The President of the United States of America, authorized by Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Bronze Star Medal (Army Award) to Technical Sergeant Lance H. Maguire, United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious achievement from 10 March 2003 to 1 May 2003 while assigned as the Ground Forward Air Controller for Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 395 (ODA-395), Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-North, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Technical Sergeant Maguire’s professionalism and commitment to mission accomplishment under extreme circumstances resulted in unprecedented success across northern Iraq. Technical Sergeant Maguire’s performance reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962, takes pleasure in presenting a Third Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Technical Sergeant Lance H. Maguire, United States Air Force, for heroism as Ground Terminal Attack Controller, Operational Detachment Alpha 2073 (ODA-2073), 20th Special Forces Group, while engaged in ground combat against an enemy of the United States from 7 January 2004 to 7 April 2004. During this period, while deployed for Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, his Special Forces team received orders to establish a border checkpoint in Lwara District, Afghanistan. While on a site survey, the team came under small arms and mortar fire. Sergeant Maguire requested close air support and drove the enemy off using Marine UH-1, AH-1 helicopters and A-10s. Later, during a command visit, his team came under intense attack from multiple directions. Sergeant Maguire directed initial combat and provided a command radio link while directing heavy weapons fire on the enemy. He maintained situational awareness and directed personnel and aircraft where they were needed most and controlled seven different aircraft during the battle, providing close air support, radar coverage and surveillance. Sergeant Maguire directed a counter-attack by coalition forces during a mortar attack and controlled three separate close air support aircraft in defense of the team, neutralizing seventeen enemy personnel. During the course of the deployment, Sergeant Maguire executed twenty other close air support missions and over ten helicopter missions in support of his team’s security, re-supply and personnel movements. Despite being under extreme combat pressure, Sergeant Maguire made sound decisions and performed admirably during all phases of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. By his heroic actions and unselfish dedication to duty, Sergeant Maguire has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962, takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal (Army Award) to Technical Sergeant Lance H. Maguire, United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious service as Assistant Fire Support Officer and Tactical Air Control Party Noncommissioned Officer-in-Charge, from 12 February 2003 to 15 August 2003 while deployed to Afghanistan, in direct support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Technical Sergeant Maguire’s leadership, selfless service, and commitment to mission accomplishment under the most extreme of circumstances greatly contributed to the success of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. His performance of duty in a combat zone reflects great credit upon him, the Combined/Joint Task Force-180, and the United States Central Command.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Technical Sergeant Lance H. Maguire, United States Air Force, for heroism as 3d Special Forces Group, Operational Detachment Alpha 395 (ODA-395) Ground Terminal Attack Controller while engaged in ground combat against an enemy of the United States on 6 April 2003. Sergeant Maguire’s Special Forces Team received orders to establish support-by-fire positions and provide effective suppressive fires in support of an allied Peshmerga attack against a numerically superior Iraqi infantry force which was entrenched in Zurgah Ziraw Dagh Ridge and Hilltop 356. Special intelligence and reconnaissance about the ridgeline and hilltop prior to the attack, indicated strong enemy defensive fortifications and an estimated battalion sized element of Iraqi infantry forces armed with multiple truck mounted heavy machine guns and numerous mortar positions. During the predawn hours, Sergeant Maguire worked collaterally with detachment leadership and Peshmerga advisors to integrate close air support in assault plan against the ridge and hilltop. During the execution of operations, the assault team along with Sergeant Maguire received heavy fire from enemy positions and was forced to withdraw to secondary fighting positions. Without regard to his own safety, Sergeant Maguire received heavy fire from enemy positions and was forced to withdraw to secondary fighting positions. Without regard to his own safety, Sergeant Maguire volunteered to follow the assault team back into the hostile area. Additionally, while under intense artillery barrage, he guided two F-18 fighter jets to key enemy targets on the ridgeline where they engaged and destroyed an Iraqi command bunker and heavy weapons position. Then, he directed a B-52 bomber delivered 26,750 pound bombs and delivered 16 cluster bombs on additional targets, for a distance of one mile across the target. Finally, Sergeant Maguire’s courageous and decisive actions sealed the victory on the ridge and Hilltop 356, causing Iraqi forces to retreat south, providing United States forces the ability to begin movement to secure the oil fields in and around Kirkuk, one of the operational objectives for northern Iraq. Sergeant Maguire remained calm under fire and demonstrated the ability to make sound decisions under extreme combat pressure. By his heroic actions and unselfish dedication to duty, Sergeant Maguire has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962, takes pleasure in presenting a Fourth Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fifth Award of the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Master Sergeant Lance H. Maguire, United States Air Force, for heroism as a Joint Terminal Attack Controller, Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 164 (ODA-164), 3d Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group, while engaged in ground combat against an enemy at Ad Diwaniyah, Iraq, on 2 July 2007. On that date, Sergeant Maguire’s camp, Camp Echo Diwaniyah, was attacked by 82 heavy mortar rounds and rockets. The Special Forces compound was attacked by indirect fire over a 3-hour period, in effect destroying their portion of the overall camp by the end of the attack. During the barrage, two team members were initially wounded by shrapnel from sustained indirect fire. He led these wounded to a bunker and designated a medic. Then with the team’s compound physically on fire, he ran through the indirect fire barrage to get to his room to recover his combat gear and radio equipment so he could fight back. Upon arrival at his room, he found it partially destroyed and on fire. Without regard for his personal safety, thinking only of the preservation of the camp and his teammates, Sergeant Maguire went into his burning and smoke filled room to retrieve his combat gear and radios to be able to call for close air support. Once back outside, in the process of requesting close air support, a mortar round impacted ten meters away from him, throwing fragments into his equipment. Unharmed, he suggested the team members move to a safer location away from the Special Forces compound while he continued the process of briefing four F-16 fighter jets. After his talk on to the target area, he directed four F-16s to destroy the indirect fire point of origin, a forward observer point and the enemy counter attack assembly area. This effectively ended the indirect fire and subsequent planned attack on Camp Echo. The Battle Damage Assessment was 32 enemy killed in action, to include one of the areas top five high-value individuals. His skillful direction and control of United States Air Force air power also destroyed three buildings that were being used as the enemy staging area, one enemy vehicle and a mortar and rocket munitions cache producing ten minutes of secondary explosions. During this attack, Sergeant Maguire made Air Force history by being the first to effectively employ an inert BGU-38 in combat, a weapon intended to limit collateral damage in urban areas. His actions prevented the enemy from completely destroying the Special Forces compound, damaging more of Camp Echo and prevented loss of life and stemmed further injuries of American and Iraqi soldiers. By his heroic actions and unselfish dedication to duty, Sergeant Maguire has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.