The President of the United States of America, authorized by Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962, takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Major William M. Myer, United States Army, for exceptional gallantry and valor in the face of a determined enemy on 8 August 2007 while deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM as a Team Chief, Police Mentor Team, Tegab District, Kapisa Province, Regional Police Advisory Command-Central, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan. Major Myer’s actions, expertise, initiative and professional abilities significantly impacted the overall success of combat actions and contributed to the triumph of Operation NEW YEARS HAIL. His performance of duty in a combat zone reflects great credit upon himself, the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, the United States Central Command, and the United States Army.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD:
Major Myer distinguished himself by demonstrating exceptionally valorous conduct in the face of three enemy ambushes on 8 August 2007. Major Myer is the Police Mentor Team (PMT) District Team Chief for the TeGAB District Kapisa Province, Afghanistan Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Major Myer as participating in Operation New Year Hail a joint operation with the Afghan National Army (ANA), Afghan National Police (ANP) and two platoons from the 82ND Airborne Division Special Troops Battalion (DSTB). Major Myer was assigned to advise and mentor the leadership of a 100 ANP and 40 ANA whose task was to conduct clearing operations in the Ishpie Valley, Ali Say District, Kapisa Province, Afghanistan, rooting out known Taliban and Hezbislami anti-government forces. Their first of three ambushes started at approximately 1100 hours when the joint clearing team came under enemy fire from the north in the village of Chara Khel. The ANP conducting house to house searches IVO grid WD 696673 also came under RPG, PKM and small arms fire from an adjacent mountain 1,500 meters north of their position. While he and his joint clearing team were receiving continuous small arms, PKM, and RPG fires Major Myers for the next 3 hours coordinated and relayed enemy and friendly positions to coalition forces in order for the joint clearing team to break contact. Major Myers steadfast leadership calmed the joint team while accurately coordinating coalition effects of close air support and DsHKA machine gun fire thereby allowing the 140 team members to break contact and exit the kill zone injury free. Unwavered, the joint clearing team broke contact and continued their movement southward out of the valley, dismounted, searching houses for enemy combatants. At approximately 1400 hours the second enemy complex ambush began when Major Myers and the joint clearing team entered the enemy kill zone IVO the Chara Khel Village grid WD 696673. The team received heavy volumes of RPG and PKM fires originating from a house located on a spur to the west approximately 100 meters from their positions. Major Myer assessed the situation and found 30 ANA trapped in the kill zone while his ANP were hiding behind walls and rock formations. Major Myer, without any regard for his own safety, dismounted his vehicle under enemy fire, located the ANP commander, Lieutenant Colonel Alim, and reorganized the remnants of the joint team into a counterattack force to flank the enemy ambush in order to allow the trapped ANA to escape the kill zone. Major Myer no longer advising his ANP leadership took it upon himself to save the lives of those trapped in the kill zone. Major Myer demonstrated valorous conduct leading the 40 ANP counterattack element, from the front, constantly exposing himself to heavy volumes of small arms, RPG, and PKM fires. Major Myer continuously disregarded his own safety as they advanced up the hill to flank the enemy ambush as the volume of machine gun and RPG fires increased. Once his counterattack force crested the hill and engaged the enemy positions the enemy seeing they were being flanked broke contact and retreated from the houses through orchards further back into the valley. Due to his quick and decisive actions the ANA maneuvered out of the kill zone with only one ANA soldier wounded. Resolute from this second ambush, Major Myer and Staff Sergeant Schwenke stayed dismounted and continued the mission. At approximately 1500 hours, they entered the kill zone of their third complex enemy ambush set by anti-coalition forces. The ambush was initiated by RPG fire that landed 10 meters from Major Myer and Staff Sergeant Schwenke who through unfaltering courage and increased enemy fires direct crew served weapons to suppress the enemy positions in order to exit the kill zone. Coalition vehicles unbeknownst to them entered the kill zone behind their PMT vehicle. Elements of the joint clearing team were mounted but dismounted abandoning their vehicles and blocking the only mounted exit of the kill zone. Major Myer, Staff Sergeant Schwenke, Staff Sergeant Dempsey, Staff Sergeant McLain and Sergeant First Class Naney fought dismounted in the kill zone as there was no way to get the vehicles out. Major Myer’s again demonstrated steadfast courage by remaining in the kill zone for approximately 30 minutes under heave PKM and PRG fires directing crew serve weapons at enemy positions and convincing the ANP to return to their vehicles in order to allow the PMT and coalition vehicles to exit the kill zone. After the ANP returned to their vehicles and began moving them out of the kill zone the PMT and coalition forces vehicles’ followed. Still dismounted Staff Sergeant Schwenke and Major Myer observed small arms fire from houses located 400 meters east in the middle of the valley. Staff Sergeant Schwenke and Major Myer placed accurate suppressive fire on the houses as the coalition vehicles exited the kill zone. Major Myer’s unwavering leadership and valor that day undoubtedly saved countless ANP, ANA, and coalition lives, at great risk to his own.