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 Sergeant Todd D. Mark, United States Army, for gallantry in action from 15 to 16 November 2010 during combat operations against an armed enemy of the United States as a Ranger Canine Handler for a joint task force in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Sergeant Mark’s squad was tasked with interdicting enemy personnel when they came into contact with a section of enemy fighters in a fortified cave built into the side of a mountain. While clearing through the first engagement area, the squad leader for the interdiction element was fired upon from a machine gun inside the cave and mortally wounded. Sergeant Mark rushed to the cave entrance and fired into it, eliminating the machine gunner while exposing himself to enemy fire from within. He then stood his ground in front of the cave and continued to suppress the remaining enemy element within the cave, allowing the interdiction element to move the wounded Ranger to a covered position and render aid. Sergeant Mark’s distinctive accomplishments are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, this command and the United States Army.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD:
Sergeant Todd D. Mark on November 15 to 16, 2010 distinguished himself by exceptionally heroic gallantry as a Ranger Canine Handler while deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Sergeant Mark’s heroic actions under effective enemy fire preserved the lives of his fellow Rangers and were instrumental in the death of approximately 31 Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters, along with the decimation of a senior Taliban command. On November 16, 2010, while conducting combat operations in Konar Province, Afghanistan, Sergeant Mark and his dog moved with an assault element down a steep decline towards the targeted individuals after Staff Sergeant Pape established an over watching element on nearby high ground. The team first made contact with one enemy combatant. Staff Sergeant Pape killed this man after he fired one shot at the squad, then moved immediately to kill a second fighter who emerged from the same area. During this initial engagement, Sergeant Mark was positioned ten meters off Staff Sergeant Pape’s right flank. When two more Taliban fighters approached the area off Staff Sergeant Pape’s initial engagement area until Staff Sergeant Pape unknowingly exposed himself to a cave that contained 15 to 20 Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters. Staff Sergeant Pape unknowingly exposed himself to a cave that contained 15 to 20 Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters. Staff Sergeant Pape was mortally wounded by machinegun fire coming from this cave. Sergeant Mark immediately realized what had happened and recognized the threat that the cave now presented. Without hesitation, Sergeant Mark moved from the flanking position where he was standing to close the distance between him and the cave’s entrance. As he did this, he engaged and killed the enemy machine gunner before he could acquire him as a target. Following Sergeant Mark’s engagement, he was quickly joined by Sergeant Maynard as six to eight more fighters fled the cave. Immediately, Sergeant Maynard and Sergeant Mark engaged these enemy combatants as they attempted to flee, killing at least two of them. As Sergeant Maynard low-crawled to his fallen Squad Leader’s position, Sergeant Mark remained exposed in front of the cave from a distance of five meters to provide security for Staff Sergeant Pape. As Sergeant Mark provided security, he contacted Sergeant 1st Class F on the radio, informed him of the situation, and talked him onto their location. When the platoon sergeant and medic arrived, Sergeant Mark calmly advised them of the enemy’s disposition while attempting to acquire enemy targets in the cave. As Sergeant 1st Class F, Sergeant Maynard, and Staff Sergeant A moved to retrieve Staff Sergeant Pape from in front of the cave, they received two bursts of machine gun fire. From his exposed position within the enemy’s field of fire, Sergeant Mark responded by once again engaging the machine gunner with his rifle. Sergeant Mark’s fire was effective enough to either kill him or compel him to seek cover, enabling Staff Sergeant Pape to be retrieved from the cave entrance and relocated to a more covered position from which the platoon medic could provide aid. While under intense enemy fire, Sergeant Mark stood his ground and calmly engaged the enemy while preserving the lives of his fellow Rangers. Through his situational awareness and composure, he denied the enemy personnel who were attempting to flee the cave the chance to regroup and maneuver against his squad before the platoon could arrive to reinforce. In defense of a fallen comrade and to facilitate his extraction from the cave entrance, Sergeant Mark faced the enemy’s machine gun fire twice, delivering lethal and suppressing fires while fully knowing the dangers to which he was exposing himself.