The President of the United States of America, authorized by Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962, takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Staff Sergeant Jon R. Walker, United States Army, for acts of valor while under enemy fire from 5 – 8 November 2009 in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan, while assigned to Task Force PROFESSIONAL, the 4th Brigade Combat Team, and the 82d Airborne Division. Staff Sergeant Walker’s contribution had a significant impact and helped improve overall capabilities of the Afghanistan National Security Forces. Staff Sergeant Walker’s actions reflect great credit upon himself, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, and the United States Army.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD:
Staff Sergeant Walker was conducting a movement with the C2 element when enemy forces attacked his element. Immediately after receiving enemy fire, Staff Sergeant Walker took charge ordering all personnel in the area to drop rucksacks and prepare to move. He collected his team behind the covered and concealed position and immediately began to guide bounding movements for the four-man team directly towards the enemy machine gun position approximately 250m to his direct front. Leading from the front, he bounded under heavy and accurate PKM and sniper fire across an open field, with little to no cover and without regard to his own personal safety. He rapidly bounded three times, moving approximately 150m, under heavy fire in order to lead friendly forces to a firing position that could engage and gain visibility of the 2x enemy machine guns, 1x firing at our position and the other firing at 2/A/1F. On the second bound, the rate of fire on his position greatly increased in volume and accuracy. The fire was so accurate that enemy fire hit between his legs while conducting his second bound. After conducting this bound the fire continued to be accurate, spraying dirt approximately within a foot of friendly positions. He first engaged an enemy fighter on the rooftop, wounding or killing him. He then provided accurate suppressive fire while the rest of the team bounded forward to his position. Following this engagement, he bounded a third time. Staff Sergeant Walker Leading from the front, during this bound an enemy PKM position within 115m came into view and he began to engage the near machine gun position with accurate fire. He neutralized the enemy PKM gunner approximately 100m to his direct front and wounded an enemy RPG fighter in the vicinity of the machine gun. While under accurate sniper fire, he then bounded with the Enhanced battle rifle, SPC Cyr to 2/A/1F lead position approximately 100m to our South East in order to link up the EBR with our 1st Squad and guide their fire. While under accurate sniper and AK-47 fire, he guided 1x friendly M240B team and 2/A/1F’s platoon sergeant, returning again to the team’s position, which had minimal cover and concealment. He then rapidly moved to the West, the team’s rear, under accurate sniper fire, to resupply friendly SAW and M240B positions with additional ammunition. He then maneuvered to 2/A/1F’s platoon leader to the South in order to distribute the ammunition, while under accurate sniper fire. Leading from the front, Staff Sergeant Walker repeatedly exposed himself to heavy fire while maneuvering our team of four across an open field with little to no cover and no regard to his own personal safety. There is no question that his actions prevented multiple casualties to the 2/A/1F element in support of coalition forces’ ongoing search for Sergeant’s Islip and Sherman who had fallen in the river.