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 Bernard Charles Good, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Detachment Senior Weapons Sergeant of Special Operational Detachment Alpha 531 (ODA-531), 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), during combat operations in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, near Sadah, Iraq, on 31 October 2003. Staff Sergeant Good distinguished himself through his heroic actions in the face of overwhelming enemy fire. With total disregard for personal safety, he engaged the numerically superior enemy forces and managed to evacuate a critically wounded teammate to safety. His courage, heroism, and perseverance in the face of the enemy are in keeping with the highest traditions of the Special Forces and reflect distinct credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD:
On 31 October 2003, Staff Sergeant Good, serving as the Senior Weapons Sergeant for Operational Detachment Alpha 531 (ODA-531), was part of an eleven-man interagency team conducting a reconnaissance patrol in the vicinity of Husaybah, Iraq. Staff Sergeant Good was the rear security element for the trail vehicle (Suburban) in the two-vehicle patrol. At 311325Z October 2003, the element was moving east from the town of Husaybah on Highway 12, returning to Advanced Operations Base 530. At 37S FU 9279504008 hostile forces engaged Staff Sergeant Good’s vehicle with a rocket-propelled grenade, which ricocheted off the roof of the vehicle without causing significant damage. The patrol immediately identified three attackers to their north and turned around to pursue them. ODA 531 successfully detained one of the attackers after a struggle. Staff Sergeant Good, Sergeant First Class Briscoe, and Don Hogan (Al Qa’im OGA Base Chief) secured the assailant at the Suburban. A split team continued pursuit of the other attackers on foot. Sergeant First Class Briscoe immediately attempted to establish communications with Advanced Operational Base 530. During the set-up of the communications equipment, enemy forces attacked the vehicle security element with a barrage of RPGs and small arms fire. Staff Sergeant Good reacted immediately, identified the source of the fire, and directed his teammates’ fire to engage the enemy positions. During this engagement an RPG hit the Suburban and wounded Sergeant First Class Briscoe. The RPG severed Sergeant First Class Briscoe’s right arm and severely wounded his left arm. With total disregard for his own safety, Staff Sergeant Good exposed himself to intense enemy small arms and RPG fire. He repeatedly exposed himself so he could provide accurate covering fire as Don Hogan provided medical aid to Sergeant First Class Briscoe and loaded him into the vehicle for evacuation. Once Staff Sergeant Good was sure Sergeant First Class Briscoe was loaded, he did not hesitate and moved through the heavy incoming fire to drive the vehicle out of the kill zone. Realizing that he did not have communications with his other teammates, Staff Sergeant Good drove the Suburban through a continuous hail of bullets to link up with the personnel at the other vehicle. He informed them he was going to evacuate Sergeant First Class Briscoe due to the severity of his wounds. Staff Sergeant Good then drove his vehicle back through the kill zone of the attack in an attempt to reach Highway 12. During this movement, the continuous barrage of small arms and machine gun fire disabled their vehicle. Despite their untenable position, Staff Sergeant Good ignored the hazards and once again positioned himself between the attackers and the vehicle to allow Don Hogan to recover Sergeant First Class Briscoe from the vehicle and carry him the remaining distance (20 meters) to Highway 12. Staff Sergeant Good continuously provided accurate and lethal covering fire for the wounded soldier. With no means of cover for himself, he ran onto the highway and stopped an oncoming Iraqi vehicle. Once the vehicle was stopped, Staff Sergeant Good continually provided covering fire by positioning himself between the incoming fire and his teammates. After Sergeant First Class Briscoe was loaded into the civilian car, Staff Sergeant Good directed the driver out of the kill zone and back to the base camp. Upon arrival at the base camp, Staff Sergeant Good assisted Sergeant First class Briscoe into the Advanced Operational Base 530 Medical Facility. Without hesitation, he linked up with the Advanced Operational Base 530 Quick Reaction Force. Staff Sergeant Good further organized the QRF to return to the site of the attack and assist the remainder of his team, who were still in contact. This led to the recovery of the remainder of the team. Staff Sergeant Good’s actions undoubtedly saved the life of his teammate, Sergeant First Class Joe Briscoe. Staff Sergeant Good’s valorous conduct under enemy fire, while conducting combat operations in Iraq, are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), and the United States Army.