

    Division:

    1st Armored Division

    Action Date:

    April 4, 2004

    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 Micheaux M. Sanders, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company C, 2d Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Division, in action against the enemy in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 4 April 2004, in Iraq. On a day of intense Mahdi Army attacks throughout Sadr City, Baghdad, Iraq, Specialist Sanders served initially as a loader on his platoon leader’s tank during an attack to relieve 1/C/2-5 CAV, an infantry platoon that had suffered 1 KIA, 4 WIA and lost one of their HMMWVs. After turning to the northeast on Route Delta to attack toward the embattled platoon, the Mahdi Army immediately engaged Specialist Sander’s platoon with RPG and small arms fire, killing one member of his platoon and wounding two members of his platoon. Specialist Sanders was wounded in this initial exchange, receiving a gunshot wound to his left upper arm. Specialist Sanders fought the enemy tenaciously and undeterred, engaging the enemy with both his loader’s M240 machinegun and his M4 carbine, killing several enemy soldiers at extremely close range. Specialist Sanders fought on C31 from his open hatch, never seeking cover at any time as his platoon consolidated to prepare for a company attack to relieve the isolated infantry platoon. The company commander moved to Specialist Sander’s tank on account of communications issues and his platoon leader displaced Specialist Sanders in the loader’s position. Specialist Sanders had already refused medical attention and immediately went to C66, the company commander’s tank, to occupy a vacant position on that tank in order to take part in the impending attack. Specialist Sanders did this even though other tank crews with security missions were available to provide crew members to crews that had lost wounded and killed on their crews. Specialist Sanders subsequently fought a brilliant 3-hour attack despite being wounded. Specialist Sanders fought exposed out of hatch for over seven kilometers through urban terrain while hundreds of Mahdi Army personnel attacked his tank company with RPG and small arms fire. Specialist Sanders fought on the commander’s tank, which had no communications and engaged and destroyed multiple attackers assailing the more vulnerable rear of the company staggered combat column. Specialist Sanders fought with every weapon at his disposal including his pistol and is directly responsible for ensuring the rear security of the company throughout this attack. Specialist Sanders succeeded in repairing the communications problems on C66 while under fire. Additionally, after organizing the evacuation of infantrymen on his tank turret during the relief of the isolated infantry platoon, Specialist Sanders assisted in apportioning the fires of the infantrymen to compliment those of the tank. Specialist Sanders continued to fight bravely despite dense fire from ground level alleyways as his tank pushed a damaged HMMWV at speeds as slow as 5 kilometers per hour in severely restricted urban terrain to deprive the enemy of the opportunity to capture this equipment. Specialist Sanders fought until his ammunition was exhausted and then asked for and received ammunition from the infantrymen on his tank to continue the fight. Specialist Sanders exceptionally brave and valorous conduct during four hours of constant combat and despite wounds are in the highest traditions of the 2d Cavalry Regiment, the 1st Armored Division and the United States Army.