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 Captain (Infantry) Matthew R. R. Myer, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as Company Commander of Company C, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Parachute Infantry Regiment, 173d Airborne Brigade Combat Team, during an enemy attack on Vehicle Patrol Base Wanat, in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Captain Myer’s perseverance under fire and leadership in the face of mortal danger saved the day when almost all had been lost. Captain Myer’s valorous actions, enabling the defeat of a numerically superior enemy force, are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 173d Airborne Brigade Combat Team, and the United States Army.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD:
On 13 July 2008 at approximately 0430L, an estimated 200 enemy fighters conducted a coordinated assault on Vehicle Patrol Base (VPB) Wanat, a newly established, platoon-sized VPB in Wanat, Afghanistan using PKMs, RPGs, mortars, and effective small arms fire from numerous concealed fighting positions. For over four hours, a vicious battle for the base and the lives of its Soldiers raged. By the time the outnumbered Coalition Force repelled the enemy attack, nine American Soldiers – to include the platoon leader – had given their lives and another sixteen had been seriously wounded. For those four hours, the Chosen Company Commander, Captain Matt Myer, fearlessly led the defense of the VPB. Under attack on all sides by a numerically superior force, Captain Myer’s skillful employment of artillery, mortars, CCA, CAS, and direct fire and his own example of unwavering personal courage ensured that each time the enemy force attempted to overrun the VPB, they were defeated and forced to retreat. Although his Company incurred heavy losses in the attack, Captain Myer’s fearless leadership and steady hand ensured that when the smoked cleared and fighting ended, the Chosen Few owned the ground that the enemy sought to take, and the nearly fifty enemy fighters that were destroyed in the battle were evidence of the ferocity of the defense of VPB Wanat that Captain Myer led. Just before dawn, Captain Myer directed that all Soldiers on the VPB conduct stand-to as he considered the likelihood of an attack to be higher as visibility began to improve. As soon as his element had assumed 100% security, approximately 200 enemy fighters began the assault of the VPB from all sides, immediately targeting the TOW missile vehicle and the 120mm mortar pit. Captain Myer immediately started receiving reports, passing updates to the Task Force Commander, and requesting artillery, mortar, and CAS. Behind the minimal cover afforded him by his vehicle and a makeshift Command Post (CP), Captain Myer continued providing the critical information that brought effective fires into the fight. When he sensed that the decisive terrain, the Observation Post (OP), was in danger of being overrun and that heavy casualties had left the position vulnerable, Captain Myer boldly directed the reinforcement of the OP under fireÑa difficult command decision that likely saved the entire VPB and its Soldiers from being destroyed. Under his direction, a fire team of Soldiers assaulted uphill, under enemy fire, to reinforce the position and better assess and treat the wounded and killed Soldiers. Not satisfied that he sufficiently understood the situation at the OP to best direct the fight, Captain Myer then began an audacious move up to the OP himself. Captain Myer risked likely injury and possible death when he moved under enemy fire and observation over terrain where two if his Soldiers had been killed just minutes before, and climbed to the OP in order to better understand the terrain in which he was directing assets against the enemy well within “danger close” range. Once he arrived at the OP, still under effective enemy fire, Captain Myer quickly organized the remaining able-bodied Paratroopers and ensured they understood how to best direct CCA, CAS, and artillery against the enemy who continued to maneuver on the position within hand grenade range. When the Paratroopers at the OP pointed out an enemy grenade that had been thrown into the OP but that had not exploded, Captain Myer fearlessly picked up the grenade himself and then threw it back out of the OP and away from his men. Captain Myer then moved back down to his CP, again maneuvering over bare rock, in plain sight of the still attacking enemy. Once he arrived back at his CP, Captain Myer continued the precise employment of all available assets to continue destroying enemy advances as they sought to overrun the VPB. When MEDEVAC aircraft arrived to lift the first group of wounded Paratroopers from the VPB, Captain Myer’s unwavering proficiency allowed him to bring the aircraft into an HLZ that was still taking occasional enemy fire while still employing CAS and CCA, ensuring that once the enemy assault was broken, the smaller American force maintained the initiative. This tenacity and willingness to continue to pursue the enemy enabled the defenders of the VPB to become the attackers as Chosen Company pursued the enemy force with fires and continued to destroy the enemy wherever they attempted to consolidate and reorganize. Captain Myer’s steadfast leadership and calm direction of the battle singularly enabled the Battalion to bring the full force of all available enablers to bear on the determined enemy formation, allowing the outnumbered group of American Paratroopers to decisively defeat a much larger enemy force fighting from advantageous terrain. At the decisive moment of the battle, Captain Myer unflinchingly ordered the audacious reinforcement of the OP, and then exposed himself to the same risk that his Soldiers faced in order to continue effectively leading the successful defense of his position. Although his entire element demonstrated uncommon valor over the course of the entire engagement, Captain Myer’s gallant direction of the defense of his position and men was decisive to the defeat of the numerically superior attacking force, and the Chosen Few held their ground due in large part to the incredible leadership of their Commander, Captain MyerÑChosen 6.