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 First Class Mark J. Roland, United States Army, for exceptionally valorous action while serving as the Intelligence Sergeant for Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 732, Special Operations Task Force-71, Firebase Ripley, Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM on 11 June 2007. Sergeant Roland distinguished himself by inspiring those around him to extraordinary collective valor. His actions in clearing and destroying enemy fighters at close range, rescuing eight afghan soldiers, and leading the actions of the detachment’s split team, were essential to an overwhelming battlefield victory. Sergeant Roland’s personal courage and commitment to mission accomplishment in a combat zone, under extreme circumstances greatly contributed to mission success. His actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military heroism and reflect distinct credit upon himself, the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, Special Operations Command Central, and the United States Army.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD:
Sergeant First Class Mark J. Roland, United States Army, heroically distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous conduct in the face of the enemy as the Intelligence Sergeant for Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha (SFODA) 732, Special Operations Task Force-71, Firebase Ripley, Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. On 11 June 2007, Sergeant Roland willingly and without regard for his own life, cleared an enemy trench line and rescued eight Afghan Soldiers. SFODA 732 came to the aid of Afghan Forces in a near ambush and became enveloped in the same ambush composed of a numerically superior enemy force. The enemy immediately engaged them with small arms, machine guns, rocket propelled grenades, and recoilless rifle fire from distances as close as three meters. Sergeant Roland led his split team and moved to establish a support by fire position next to a north-south running wadi, while the other split team bounded to the east to flank the enemy ambush positions. Not knowing the enemy had established a fighting position in the wadi next to where his vehicle stopped, his element was engaged by fire from three meters away, striking the driver’s side window, turret armor, and his gunner in the chest plate of his body armor. Recognizing the crew served weapons could not engage the enemy at that angle, Sergeant Roland, without regard for his own life, took action to defeat the threat. He dismounted, prepared and threw a fragmentary grenade into the wadi. Sergeant Roland then entered the trench immediately confronting an enemy at close range. Without hesitation, he killed one fighter, cleared his body of weapons and equipment, and continued to fight. Running low on ammunition, Sergeant Roland reloaded his primary weapon, when a second enemy fighter approached from the southern portion of the wadi. Sergeant Roland’s teammate, who covered him when he changed magazines engaged and destroyed the approaching enemy from high ground. Together, Sergeant Roland and his teammate cleared north through the intersecting wadi positions and the deep wells within them, ensuring that no more enemy fighters remained in a position where they could threaten either split team. During this movement north through the wadi, enemy snipers continually engaged Sergeant Roland and his teammate. Despite this fire, Sergeant Roland and his teammate continued to clear the wadi until they were sure that no more enemy remained in a position that could threaten the detachment’s rear flank. Sergeant Roland and his teammate then returned to their vehicle where they rejoined the on-going fight above ground. At this point, Sergeant Roland identified eight Afghan Soldiers who were pinned down in the ambush kill zone by enemy machine gun fire. Recognizing the danger, Sergeant Roland without orders, again risked his life and mounted a rescue effort for the eight Afghan Soldiers. Moving his vehicle into a position where his gunner could provide covering fire, Sergeant Roland dismounted and moved through the enemy fire to the position of the pinned down Soldiers. Exposed to enemy fire and delayed by an inability to communicate with those who were pinned down, Sergeant Roland moved four of the Soldiers back to his vehicle, while directing the remaining four to another detachment vehicle. From this point, all eight Soldiers moved back to friendly positions behind the cover of the detachment’s vehicles. Over the course of several more hours, Sergeant Roland and his teammates continued to identify and engage enemy forces with machine gun and small arms fire as coalition close air support destroyed targets along the ambush line. As a result of his exceptional bravery in voluntarily rescuing eight Afghan Soldiers, destroying enemy fighters at close range, and leading the actions of a split detachment, Sergeant Roland inspired those around him by his poise, confidence, and absolute willingness to risk his life to accomplish the mission and turn the momentum of the fight. The valorous actions of Sergeant Roland are in keeping with the finest traditions of military heroism and reflect distinct credit upon himself, the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, Special Operations Command Central, and the United States Army.