Kelly Mahon

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Kelly Mahon, Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Operational Detachment Alpha 583 (ODA- 585), 5th Special Forces Group Airborne, during combat operations in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, in Iraq, on 11 September 2003. On that date, Master Sergeant Mahon and his teammates were on a mission to remove terrorists barricaded in a house. Two Special Forces soldiers were killed in the raid, and Master Sergeant Mahon risked his life to retrieve a third, who had been mortally wounded. By using hand grenades and other firearms, he led the remaining team through the house, receiving heavy fire from enemy insurgents. Three of the A-Team soldiers were hit, but Mahon remained calm and ordered a soldier manning a .50-caliber machine gun outside to fire on the house. The gunfire allowed Mahon to toss a fragmentary grenade to overcome an armed fighter fortified in a stairwell. Master Sergeant Mahon’s leadership during the battle gave inspiration to those who fought with him and was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service, reflecting credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.