REVOKED: 2015
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 Captain (Special Forces) Matthew L. Golsteyn, United States Army, for gallantry in action on 20 February 2010 as Detachment Commander for Operational Detachment Alpha 3121 (ODA-3121), 3d Special Forces Group (Airborne), in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Captain Golsteyn repeatedly exposed himself to direct and accurate enemy fire during a four-hour engagement in which his calm demeanor, decisive actions and fearlessness in the face of the enemy ultimately led to the liberation of the citizens of Marjeh from an oppressive insurgent regime. His actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military heroism and reflect distinct credit upon himself, the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan, and the United States Army.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD:
Captain Mathew L. Golsteyn, United States Army, heroically distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous conduct in the face of the enemy of Afghanistan as the Commander of Operational Detachment Alpha 3121 (ODA-3121), of Special Operations Task Force-South, Marjeh, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in direct support of the Marine Corps Regimental Combat Team-7 and Operation MOSHTARAK. Following several days of local national tips about a four-man sniper team, the crow’s nest on the third story of Forward Operating Base (FOB) McQUEARY received two, accurate sniper rounds on the morning of 20 February 1010 in addition to the normal sporadic small arms fire. The second of the two rounds lodged inside the MK-47 optic that was being manned by the detachment’s Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC). The round was immediately recovered and found to have the tungsten steel core penetrator of a Dragonov rifle round. Captain Golsteyn quickly assembled a combined company-sized patrol consisting of over 80 personnel and 5 vehicles to close with, locate and destroy the enemy fighting positions. The assault would take place over muddy poppy fields devoid of cover or concealment with 700 meters of ground between the patrol’s last covered and concealed position and the front line of the enemy positions. After the patrol had moved approximately 100 meters, the enemy machinegun positions initiated a cyclic rate of fire against the trucks and the dismounts. When the patrol had moved an additional 75 meters under fire, one of the detachment’s Mine Resistant, Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles sank into the mud of a canal and required recovery. Realizing that the patrol could not wait for the recovery, Captain Golsteyn moved way from the vehicle to bring the partnered Afghan forces forward into a canal that would offer some cover for the patrol. Captain Golsteyn directed a platoon to move west and occupy an additional support by fire to assist the movement of the main body forward. During the maneuver, one Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier suffered a gunshot wound through the neck and shoulder. Seeing the movement around the casualty, the enemy machine gunners reoriented on the dismounts and the intensity of the fire dramatically increased. Captain Golsteyn directed a Soldier assist with the casualty while he ran approximately 150 meters under heavy machine gun and sniper fire back to the immobile MRAP to retrieve the Carl Gustav Recoilless Rifle. While moving under fire, Captain Golsteyn coordinated for a ground casualty evacuation back to FOB McQUEARY, followed by an air medical evacuation. After coordinating the medical evacuation, he conducted close-air support target talk-ons with the JTAC located in the crow’s nest at FOB McQUEARY. Captain Golsteyn was alone running in the open through enemy gun fire that had over 80 men pinned down, and from the crow’s nest on top of FOB McQUEARY it looked like Captain Golsteyn was alone fighting 30 enemy fighters out in the poppy fields. Captain Golsteyn, reaching the MRAP, secured the Carl Gustaf with six rounds and ran the 150 meters back under heavy small arms fire impacting near his feet on the ground, to a supporting position near his team who were treating the casualty. After receiving a report on enemy positions, Captain Golsteyn maneuvered under fire to gain positions of advantage to employ the Carl Gustav. As his team prepared to expose themselves to enemy fire to load the casualty into the ANA vehicle, Captain Golsteyn exposed himself twice to sniper fire to place Carl Gustav rounds into enemy positions. One of these Gustav rounds went through a doorway of a compound that was a source of heavy fire at a range of 400 meters stopping the enemy fire. This action created a brief lull in all enemy activity, which enabled the detachment’s medic to safely treat and transport the wounded ANA soldier back to the rear. Once the casualty was off the battlefield and the MRAP was recovered, Captain Golsteyn continued to direct the assault. Leading from the front and still carrying his M-4 rifle and the Carl Gustav, Captain Golsteyn continually advised his JTAC on the frontline trace of the patrol as they moved in pursuit of the enemy. As the patrol advanced, enemy fire, from the arrival of approximately 10 enemy reinforcements, increased to a continuous barrage of PKM and AK-47 fire, which again pinned down all friendly elements. Captain Golsteyn exposed himself a third time to enemy fire to gain positive identification of the enemy positions that were 300 to 400 meters to the north. With F/A-18 Hornets now on station, Captain Golsteyn coordinated and approved GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions strikes on the insurgent fighting position. The two 500-pound bombs were both direct hits on the enemy, resulting in five enemy killed. This airstrike temporarily broke the back of the enemy resistance and the machine gun fire to the north subsided. During the lull in enemy fire, Captain Golsteyn immediately identified the reinforcements massing at the intersection of Route Frog and Route Margaret to the east. While bounding back, the patrol again came under heavy enemy machinegun fire from the Route Frog and Route Margaret intersection to the east. In response, Captain Golsteyn requested close-air support and effectively talked the JTAC onto the enemy positions. While waiting for the aircraft to arrive overhead, and with blatant disregard for his own personal safety, Captain Golsteyn exposed himself again to heavy enemy fire and moved 200 meters from the center of the patrol to the eastern flank in order to establish a position of advantage from which to engage the enemy with his Carl Gustav. While continuing to maneuver, employing his recoilless rifle, and directing close air support, Captain Golsteyn also issued adjustments to mortar fire located at the southern support by fire position along Route Margaret. At least 30 high-explosive mortar rounds impacted the target as a direct result of Captain Golsteyn marking the target with the Carl Gustav and relaying adjustments over the radio to the hand held 60-millimeter mortar system crew. As Captain Golsteyn engaged the enemy with his Carl Gustav he was near simultaneously reaching for his push to talk switch on his radio to call in CAS. Predator Unmanned Aircraft System arrived on station, at which time Captain Golsteyn directed an AGM-114N Hellfire missile strike on the last enemy position to the northeast resulting in one enemy killed. Following this final airstrike all enemy fire ceased, and the patrol was able to bound back to FOB McQUEARY without further incident. Captain Golsteyn displayed heroic behavior and valor in front of his 80-man patrol during the four grueling hours of heavy combat with a determined enemy force. During this four-hour engagement, Captain Golsteyn’s calm demeanor, decisive actions, and fearlessness in the face of enemy fire inspired disciplined action from the beleaguered ANA patrol. His razor sharp focus and emotionless decision-making under extreme duress kept the combined patrol a step ahead of a skilled and prepared enemy. His decisions prevented the loss of aircraft and vehicles, saved the life of an ANA soldier, and avoided significant additional casualties. Despite a barrage of enemy fire from multiple locations, casualties, continuous contingency planning, known IED and sniper threats, and the opposition of over 50 enemy fighters, Captain Golsteyn led a mission that handed the enemy in Marjeh a devastating loss of fighting positions and personnel. His actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military heroism and reflect distinct credit upon himself, the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan, and the United States Army.