John Vanlandingham

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to John Vanlandingham, Captain (Field Artillery), U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with the 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery Regiment, 39th Brigade Combat Team, during combat operations in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, on 14 November 2004, in Iraq. On that date Captain Vanlandingham was leading a convoy from an oil refinery back to a US area of operations north of Taji, Iraq, including about 50 Iraqi National Guard troops in several vehicles that had no protective armor, making the vehicles and occupants susceptible to improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Two IEDs exploded, signaling an ambush, and several insurgents began attacking with small-arms fire. Captain Vanlandingham’s vehicle, the convoy lead, escaped the ambush and motored to safety, but he and the troops with him immediately realized that the Iraqi soldiers were caught in the attack. Captain Vanlandingham directed American forces to suppress the enemy fire as he made his way into a ditch and back toward the Iraqi troops, retrieving several wounded and at least one dead Iraqi soldier along with several weapons. After accounting for all personnel, he reorganized the convoy, leading the way back to the US area of operations to secure medical treatment for the wounded. The Iraqi troops had suffered severe injuries, and without quick medical attention, they likely would have died. Without regard to his own personal safety, Captain Vanlandingham’s actions saved the lives of several Iraqi National Guard soldiers.