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 Staff Sergeant John M. Rowland, United States Army, for exceptionally valorous achievement from 28 to 29 August 2010, as a Ranger Squad Leader for a joint task force in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. During this period, Staff Sergeant John M. Rowland engaged and eliminated several threats to the assault force including one machine gun while under direct enemy fire at a ranger of five meters with total disregard for his personal safety. His decisive actions fixed the enemy, segregating them from non-combatants on the objective, and allowed the assault force to effectively breach and clear the target compound. Through his distinctive accomplishments, Staff Sergeant Rowland reflected great credit upon himself, this command and the United States Army.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD:
On August 28-29, 2010 while conducting combat operations, Staff Sergeant John M. Rowland distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions while serving as a Ranger Squad Leader in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. While the main body of the assault force approached objective A from the west, one enemy combatant exited the target compound from the south side, turned to the west, saw the lead members of the Assault force and quickly returned to the compound, which in turn hastened their movement toward the compound. Staff Sergeant Rowland climbed onto the roof of the southwestern most building of the target compound. Once on the roof, an enemy combatant in the courtyard, who upon observing him returned to another building, saw Staff Sergeant Rowland. Shortly after the enemy combatant reappeared in the doorway with an AK-47 assault rifle; Staff Sergeant Rowland engaged and killed him. This action drew the fire of three additional enemy personnel from the south side door and windows of the second building. One of the enemy fighters armed with a PKM, had his weapon system oriented so the first burst would engage anything entering the compound door. Due to Staff Sergeant Rowland’s rapid reaction and engagement of the enemy, the greatest volume of fire was directed at his position instead of the main assault force located at the target compound’s southern breach. By this time, another Ranger had joined Staff Sergeant Rowland on top of the first building as the enemy with the PKM continued to engage their position from a distance of approximately five meters with a cyclic rate of fire. Staff Sergeant Rowland was without cover or concealment while he received a heavy amount of small arms fire. He maintained his exposed position and continued to engage threats in and around the second building, killing two and severely wounding the PKM gunner. Staff Sergeant Rowland maintained incredible composure while under intense AK-47 and PKM machine gun fire that would have decimated the assault force. His accurate engagement and destruction of three entrenched fighters enabled the assault force to gain entry into the compound without receiving devastating fire and successfully secure the target compound. Staff Sergeant Rowland’s heroic actions saved the lives of his fellow assaulters and numerous women and children on the objective. Staff Sergeant John M. Rowland’s tactical proficiency, analytical decision-making skills, and composure under fire undoubtedly saved the lives of the assault force’s breach team. His selfless actions drawing the enemy fire away from the breach not only fixed and neutralized the enemy preventing them from integrating with non-combatants on the objective, but allowed the breach team to emplace a charge, gain entry to and clear the targeted compound.