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 Staff Sergeant Mario A. Pinilla, United States Army, for exceptionally valorous actions as the Detachment Communications Sergeant for Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 7134 in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM on 20 August 2008. While under intense enemy fire, Sergeant Pinilla risked his own life by sprinting from his vehicle directly into the enemy’s line of fire, suppressing the enemy the entire way, in order to support one of his teammates that was under direct effective fire from the enemy. Sergeant Pinilla arrived at his location providing him additional cover and risking his own life and subsequently was shot in the leg and lower back. Even after being shot Sergeant Pinilla continued engaging the enemy with his 9-mm. berretta while being treated for his wounds. Sergeant Pinilla’s actions not only saved one of his teammate lives, but it reduced the enemy’s fire allowing the rest of the detachment to fight through the kill zone to safety. His valorous actions under intense enemy fire throughout the day greatly contributed to the safety of the detachment and demonstrated his unwavering dedication to duty. 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, and the United States Army.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD:
Staff Sergeant Mario A. Pinilla, United States Army, heroically distinguished himself by displaying valorous conduct in the face of the enemy of the United States while serving as the Special Forces Communications Sergeant for Operational Detachment Alpha 7134, Special Operations Task Force-71, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM on 20 August 2008. While conducting a Combat Reconnaissance Patrol to the village of Faramuz, Khas Oruzgan District, Afghanistan, in order to confirm or deny reports of Anti-Afghan Forces (AAF) activity, the patrol received information from the Shaspar village that an ambush was set towards the northern river crossing. A dismounted element was assigned to clear the area towards the river crossing while Sergeant Pinilla, serving as the driver for vehicle number one in the order of movement, over-watched that element. Within minutes, the hidden AAF initiated a well coordinated ambush against the dismounted and mounted elements with an intense volume of small arms, machine gun, and indirect fire. The AAF positions were approximately 75 meters from Sergeant Pinilla’s vehicle, and within hand grenade range of the dismounted troops. The heavy concentration of enemy fire on the dismounted troops became overwhelming and Sergeant Pinilla observed that one of his teammates was fixed in the open field by a high volume of increasingly accurate small arms fire. Sergeant Pinilla observed that his fellow Soldier was pinned down receiving two small arms strikes, one to the side of his body and the other to the helmet, knocking his helmet completely off his head. Seeing that his teammate’s position was about to be overrun, with no thought to his own personal safety, Sergeant Pinilla immediately grabbed his M249 Squad Automatic Weapon and sprinted approximately 75 meters from his vehicle, through open terrain, directly into the line of enemy fire while returning fire against the enemy the entire way. Once Sergeant Pinilla reached the location of his teammate, he dove to the ground positioning himself in between the enemy fire and his teammate. While using his own body to provide his teammate with additional cover, Sergeant Pinilla continued to suppress the enemy ambush line. After an approximate ten minute exchange of highly intense and accurate direct fires, Sergeant Pinilla suffered two severe gunshot wounds: one in the lower back and another on the upper left thigh. While his fellow detachment members fought to get to him back to safety, Sergeant Pinilla drew his 9-mm. Beretta and continued engaging the enemy’s ambush line, despite being critically injured. Sergeant Pinilla’s rapid response in this critical situation, putting his own life at risk, ultimately saved the life of another detachment member. As a result of his exceptional courage, in addition to voluntarily aiding his teammate by providing additional cover from lethal enemy fires, he is credited with killing at least five enemy combatants at 10 meters close range, destroying one enemy fighting position, and eliminating the enemy’s ability to flank the rest of the detachment. Due to the severity of his wounds, Sergeant Pinilla was evacuated from the battlefield as a Category Alpha casualty and was subsequently transported to Walter Reed Army Medical Center were he began his slow recovery. Sergeant Pinilla’s 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.