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 Lieutenant Colonel Stephen M. Schiller, United States Army, for exceptional heroism and gallantry in the face of enemy fire during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM during the Battle of Karbala on 5 and 6 April 2003 while serving as the Commanding Officer of the 2d Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Throughout this battle, Lieutenant Colonel Schiller repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire. Despite his aircraft being hit in three places, he remained on station to support the attack of the 2d Brigade, destroying dozens of enemy personnel, numerous weapons systems, and several enemy bunkers. Lieutenant Colonel Schiller’s heroism and courageous leadership from the cockpit directly contributed to the rapid destruction of the enemy in Karbala and reflect great credit on him, the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and the United States Army.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD:
Lieutenant Colonel Stephen M. Schiller is nominated for the Silver Star for his heroism and gallantry in the face of the enemy during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM from 30 March 2003 to 10 April 2003 while serving as the Commander of the 2d Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). As the Squadron Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Schiller led from the front by repeatedly placing himself in harms way in order to ensure the safety and mission accomplishment of the units he was supporting. During every major operation in the key towns of An Najaf, Karbala, and Al Hillah, Lieutenant Colonel Schiller personally flew into the most dangerous situations, despite receiving extensive ground fire, to accomplish the mission. Despite the danger, Lieutenant Colonel Schiller placed himself at the most critical points of the battlefield in order to command and control his Squadron. As a result of his actions, the Brigade Combat Teams were able to retain freedom of maneuver during their attacks to seize key objectives. During the battle for Karbala, Lieutenant Colonel Schiller led his aircraft and team directly into the center of the town, where the 2d Brigade Combat Team was receiving intense and significant resistance. Despite his aircraft being hit in three separate locations, with one bullet passing within inches of his leg and puncturing a hole through one of the critical flight controls, Lieutenant Colonel Schiller continued to remain on station supporting the ground force. He personally called in an indirect fire mission with pinpoint accuracy, killing over 40 enemy soldiers and paving the way to the seizure of the center of the city. Lieutenant Colonel Schiller continued to display the same heroism in support of the 3d Brigade Combat Team’s seizure of Al Hillah and the 2d Battalion Combat Team’s clearance of Southwest Baghdad. In every instance he led from the front, despite taking withering fire, to ensure the soldiers with boots on the ground received timely reconnaissance and direct fire support. His personal actions set the standard within the unit and spurred others on to provide similar gallantry in the face of the enemy. Lieutenant Colonel Schiller’s heroism and gallantry in the face of the enemy sets him apart from his peers and provided a role model for all soldiers to follow. With complete disregard for his own safety, he consistently placed himself in the direct line of fire in order to ensure the safety of the ground forces that he was supporting. Lieutenant Colonel Schiller’s actions reflect great credit upon himself, the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), V Corps, Combined Forces Land Component Command and the United States Army.