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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) Alex L. Newsom, United States Army, for extraordinary gallantry while serving as the 3d Platoon Leader in Troop B, 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry (Airborne), 173d Airborne Brigade, during combat operations on 27 July 2007, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM VII. First Lieutenant Newsom’s calm and focused actions saved the lives of other Soldiers in his Platoon. His performance turned the tide of battle and significantly aided elements against a numerically superior enemy force. First Lieutenant Newsom’s heroic actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service, reflecting great credit upon himself, B Troop, Task Force Saber, Command Task Force Bayonet, Combined Joint Task Force-82, and the United States Army.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD:
For extraordinary heroism under fire during military operations against a hostile force in Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, on 27 July 2007. First Lieutenant Newsom distinguished himself as the Platoon Leader for 3d Platoon, B Troop. First Lieutenant Newsom expertly prepared his platoon as the QRF to support B Troop during their mission to Saret Koleh. When an observation post and the troop main body came under fire, First Lieutenant Newsom led his platoon forward to evacuate casualties and provide additional firepower to break up the enemy attack. Upon entering the engagement area, the convoy took fire from the north at grid YE 235 225. First Lieutenant Newsom directed suppressive fire from the patrol’s heavy weapons to neutralize the enemy. With the enemy positions silenced, the patrol pushed forward and recovered the casualties to the MEDEVAC HLZ. Approximately one hour later, an explosion rocked the Troop Command Post and a heavy volume of effective fire opened up on the Troop main body. Without waiting for orders, First Lieutenant Newsom led his patrol forward into the fight. Attacking under heavy enemy fire, First Lieutenant Newsom directed the suppression from his heavy weapons. As the patrol fought forward to the main body location, First Lieutenant Newsom expertly positioned his trucks between the main body and the enemy. Despite the continued volume of heavy fire directed at them, First Lieutenant Newsom moved forward with Staff Sergeant Faulkenberry and Staff Sergeant Barnes to recover the remains of his fallen commander. After Bulldawg 6 was loaded, First Lieutenant Newsom led Faulkenberry and Barnes under enemy fire to the area in which Bulldawg 6 was hit and started sensitive item recovery. After securing the majority of the gear, Staff Sergeant Faulkenberry was shot in the leg by an armored piercing round and suffered a shattered femur. Although still under heavy and accurate fire, First Lieutenant Newsom and Staff Sergeant Barnes applied first aid. Staff Sergeant Barnes applied the bandages and tourniquet while First Lieutenant Newsom administered an IV. They saved his life. With enemy fire hitting all around, they moved Staff Sergeant Faulkenberry to the truck for evacuation. When First Lieutenant Newsom realized Bulldawg 6 was killed, he coordinated with the other Platoon Leaders and took charge of his element, re-established security and accountability, and prepared all the forces on the ground for exfiltration. While the Paratroopers continued to fight fiercely against the numerically superior enemy, 6 ANA Soldiers were suffering from shock and refused to fight. First Lieutenant Newsom’s leadership motivated the ANA Soldiers. They continued to fight side-by-side with the Americans to defeat the enemy. First Lieutenant Newsom was calm and focused during the entire operation, controlled his Platoon and other elements in a desperate and dangerous situation, and undoubtedly assisted in saving Staff Sergeant Faulkenberry’s life and the lives of others under intense enemy fire. He used his heavy weapons to suppress the enemy and his vehicles to cover the movement of the dismounted second platoon and ANA during exfiltration. First Lieutenant Newsom’s combat leadership and extraordinary heroism under fire exemplify the warrior ethos. His performance turned the tide of the battle, saved many lives, and inflicted significant punishment on a numerically superior enemy force while assigned to B Troop, 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry (Airborne), Task Force SABER, Combined Task Force BAYONET, and CJTF-82 in Afghanistan.