The President of the United States of America, authorized by Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962, takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal to Sergeant First Class Christian A. Roeske, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious service while serving with Operational Detachment Alpha 014 (ODA-014), 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Arabian Peninsula, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, from 25 November 2004 to 25 June 2005. His outstanding dedication to duty during combat operations in Iraq contributed to the overwhelming success of the Command’s mission. His actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect distinct credit upon himself, Special Operations Command Central, and the United States Army.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD:
Sergeant First Class Christian A. Roeske distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service to the United States as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant for Operational Detachment Alpha 014 (ODA-014), Baghdad, Iraq, from 15 November 2004 to 25 June 2005, during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. During troops leading procedures for over twenty-five joint and combined Direct Action operations, Sergeant First Class Roeske planned and coordinated all medical evacuation coverage and assisted units from the 1st Marine Expeditionary Unit by advising them on all aspects of medical planning. The result was improved medical procedures and more efficient evacuation plans leading to quicker access to proper treatment and a lower number of friendly killed in action. Upon the detachment receiving a change of mission to conduct Foreign Internal Defense, Sergeant First Class Roeske single-handedly trained a platoon of Iraqi Army (IA) Soldiers in advanced urban combat techniques in order to conduct combined operations with the detachment in the Baghdad area of operations. Once initial training was completed, he led a squad of these specialized soldiers in the execution of at least ten offensive missions throughout Baghdad, resulting in at least five insurgents detained. The new skills vastly improved the Iraqi battalion’s overall capability to prosecute higher threat and higher value targets throughout its area of operations, leaving the battalion significantly more prepared to conduct counterinsurgency tasks as it transitions to independent operations. Additionally, he served as the primary instructor for all medical training taught to the Iraqi Soldiers. He developed a medical course for the fifty-man platoon and trained its Soldiers in initial treatment of trauma injuries and basic first aid. On two separate occasions, he provided medical treatment to more than twenty soldiers and civilians with severe trauma injuries following multiple vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attacks. His actions lead to lives saves, and increased rapport and trust in the detachment’s medical capabilities from the IA Soldiers. On another occasion, while detachment representatives were interviewing a local man about his kidnapped son, the local national began suffering heart pain from a pre-existing heart condition. Sergeant First Class Roeske reacted quickly, stabilizing the man and bringing him back from a state of unresponsiveness. This treatment built trust between the detachment and the man’s family, which led to their willingness to provide information to the detachment about the kidnappers. Sergeant First Class Roeske’s medical contributions made considerable gains in rapport-building with the IA Battalion Commander. The Battalion Commander’s resulting confidence in the detachment led to increased operational freedom with his Soldiers and his allowing the detachment to operate outside of his battlespace with the strike and reconnaissance platoons. His actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect distinct credit upon himself, the Special Operations Command Central, and the United States Army.