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 Master Sergeant Jeffrey Joseph Batson, United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving as the Team Sergeant, Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 3124 (ODA-3124), Special Operations Task Force-East, Vssa Nerkh, Wardak Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM from 22 to 24 October 2012. Sergeant Batson distinguished himself by extraordinary valor under accurate deadly enemy small arms and sniper fire during combat operations. Sergeant Batson’s personal courage and commitment to mission accomplishment contributed to the success of Operation AMAL KARD SYGANA II. His actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military heroism and reflect distinct credit upon himself, the Special Operations Task Force-East, the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan, the United States Forces-Afghanistan, and the United States Army.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD:
Master Sergeant Jeffrey Joseph Batson, United States Army, heroically distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous conduct in the face of the enemy of the United States as the Team Sergeant for Operational Detachment Alpha 3124, Special Operations Task Force-East, Village Stability Staging Area Nerkh, Afghanistan, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM XIX. From 22 through 24 October 2012, Sergeant Batson was the Detachment’s Senior Non-Commissioned Officer-in-Charge of a two-day operation known as Operation AMAL KARD SYGAN II, in a known enemy stronghold in the Chak Valley of Wardak Province. On the morning of 23 October 2012, Sergeant Batson directed the establishment of three blocking positions in the Monkay Village vegetated area, known as the green zone, to support clearing operations in multiple Chak Valley locations. On the morning of 23 October 2012, all three of the team’s defensive positions began to receive accurate small arms fire (SAF), heavy machine gun, rocket-propelled grenade (RPG), and sniper fire. As the situation developed, insurgent positions located north and east of the American positions transitioned the majority of their firepower towards Sergeant Batson’s position in the northern blocking position (NBP). Sergeant Batson fluidly maneuvered to multiple firing positions in the NBP, directing fire and rallying Afghan and American Soldiers to successfully repel the attack. During this action, Sergeant Batson continuously exposed himself to accurate fire as he bravely led the defense of NBP, drawing fire away from the detachment commander’s position, allowing the commander to coordinate air-to-ground (ATG) suppressive fires through higher headquarters. During the ATG engagement, Sergeant Batson provided key observations and corrections that successfully suppressed the attack. Sergeant Batson’s brave actions in this hour-long fire fight prevented the enemy from overrunning the NBP and re-taking vital terrain. The steadfastness of the American blocking positions enabled the halt of a subsequent attack launched at 1130. At 1300, the enemy re-grouped and delivered their most determined and effective attack of the day. All three blocking positions were pinned down by an unknown number of insurgents delivering effective enemy SAF, heavy machine gun, sniper, and RPG fire from the multiple fortified positions to the north, northeast, and northwest. Unable to identify the precise location of the enemy, Sergeant Batson volunteered to break from the relative safety of the NBP compound walls and led a small team with all terrain vehicles (ATV) to identify enemy firing positions and relieve pressure on the three American blocking positions. As he gained an accurate understanding of enemy disposition, Sergeant Batson attempted to flank around the enemy’s western-most position. Following this movement, the detachment commander led five personnel behind Sergeant Batson’s position. Shortly after this movement, both dismounted positions began receiving accurate SAF and RPG fire, escalating to the point where both elements were effectively pinned down. Despite drawing the majority of enemy fire away from American blocking positions, Sergeant Batson and his team bounded north towards deadly accurate enemy fire in an attempt to positively identify their locations in a populated green zone. After moving over 400 meters north through open terrain, void of any cover or concealment, and under constant enemy fires, Sergeant Batson was able to positively identify multiple enemy locations. He immediately passed up grid locations, allowing the detachment commander to coordinate ATG fires, which enabled the Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) to call in deadly airstrikes on the enemy positions. Sergeant Batson continuously provided decisive corrections to ATG fires, enabling accurate impacts that effectively suppressed enemy offensive actions. Following the arrival of two attack helicopters, insurgent communications (ICOM) chatter revealed orders to break contact and retreat into the green zone. From his position, Sergeant Batson confirmed at least five enemy personnel killed in action (EKIA). Sergeant Batson subsequently withdrew back to established blocking positions. At 1200 on 24 October 2012, the enemy once again regrouped and engaged all American locations from multiple areas in the green zone. Sergeant Batson led covering fire from the NBP enabling the detachment commander, JTAC, and three personnel to maneuver to an over watch position west of enemy firing positions. From his position at the NBP Sergeant Batson relayed locations of positively identified enemy personnel in the green zone and provided corrections to the JTAC during multiple deadly ATG engagement from attack aircraft and helicopters resulting in at least eight confirmed EKIA. Following the ATG engagement, Sergeant Batson moved on an ATV over to the dismounted element and provided support with his M-240 machine gun. After the ATG attacks were completed, the detachment commander received a request from higher headquarters to conduct ‘boots-on-ground’ battle damage assessment (BDA). With attack helicopters overhead, Sergeant Batson skillfully maneuvered 20 personnel into three positions over watching the green zone and bravely led a five-man element more than 200 feet below into the BDA location to validate the detachment’s defensive actions. Immediately upon entering the green zone, Sergeant Batson’s team encountered eight armed enemy combatants hiding in thick foliage. In deadly proximity, he led his team to surround and engage the disorganized and shocked enemy element, some engagements taking place within five meters of their positions. While simultaneously engaging and maneuvering on the enemy in thick foliage and through multiple compounds, Sergeant Batson provided the JTAC critical observations of enemy movement, enabling attack helicopters to prevent enemy movements into the high ground surrounding the green zone. Despite thick foliage and extremely close combat, Sergeant Batson’s tactical prowess and leadership enabled his team to find, fix, and destroy the enemy in minimal time, without incurring a single casualty. His actions in combination with the three support-by-fire positions resulted in eight confirmed EKIA and the recovery of multiple enemy weapons and communications equipment. Sergeant Batson also discovered a mortar tube hidden in thick green zone foliage within accurate range of American blocking positions. He effectively related its position to the JTAC who then utilized attack helicopters to destroy the mortar position just prior to the helo’s departing. Recognizing the impending loss of air coverage, the detachment commander initiated the collapse of Sergeant Batson’s dismounted element out of the green zone. As soon as the helicopters departed, the entire green zone and adjacent high ground came alive with accurate SAF, heavy machine gun, and sniper fire on all friendly positions. Sergeant Batson gallantly provided covering fire, while directing his team to tactically bound away from fire. He bravely applied effective fire on multiple enemy positions, enabling all personnel on his team to bound to relative safety, until he was hit in his right leg by insurgent small arms fire. The round went through his leg, fracturing his femur and severing his femoral artery, before lodging in his left leg. After being shot, Sergeant Batson sought cover behind his ATV. He continued to return fire and maneuver until he realized how bad his bleeding was from the wounds in his legs. Two interpreters and an Infantryman moved to his position and delivered life saving first aid. Sergeant Batson continued to relay last known enemy locations as he was carried to the medical evacuation helicopter. This enabled the JTAC to deliver deadly fixed and rotary wing close-air-support on enemy positions, allowing all friendly positions to tactically bound to safety. At the completion of this two-day operation, during which enemy small arms fire engagements lasted for more than 14 combined hours, Sergeant Batson was a key factor in the destruction of five enemy vehicles, five motorcycles, one mortar system, one enemy cave system, 39 EKIA, 10 to 15 enemies wounded-in-action, and the recovery of multiple enemy weapons and equipment. Sergeant Batson personally engaged and killed five enemy combatants with his own weapon and an additional ten more through coordinated air strikes that he relayed through the JTAC. 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, the United States Forces-Afghanistan, and the United States Army.