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 Specialist Jason A. Baldwin, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving as Mortar Gunner with Company C, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Parachute Infantry Regiment, 173d Airborne Brigade Combat Team, in action at Ranch House in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan, on 22 August 2007. Specialist Baldwin’s gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD:
On 22 August 2007, at 0455L, the Ranch House Outpost at Aranas, Afghanistan, was attacked from all sides by a company-sized insurgent force, simultaneously engaging every post in the perimeter by multiple RPG and small arms fire. Specialist Baldwin was serving as 60-mm. Mortar Gunner for Company C, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Parachute Infantry Regiment. On that morning he woke up to the sound of intense small arms fire and RPG explosions. When he moved outside his quarters he came under effective small arms fire and he saw Afghan National Army (ANA) and Afghan Security Guard (ASG) forces fleeing from their post, which had swiftly been overrun by insurgents. He took cover by the ASP and moved to the Aid Station where Staff Sergeant Phillips was getting his gear on. Staff Sergeant Phillips and Sergeant Baldwin then moved to the mortar pit to provide fire missions in support of Post 3. The mortar pit continued to receive effective small arms fire and RPG fire. The enemy at this point had overrun the ASG and ANA Post and were directing fire at the TOC, the Aid Station, and the mortar firing point from it. The enemy had now advanced to within ten to twenty meters of Specialist Baldwin’s position. He threw hand grenades and fired all his weapon systems to suppress the enemy and protect the Platoon Leader, First Lieutenant Ferrara, so he could maintain communications with the company. Specialist Baldwin, with no instructions from his leaders recognized that the ANA and ASG positions had been overrun and began to fire his 60-mm. mortar in handheld mode at an 80 to 100 meter range at the advancing enemy. With no regard for his own safety he alternated from throwing hand grenades at the insurgents ten meters from the mortar pit and conducting fire missions with his mortar system on enemy positions. Specialist Baldwin fired about 20 rounds that greatly affected the enemy advance onto Post 2 from Post 3 and the enemy stronghold and breach of the Ranch House wire at the ASG OP. Specialist Baldwin’s mortar fires on the enemy kept them from reinforcing the element that was firing at him from 10 meters away and disrupted the enemy advance preventing him from overrunning the platoon leader’s position. Without Specialist Baldwin’s quick thinking and proficiency on the 60-mm. mortar system the enemy advance would have continued. He acted without regard for his own life but with incredible courage and quick thinking that destroyed a quickly advancing enemy force just 10 meters from his position. This allowed the platoon leader to call in CAS to destroy any enemy that remained at the stronghold near the ASG and ANA posts. Through his quick thinking and total disregard for his own safety, Specialist Baldwin used precision hand-held 60-mm mortar fire and disrupted and destroyed the quickly advancing enemy. His actions prevented the Ranch House Outpost from being overrun by an enemy force that had superior firepower and was three times larger than the U.S. force. His quick decision to employ all available fires protected the Platoon CP from being overtaken, allowing external assets to be employed against the enemy and defeating them. This action against the enemy yielded invaluable intelligence with the death of HVT Hazrat Omar and at least ten of his fighters, as well as enemy video tapes of attack plans, pictures of insurgents, and payroll documents utilized by insurgent commanders. Battle damage assessment showed evidence of the precision of his fires.