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 David R. Stone, United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, on 22 April 2011 in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD:
Specialist David R. Stone distinguished himself through marked heroism and gallantry at the risk of his life in action against an enemy of the United States as a Senior Scout Observer for Scout Platoon, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). On the night of 22 April 2011, Specialist Stone was a member of Assault Team One as part of a Task Force CURRAHEE Focused Targeting Force Air Assault raid to neutralize an insurgent weapons cache in Menjo Kala, Yahya Khel District, Paktika Province, Afghanistan, as part of Operation OPEN SEASON. Two hours into the mission, Dealer 3-6’s western blocking position (BP) came under intense enemy fire from small arms, rocket propelled grenades and hand grenades and took casualties. When the BP sustained casualties, Specialist Stone’s team was searching a large resident associated with a suspected insurgent cache. Specialist Stone and the rest of his team immediately began moving under darkness to friendly elements that had become pinned down by enemy fire. As they approached the kill zone, Specialist Stone and his team took cover behind a wall less than 30 meters from a Mosque where a well-armed and determined enemy squad had established a fortified position. Specialist Stone fired a full magazine of suppressive fire into the windows, allowing his team to relocate to the tentative casualty collection point (CCP). Specialist Stone’s team then cleared an adjacent qalat compound to provide cover for the casualties. After pinpointing the casualties with utter disregard for his own safety, Specialist Stone left his covered position and charged into the kill zone. Specialist Stone, along with Staff Sergeant Garcia and Specialist Wilder, retrieved Specialist Mendes and an Afghan Army casualty who were stranded less than 10 meters from enemy fighting positions. Specialist Stone’s team crossed 40 meters of open area under withering PKM, AK-47, and KA-74 fire, while hand grenades detonated in their path; they located Specialist Mendes but could not locate the ANA casualty. Specialist Stone insisted that he knew the ANA Soldier’s location and continued further into the kill zone to recover him; he then bounded back with his element. Meanwhile, Sergeant Castro was also wounded and remained in the kill zone, less than two meters from the enemy. Specialist Stone and his team entered the kill zone for a second time, this time to retrieve Sergeant Castro where he lay. As his team recovered Sergeant Castro, Specialist Stone placed himself between his team and enemy positions from which they were still receiving effective fire at close range. Specialist Stone continued to suppress the enemy with complete disregard for his own safety, allowing his team to safely recover Sergeant Castro from the kill zone. With exceptional gallantry under fire, Specialist Stone was instrumental in retrieving isolated casualties, as well as saving the lives of his American and Afghan comrades. Specialist Stone’s actions are in keeping with the finest military traditions and reflect great credit upon himself, this Command, and the United States Army.