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 Staff Sergeant Shawn J. Stephens, United States Army, for meritorious service while serving with Operational Detachment Alpha 015 (ODA-015), 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, from 17 November 2004 to 22 June 2005. Staff Sergeant Stephens’ 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:
Staff Sergeant Shawn J. Stephens distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service to the United States as the Junior Engineer Sergeant for Operational Detachment Alpha 015 (ODA-015), Baghdad, Iraq, from 17 November 2004 to 22 June 2005 during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Staff Sergeant Stephens functioned as the Advanced Operational Base (AOB) 010’s Area Specialty Team (AST) Liaison, providing a direct link between Forward Operating Base (FOB) 103 and four Special Forces Operational Detachments Alpha (ODS) deployed to remote locations in western Iraq’s Al Anbar province covering 150 miles of remote battle space. His actions, in direct coordination with the detachments, facilitated the success of those detachment missions, setting the conditions of stability necessary to allow for the first free Iraqi elections to be held in the Al Anbar province. As the primary engineer sergeant during split-team operations encompassing both training and combat missions in Al Anbar province and Baghdad, Staff Sergeant Stephens greatly contributed to the overall success of the detachment’s counterinsurgency campaign to create a new and free Iraq. Staff Sergeant Stephens personally conducted five successful raids against the terrorist enemy in the remote and hostile Al Qa’im and Euphrates River Valley area of operations, greatly diminishing the enemy’s influence in this region. He excelled in close quarters combat, Sensitive Site Exploitation (SSE), and quickly adapted to a rapidly changing environment. As a primary assaulter, assault force driver, or heavy weapons gunner, his flexibility and capacity to perform any task in any situation directly led to mission success on six direct action raids resulting in the capture of over ten Anti-Coalition insurgents. On 2 December 2004, in Obeidi, Staff Sergeant Stephens performed as the primary SSE team leader during a joint Special Forces and United States Marine Corps First Battalion, Seventh Regiment Combat Team, Direct Action raid. His attention to detail contributed to the detention of a former Iraqi Police Officer involved in Anti-Coalition activities and the recovery of multiple weapons and body armor vests stolen from coalition forces. The detention of this individual resulted in the dismantling of an influential group implicated in the kidnapping, murder, and extortion of local residents in order to further Anti-Coalition aims. During the conduct of Foreign Internal Defense (FID) in Baghdad, Staff Sergeant Stephens personally trained and led a 12-man squad of the newly formed Strike Platoon of the 2d Battalion, 2d Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division Strike Platoon during direct combat operations, contributing to the overall success of Coalition forces in Iraq. This Strike Platoon formed the core of the first Iraqi battalion tasked with the unilateral responsibility for securing and conducting continuing combat operations in the high profile Ministry District of Baghdad. His action are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect distinct credit upon himself, the Special Operations Command Central, and the United States Army.