Gary Volesky

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Gary Volesky, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while Commanding the 2d Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment 1st Cavalry Division, during combat operations in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, on 16 August 2004. Lieutenant Colonel Volesky personally led an ad hoc element of two tanks and 11 Bradley Fighting Vehicles to rescue a Bradley Fighting Vehicle section that was isolated and in heavy contact in Sadr City, Iraq. Insurgent RPG gunners had earlier ambushed a tank section. They then ambushed a Bradley Fighting Vehicle when it was dispatched to secure the damaged tank. The 1st Brigade Combat Team’s commander directed Task Force Lancer, at the time were refitting and conduction maintenance in preparations for Operation IRON FURY, to mount up immediately and fight its way to the cut-off section. The crew and dismounted section from the stricken Bradley cleared a building and established a defensive position on its rooftop. Sensing the urgency of the situation, Lieutenant Colonel Volesky immediately mounted his Bradley Fighting Vehicle and departed Camp Eagle at the head of the column. While receiving small arms fire, RPGs and detonations from improvised explosive devices along the route, Lieutenant Colonel Volesky continued on and arrived at the site. He secured it and evacuated the wounded. Iraqi police reported that a 500-man Madhi Army strike force was moving in on the location of the ambushed section. After recovering the damaged vehicle, now engulfed in flames, and the wounded, Lieutenant Colonel Volesky called in AH-64 Apache attack helicopters to provide close air support to cover their withdrawal. The rescue resulted in recovery of the damaged vehicles, 100 percent accountability and 10 insurgent fighters killed.