The Secretary of the Army of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Army Commendation Medal with Combat “V” to Sergeant Robert Salmon, United States Army, for valor above and beyond the call of duty, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Sergeant Salmon showed decisive presence on the battlefield while 2d Platoon, 810th Military Police Company was conducting convoy escort operations. Sergeant Salmon engaged and suppressed multiple enemy targets that posed a threat to the convoy. Sergeant Salmon’s actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of the 810th Military Police Company, the Military Police Corps and the United States Army.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD:
On 8 May 2004, Sergeant Salmon was assigned as the gunner for his MP team while conducting convoy security in the Baghdad area. Sergeant Salmon’s gun truck was a roving vehicle that was used to keep civilian traffic out of the convoy. When his gun truck was blocking civilian traffic from an on-ramp, the rear of the convoy was attacked with RPGs. The main body of the convoy passed, turned on to Route FORCE, and created a security box formation. Sergeant Salmon’s gun truck maintained security with the rear of the convoy. The gun truck in front of Sergeant Salmon’s vehicle alerted the convoy that they saw five individuals on a rooftop at their two o’clock position. Shortly after, a barrage of small arms fire hit the convoy. Sergeant Salmon scanned the buildings and noticed muzzle flashes coming from the top floor of a building. He littered the building with numerous rounds from his mounted squad automatic weapon (SAW). Sergeant Salmon successfully suppressed the insurgent’s fire from the top floor of the building. All firing then stopped momentarily. Small arms fire again rattled out, but this time from a building at Sergeant Salmon’s three o’clock position. He again took sight behind his SAW and fired for suppression. A ceasefire was called out that quickly erupted in another firefight. Sergeant Salmon continued to fire for suppression, all the while taking fire from the insurgents. After his third altercation the enemy threat had been suppressed and the convoy mounted up and moved out. According to a simultaneously engaged Stryker brigade, the encounter lasted approximately 30 minutes, resulting in no friendly casualties and nine neutralized insurgents. Sergeant Salmon stood his ground in the turret under fire and, along with the other MPs in the firefight, suppressed the enemy, making the mission a success.