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 Peter S. Cimpoes, United States Army, for gallantry in action on 11 October 2012 during combat operations against an armed enemy of the United States as a Reconnaissance Surveillance Target Acquisition Technician for a Joint Task Force in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Sergeant Cimpoes selflessly and with no regard for his own personal safety, maneuvered himself onto the targeted compound engaging multiple enemy combatants and was responsible for saving the lives of fellow rangers and turning the tide of the engagement. While under effective direct enemy fire, Sergeant Cimpoes engaged enemy combatants within a range of one meter, simultaneously regaining the initiative while conducting intense combat by throwing two grenades and suppressing the enemy allowing the assault force to fall back and evacuate members of the assault force who were critically wounded. Sergeant Cimpoes’ distinctive accomplishments are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, this Command and the United States Army.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD:
Sergeant Cimpoes distinguished himself through exceptionally valorous achievement on 11 October 2012 as a Reconnaissance Surveillance Target Acquisition Technician while deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. On 11 October 2012, the Strike Force conducted an off-set infiltration for a Joint Task Force raid targeting a known enemy, in Ghazni Province. Upon infiltration, the Assault Force conducted a foot patrol to the targeted compound. Throughout the movement to the target compound, a report confirmed that one insurgent was moving around the rooftop of building A. During planning, the Assault Force identified this particular building as follow-on because it was a historical compound of interest associated with insurgent activity. Because of the significant movement in the A series, the Assault Force took a tactical pause at the release point in order to get the best situational awareness of both target compounds. Once the assault force received the call that the one enemy combatant had moved back internal of the A series, the assault force went ahead and set in isolation for both the A series and the B series as planned. Once isolation was set, first squad and the Afghan Special Operations Partners prepared to conduct a silent clearing of the B series. The Afghan Partners entered and cleared the B series first with a Ranger Squad Leader immediately following. Once the targeted compound was clear and secure, the assault force moved to post assault activities, was able to determine that the information received matched our target development and was enough to move to and clear the A series compound. At that time, the Afghan Partners and the remainder of the assault force moved to the A series. As the assault force approached the A series, another Ranger Squad Leader and his isolation element were engaged with direct fire by multiple enemy combatants throughout the compound at distances as close as one meter to five meters. Immediately after contact was made, the assault force sustained two urgent surgical casualties on the first floor rooftop of building A. Without hesitation, Sergeant Cimpoes quickly climbed up a ladder positioned on the south side of the A series, directly in line with the enemy fire. Sergeant Cimpoes placed himself under direct fire and simultaneously engaged three heavily armed enemy combatants barricaded on the second floor of the targeted compound. Sergeant Cimpoes’ heroic actions at distances ranging from one to five meters from a heavily armed and barricaded enemy were critical to securing our casualties and ultimately lead to the decisive point in the operation. By putting himself in the line of fire, Sergeant Cimpoes began to make head way at gaining the advantage over the enemy simultaneously closing the distance between him and the two casualties. After linking up with Staff Sergeant Herd on the rooftop, Sergeant Cimpoes identified the first enemy combatant lying next to Sergeant MacPherson and engaged him. As soon as he established a base of fire and gained fire superiority, Sergeant Cimpoes called out to and identified Private First Class Pesce who was critically wounded only feet from the breach point where the enemy was still engaging. With little to no regard for his own personal safety, Sergeant Cimpoes moved to secure Private First Class Pesce in order to pull him out of the kill zone, which ultimately saved his life. After dragging Private First Class Pesce to safety, he called out to Sergeant MacPherson. Sergeant Cimpoes responded that Sergeant MacPherson was hit, and that he was located immediately in front of the breach where the enemy combatant was engaging from only feet away. Sergeant Cimpoes made a split second and selfless decision to make his way to Sergeant MacPherson and move him to safety. He identified a second barricaded shooter located just inside the breach point and engaged and killed the combatant. Sergeant Cimpoes continued to protect the breach point in order to secure Sergeant MacPherson and almost instantly, he identified and engaged a third enemy combatant attempting to crawl to a position of advantage further inside the room. Sergeant Cimpoes pulled out a grenade and threw it into the bravo level of building A. Sergeant Cimpoes employed another grenade and continued to provide suppressive fires which enabled two members of the assault force to maneuver the two critically wounded casualties down to other members of the assault force in the alley. As a result of the employment of the hand grenades, Sergeant Cimpoes was able to tip the scales in favor of the Assault Force as they began to gain the momentum necessary to safely withdraw the two critically wounded Rangers who were within feet of two armed, barricaded, and heavily armed combatants with a clear position of advantage. Sergeant Cimpoes voluntarily risked hi life to establish a clear foothold and extract two seriously wounded Rangers in clear line of fire with multiple enemy combatants. Once the call was made to push back for a kinetic option on the A series, Sergeant Cimpoes placed himself with a base of fire element and continued to provide suppressive fire allowing the Casualty Collection Point enough time and freedom of maneuver to move to the casualty evacuation zone and extract the two urgent surgical casualties. The remainder of the assault force continued to maneuver back to the designated fallback position while being covered by Sergeant Cimpoes and other members of the Assault Force. Once the kinetic strike was complete, the Assault Force moved to the exfil helicopter-landing zone and returned to the forward operating base. During an engagement with an enemy that held multiple advantageous positions, Sergeant Cimpoes’ valorous actions saved the lives of two members of the assault force and directly contributed to the Assault Force’s ability to defeat a determined enemy and evacuate two critical casualties. Through his distinctive accomplishments, Sergeant Cimpoes displayed courage under fire and outstanding leadership. Sergeant Cimpoes’ actions and leadership reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.