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 Thomas Daley, United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving as an Engineer Sergeant, Operational Detachment Alpha 3232 (ODA-3232), Special Operations Task Force-Northeast, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM on 10 February 2014. Staff Sergeant Daley distinguished himself by exposing himself to intense enemy fire to reach two severely wounded American soldiers and ensure their proper care and transport. Staff Sergeant Daley personally orchestrated both ground-to-ground and air-to-ground strikes to suppress enemy fire to support adjacent friendly elements. Staff Sergeant Daley then braved extremely heavy enemy fire to clear the route to the HLZ of IEDS, sustaining shrapnel wounds to his face in the process, but never wavering in his task. 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 Thomas Daley, United States Army, heroically distinguished himself through exceptionally valorous conduct in the face of the enemy while serving as the Detachment Engineer Sergeant, Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha (SFODA) 3232, Camp NEW, Sarobi District, Kabul Province, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. On 10 February 2014, Tagab Afghan National Police and Afghan Local Police, Advised by SFODA 3232, conducted a clearance operation in the Shakut Village, Tagab District, Kapisa Province. This village is located in the Alah Say Valley, which is a significant insurgent safe haven. Following the two-day clearance operation, the entire element was en route back to the Tagab District Police Headquarters when it was engaged by insurgent forces initiating with overwhelming small arms fire, PKM fire, and RPG fire. This intense enemy contact initially yielded one disabled vehicle that was in need of recovery. As Sergeant Daley was located in the disabled vehicle, he exited under a hail of heavy enemy fire to assess the damage to the vehicle and all personnel. Sergeant Daley then re-engaged the enemy with his individual weapon systems, shooting twelve 82-mm. Carl Gustov Recoilless Rifle rounds on the enemy position. As the patrol progressed through the kill zone, the rear vehicle was struck with a direct hit from a rocket-propelled grenade, resulting in two casualties with multiple internal system injuries and catastrophic wounds to their extremities. The casualties’ critical status necessitated immediate care and halted friendly movement out of the kill zone. Sergeant Daley immediately exposed himself to enemy fire in order to carry the casualties out of the vehicle and to the nearest cover. Sergeant Daley assisted the sole Detachment Medical Sergeant on the most critical casualty while enemy forces maneuvered on his position. Simultaneously, Sergeant Daley began to coordinate directly with air assets to guide them toward known enemy positions to conduct critical air-to-ground kinetic strikes that suppressed the overwhelming enemy fire. Sergeant Daley then resumed assisting the treatment of the wounded soldiers to prepare them for transport. Once the casualties were ready for movement, Sergeant Daley, with little regard for his own personal safety intentionally exposed himself to enemy fire, moving 500 meters in order to reach and coordinate with the partnered force. Then, Sergeant Daley personally led the partnered force element to clear the road of all IED threats. During the clearance, an IED detonated knocking Sergeant Daley off his feet and causing a deep laceration on his face. Despite being wounded, Sergeant Daley continued to lead the element on foot toward the MEDEVAC HLZ, personally refusing evacuation, and continuing to control aircraft until his other wounded teammates were evacuated. His action are in keeping with the finest traditions of military heroism and reflect distinct credit upon himself, the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, Special Operations Command, and the United States Army.