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 Russell D. Dallas, United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving as Senior Medical Sergeant, Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 3235 (ODA-3235), Special Operations Task Force-Northeast, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM on 14 January 2014. Staff Sergeant Dallas distinguished himself by exposing himself to danger while providing suppressive fire, tactically maneuvering his ground forces, and providing essential medical care under extremely accurate enemy fire, without regard for his own personal safety in order to support all adjacent maneuvering elements. His actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military heroism and reflect distinct credit upon himself, the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, the Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan, and the United States Army.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD:
Staff Sergeant Russell Dallas, United States Army, heroically distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous conduct in the face of the enemy while serving as the Senior Medical Sergeant, Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 3235, Special Operations Task Force-Northeast, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. On 14 January 2014, Sergeant Dallas was performing his duties as the C2 Element Leader and mentor to 1st Company, 6th Special Operations Kandak during a bilateral operation in Ghorband District, Parwan Province, Afghanistan. Immediately after insertion, Sergeant Dallas and the entire C2 element came under heavy and accurate small arms fire, machine gun fire, rocket propelled grenade fire, and 82-mm. mortar fire from numerous enemy positions ranging from 100 to 500 meters west of his position. Sergeant Dallas, with complete disregard for his own personal safety, exposed himself to enemy fire in order to direct the movement of Alpha and Bravo Teams. Sergeant Dallas then provided effective suppressive fire in order to enable the safe movement of his element to the objective compounds. Sergeant Dallas directed and de-conflicted fires of the C2 element with the Main Effort (ME) and Support Effort (SE) throughout movement to compounds of interest. Sergeant Dallas then directed the C2 along a 500-meter westward movement, while assaulting multiple compounds and drawing fire from two opposing directions. After clearing the compounds, the C2 element set in a temporary strong point position to suppress the insurgent fighting positions less than 200 meters to the north and south of his element. Sergeant Dallas’ element received the vast majority of hostile fire from this location, which undoubtedly allowed the other elements to maneuver safely to neutralize the enemy fighting positions. While ensuring his subordinates were behind cover and placing effective fires on the enemy positions, a member of Sergeant Dallas’ element was struck by small arms fire from the north. Upon the call for a medic, Sergeant Dallas, with complete disregard for his personal safety, maneuvered through the enemy fire to render aid to his wounded teammate. While under intense enemy fire, Sergeant Dallas performed all possible medical life saving interventions on his wounded teammate until all measures were exhausted. As the C2 conducted the movement to the helicopter landing zone (HLZ) allowing extraction of the U.S. casualty, Sergeant Dallas not only supervised, but he carried the U.S. casualty out of harm’s way. Once at the HLZ, he coordinated the security of the casualty and prepared him for extraction via hoist. Sergeant Dallas’ actions reflect the highest credit upon himself, the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, Special Operations Command, and the United States Army.