AUSTRALIAN ARMY

SERGEANT "Y"

TO BE AWARDED THE MEDAL FOR GALLANTRY

For Gallantry, as a Patrol Commander, while under intense Anti-Coalition Militia (ACM) fire and showing total disregard for his own safety he manoeuvred forward to recover a machine gun in order to protect the left flank and to neutralise enemy fire positions.

During the conduct of an Operation in southern Afghanistan , an Australian force was engaged by a numerically superior ACM element. In the lead up to the engagement Sergeant "Y" was tasked, by the on-scene commander, to conduct a foot patrol to clear and secure a potentially dangerous obstacle in order to facilitate the safe passage of the Australian patrol. Whilst conducting this task Sergeant "Y" commenced to clear and secure the south-western sector of a village and obstacle choke point.

An engagement on the south-eastern sector of the village and subsequent contact resulted in the south-western clearing patrol being separated from the remainder of call-sign. Sergeant "Y" placed himself in an extremely hazardous situation whilst under heavy fire to gain situational awareness and command of his patrol in order to linkup with the main-force element. On linking up with the main-force element Sergeant "Y", whilst under fire, retrieved a machine gun from a tactical vehicle in order to move to a position to put effective fire onto ACM positions. This action turned the balance on the left flank, enabling the entire Australian element to regain the initiative. Sergeant "Y", with assistance from another patrol member, occupied a fire position under extreme ACM fire with the intent to suppress the ACM. This action enabled the Australian element to regain the initiative and was pivotal in preventing loss of life on the south eastern sector of the contact site. It also enabled further elements to move into positions to prevent an ACM advance and to facilitate the withdrawal of the Australian patrol from the engagement area.

Sergeant "Y's" actions of gallantry and disregard for his own safety in order to reinforce the main force element and his ability to recover a machine gun in order to suppress the ACM, while under fire in extremely hazardous circumstances, displayed courage of the highest order and is keeping with the finest traditions of the Australian Army and the Australian Defence Force.