Gannon Edgy

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Gannon Edgy, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Brigade, 3d Infantry Division, during combat operations in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, on 3 April 2003, in Iraq. On that date, Staff Sergeant Edgy’s special operations scout platoon was participating in a 24-hour road march to seize a key highway intersection when a six-person team was sent ahead of the convoy to do road reconnaissance and check for enemy resistance. At about 0930 hours the scout platoon was ambushed by Republican Guard forces that were hidden in positions along a 650 foot stretch of roadway. After one tank was hit by enemy fire, Staff Sergeant Edgy and his two-vehicle scout team assumed responsibility to protect the rest of the combat train. Staff Sergeant Edgy called up his contact report and dismounted his vehicle to engage five enemy soldiers within 15 meters of his vehicle. He then began directing his own gunner and his wingman’s gunner to engage the increasing number of enemy dismounts on the southern side of the road. Through Staff Sergeant Edgy’s leadership and quick thinking under combat conditions, he contributed immeasurably to the saving of the lives of his fellow soldiers, as well as extricating his team without injury. His exceptional leadership on the ground prevented the position from being overrun and saved the lives of all who were in the vehicles trapped along the road. Staff Sergeant Edgy displayed exceptional abilities to command and control under fire which resulted in the destruction of a well-executed ambush of the Task Force 1-15 TOC and Combat trains along Route CUBS by enemy insurgents.