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 Javier Camacho, United States Army, for heroism and valor under intense enemy fire while serving with Troop B, 3d Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action from 20 March 2003 to 6 April 2003, in Iraq. Sergeant First Class Camacho’s courage, tactical competence, and exemplary combat leadership in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in Iraq resulted in the destruction countless enemy dismounts and equipment ensuring the success of the Troop and Squadron, culminating in the collapse of the Iraqi Regime. His actions reflect great credit upon himself, 3d Squadron, 7th U.S. Cavalry, 3d Infantry Division (M), and the United Sates Army.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD:
For heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force in Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Sergeant First Class Camacho distinguished himself while serving as the Platoon Sergeant for 4th Platoon, Bravo Troop, 3d Squadron, 7th U.S. Cavalry, 3d Infantry Division (M). On 25 March 2003, at approximately 1400Z, Sergeant First Class Camacho’s troop traveled into an enemy ambush southeast of the city of An Najaf. The entire troop was surrounded by enemy small arms fire, RPG attacks and artillery from all directions. As two tanks from 2d platoon were hit and began to burn, B44 became mired and Sergeant First Class Camacho directed his crew on B44 and the crew of his wingman, B43, to recover B44. While B43 and the remainder of B44’s crew recovered the tank, Sergeant First Class Camacho and Sergeant Gallegos went to offer aid to the crews that had been hit and were not out of their vehicles seeking cover on the North side of the road. Keeping a vigilant eye on his surroundings and laying suppressive fire in the direction of the heaviest enemy fire, Sergeant First class Camacho noticed that the driver of B23 was not able to get out of his tank because of burning debris on the front slope of the tank. Sergeant First Class Camacho then directed his gunner and the Platoon Sergeant from 3d platoon to cover him, as he made his way to the burning tank. Giving no regard for the enemy mortar rounds that were falling directly on his position or the ground around him being peppered with AK-47 rounds, Sergeant First Class Camacho extinguished the fire on the front slope of the burning tank and pulled the driver out before he succumbed to deadly fumes from within the hull. After Sergeant First Class Camacho had accountability of all members from the two destroyed tanks he and his crew treated them to the best of their ability and immediately evacuated them to medics in the rear utilizing his sister platoon’s Bradleys. On 3 April 2003 at approximately 1430Z, while traveling north toward Baghdad, Sergeant First Class Camacho and his crew observed a brigade scout vehicle take direct fire and begin to burn. As the crew scrambled from the vehicle, Sergeant First Class Camacho cold see they were pinned down with no way to escape the unrelenting small arms and RPG fire the enemy was unleashing on them. Sergeant First Class Camacho maneuvered his tank between the brigade scout vehicle and the enemy fire from the north while B24 covered the south of the scouts so Sergeant First Class Newby and himself could go to ground and administer aid to two litter urgent victims of the attack, with reckless abandonment of personal safety of their own. Gaining security on the area and establishing an evacuation route, Sergeant First Class Camacho then loaded the two casualties onto B34 and sped them to medical attention. Once the wounded were out of harms way and B21 arrived, Sergeant First Class Camacho then guided this section in a tactically proficient and expedient manner that caught the enemy forces by complete surprise and enabled him to annihilate all the enemy forces in the immediate area that allowed his troop to secure passage through a very canalized area. Sergeant First Class Camacho’s personal bravery, tactical expertise and exemplary devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, 3d Squadron, 7th U.S. Cavalry, Third Infantry Division (M) “Rock of the Marne” and the United States Army.