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 Technical Sergeant Andrew I. Martin, United States Air Force, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United States while serving with the 24th Special Tactics Squadron near Shahi Kot, Eastern Afghanistan, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, from 27 February 2002 to 4 March 2002. During this period, while attached to an elite Navy Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) Team as the sole Special Tactics Combat Control Operator, he performed all radio communications, tactical reconnaissance, and close air support responsibilities during Operation ANACONDA against Al Qaeda forces in the rugged mountains of Eastern Afghanistan. Sergeant Martin was a key member of a five-man sniper team during this sustained special operation that located and identified countless and previously unseen enemy fortifications, ground patrols, and fighting positions throughout the Shahi Kot Valley region of Afghanistan. His elite team achieved overwhelming operational effects on the battlefield completely out of proportion to its small size. He scaled an eleven thousand foot peak carrying over one hundred pounds of equipment, traversing over nineteen kilometers of the most precipitous landscape the continent has to offer. Approaching the target area he spotted a large-caliber automatic weapons position manned by four enemy personnel. Under an incoming hail of enemy fire, his team assaulted the fortified position eliminating two enemy fighters with surgical rifle fire. Anticipating enemy contact, Sergeant Martin pre-briefed the AC-130 gunship with a fire mission and within seconds had eliminated the remaining enemy force. From his newly conquered dominating land feature, Sergeant Martin called in a storm of close air support fire on a multitude of targets staged in offensive positions overlooking the alley below. In a second enemy fire fight engagement Sergeant Martin was credited with five confirmed kills during an hour-long battle supporting a friendly force under attack. Sergeant Martin faced death from torturous terrain, the debilitating effects of high altitude exposure and extreme cold weather, he survived two direct mortar attacks, and successfully executed two armed assaults of Al Qaeda positions, killing the enemy at close range. The strategic significance of the devastation Sergeant Martin delivered upon the enemy is beyond assessment. By conservative estimates his team killed between thirty to fifty enemy fighters. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Sergeant Martin has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Awards Received
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Silver Star
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Bronze Star Medal
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Bronze Star Medal
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Silver Star
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
Technical SergeantBatallion:
24th Special Tactics SquadronAction Date:
February 27 – March 4, 2002
Department of the Air Force, Special Order G-015 (October 22, 2003) -
Bronze Star Medal
Department of the Air Force, Special Order G-015 (October 22, 2003)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 Senior Airman Andrew I. Martin, United States Air Force, for heroism while engaged in ground combat against an enemy of the United States at the British Embassy in Kuwait City, Kuwait, on 27 February 1991. On that date, Airman Martin fast roped onto the roof of the 15-story building with the British Royal Marines. As the Fire Control Officer in support of the recapture of the British Embassy from the Iraqi Army, Airman Martin directed the supporting attack aircraft while exposed to small arms fire. By his heroic actions and unselfish dedication to duty, Airman Martin has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
Master SergeantRegiment:
720th Expeditionary Special Tactics GroupDivision:
16th Expeditionary Special Operations WingAction Date:
October 28, 2005 – March 12, 2006
Department of the Air Force, Special Order G-015 (October 22, 2003)The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Third Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Master Sergeant Andrew I. Martin, United States Air Force, for heroism as a Combat Control craftsman, 720th Expeditionary Special Tactics Group, 16th Expeditionary Special Operations Wing, Special Operations Command Central, while engaged in ground combat against an enemy of the United States in Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan, from 28 October 2005 to 12 March 2006. During this period, while attached to Army Special Forces Operational Detachment Alphas, Sergeant Martin participated in numerous combat patrols and engagements. His skill and expertise as a Joint Terminal Attack Controller safeguarded the Army Special Forces Teams and led to the confirmed destruction of dozens of enemy Taliban fighters during his tour. On 12 November 2005, while out on patrol, they came under close enemy fire. Without hesitation, Sergeant Martin engaged and suppressed the enemy fire with his weapon and made an immediate request for close air support as enemy automatic weapons fire hit all around his position. Once aircraft arrived on station, he quickly talked the pilot onto a cave from which the enemy fire was coming. After the pilot positively identified the team and enemy positions, he cleared the pilot to dropt two 500-pound bombs on the cave entrance, silencing the enemy. The team soon came under fire from another direction. Again, utilizing his skills, he guided the pilot to the new source of fire, subsequently coordinating an accurately-placed 1,000-pound bomb on another cave where Taliban forces were firing down on the patrol in an attempt to execute an ambush. Aggressively patrolling with his team, he made a large impact overall on joint terminal attack control operations during his rotation. By his heroic and unselfish dedication to duty, Sergeant Martin has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force. (The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.)