ST4
12-31-2003, 02:34 AM
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1013485/posts
Coronado SEAL Wins Navy Cross
Award for heroism in Afghanistan
By Otto Kreisher, Copley News Service
WASHINGTON – A Navy SEAL assigned to the Special Warfare Center in Coronado received the Navy Cross, the nation's second-highest award, this week for heroism during a rescue mission in Afghanistan.
Chief Petty Officer Stephen Bass also was one of three special-operations personnel among six service members honored by a prominent national-security support group, underscoring the unprecedented role special-operations forces played in the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts.
Bass was cited for "extraordinary heroism" during combat operations in northern Afghanistan as part of a U.S. and British special-operations mission to rescue two missing Americans. During the operation, he was "continuously engaged" by small-arms, mortar and rocket-propelled-grenade fire and had to walk through a minefield to reach the Americans, according to a citation honoring Bass.
The award statement said Bass advanced nearly one-quarter of a mile "under constant enemy fire" in an attempt to find one of the Americans. When he ran low on ammunition, the SEAL used weapons from dead enemy forces to continue his mission, which resulted in the recovery of the American.
The Navy Cross is second only to the Medal of Honor for bravery in combat.
Bass was among the first recipients of the "Grateful Nation" award from the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs.
The organization also honored Maj. George Thiebes for his actions as an Army Special Forces company commander fighting in northern Iraq and Air Force Master Sgt. Michael Lamonica for two special-operations combat deployments to Afghanistan.
The "Grateful Nation" award also went to Army 1st Sgt. John R. Hawley for combat leadership in Afghanistan, Marine Reserve Cpl. Seth Wells for performance under fire in Iraq, and Coast Guard Reserve Chief Petty Officer Paula Jaklitsch for service in New York City during and after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Coronado SEAL Wins Navy Cross
Award for heroism in Afghanistan
By Otto Kreisher, Copley News Service
WASHINGTON – A Navy SEAL assigned to the Special Warfare Center in Coronado received the Navy Cross, the nation's second-highest award, this week for heroism during a rescue mission in Afghanistan.
Chief Petty Officer Stephen Bass also was one of three special-operations personnel among six service members honored by a prominent national-security support group, underscoring the unprecedented role special-operations forces played in the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts.
Bass was cited for "extraordinary heroism" during combat operations in northern Afghanistan as part of a U.S. and British special-operations mission to rescue two missing Americans. During the operation, he was "continuously engaged" by small-arms, mortar and rocket-propelled-grenade fire and had to walk through a minefield to reach the Americans, according to a citation honoring Bass.
The award statement said Bass advanced nearly one-quarter of a mile "under constant enemy fire" in an attempt to find one of the Americans. When he ran low on ammunition, the SEAL used weapons from dead enemy forces to continue his mission, which resulted in the recovery of the American.
The Navy Cross is second only to the Medal of Honor for bravery in combat.
Bass was among the first recipients of the "Grateful Nation" award from the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs.
The organization also honored Maj. George Thiebes for his actions as an Army Special Forces company commander fighting in northern Iraq and Air Force Master Sgt. Michael Lamonica for two special-operations combat deployments to Afghanistan.
The "Grateful Nation" award also went to Army 1st Sgt. John R. Hawley for combat leadership in Afghanistan, Marine Reserve Cpl. Seth Wells for performance under fire in Iraq, and Coast Guard Reserve Chief Petty Officer Paula Jaklitsch for service in New York City during and after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.