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 Andrew J. A. Lamkin, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Combat Medic with Company A, 2d Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, during combat operations in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, on 5 September 2004 during Operation IRON FURY II, in Iraq. Specialist Lamkin’s personal bravery and selfless actions are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the First Cavalry Division, and the United States Army.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD:
Specialist Andrew Lamkin distinguished himself by his gallantry and personal courage while assigned as Combat Medic with Company A, 2d Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division on 5 September 2004 during Operation IRON FURY II. Specialist Lamkin established his platoon’s Casualty Collection Point (CCP) in a building adjacent to the corner of Route BRAVO and Route MAINE, deep in Sadr City, Iraq. The platoon made contact with Mahdi Militia fighters, and a soldier was wounded in a squad on an adjacent rooftop. Without hesitating, he left his covered and concealed position and made his way toward the injured infantryman. The enemy massed their fires on him as he moved to treat the casualty in an effort to pin him down, but he continued undeterred. Noticing that two insurgent gunmen were exposed on a rooftop across the street, Specialist Lamkin halted and quickly killed them both with accurate rifle fire. Rushing to the side of the wounded soldier, Private First Class Young, he immediately assessed the casualty and began treating him for a gunshot wound to his arm. He soon realized that he could not effectively treat Private First Class Young’s injury at that location due to the high volume of incoming fire. Specialist Lamkin saw a locked door that appeared to lead downstairs, and ran toward it at full speed, knocking it off its hinges. He dragged the door to the casualty and, using empty ammunition bandoliers, fashioned a makeshift litter, which he used to drag Private First Class Young to safety. Once out of direct fire contact, he stabilized Private First Class Young until his platoon could evacuate him. Less than an hour after the first casualty, another soldier was critically wounded. Private Second Class McCauley had been shot in the head, and needed immediate medical attention. Again, without hesitation, Specialist Lamkin ran to the side of the fallen soldier and began treating him under fire. With another soldier’s help, he dragged Private McCauley to a sector of the rooftop that seemed safer and less exposed. Upon reaching it, however, Specialist Lamkin and his patient were immediately taken under heavy rifle and RPG fire from insurgent gunmen across the street. Without regard for his own safety, Specialist Lamkin used his own body as a shield, and began to stabilize his seriously wounded comrade as withering fire raked the rooftop around him. Specialist Lamkin realized that Private McCauley was unconscious and choking on his own blood. He quickly opened the casualty’s airway using a “J-tube”, enabling him to breathe although he was unconscious. The enemy continued to hammer the rooftop with RPG and rifle fire, but Specialist Lamkin shielded Private McCauley’s body with his own. Securing the “J-tube” with 550-cord in order to move his patient, Specialist Lamkin called for the evacuation vehicle. Before he could evacuate the casualty, however, Specialist Lamkin helped carry him over a four-foot high wall, under fire, and then down three flights of stairs to the evacuation vehicle–an impressive show of stamina and strength. On the ground floor, the Bradley Fighting Vehicle tasked to evacuate Private McCauley backed up to the door. As the wounded soldier’s squad placed him in the Bradley, Specialist Lamkin continued to scan for insurgent fighters. He identified two that were repositioning to interdict the MEDEVAC vehicle, and killed them both with accurate rifle fire. Specialist Lamkin demonstrated his expert marksmanship, medical skills and conspicuous gallantry; he is truly the epitome of the combat medic.