Mark A. Wanner

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant First Class Mark A. Wanner, United States Army, for gallantry in in action on 31 May 2009, while serving as Senior Medical Sergeant, Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha-9224, Special Operations Task Force-92, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. After his detachment engaged a numerically superior, heavily armed enemy force, Sergeant First Class Wanner acted with complete disregard for his own personal safety by moving into an exposed position to render emergency aid. After noticing that a teammate was grievously injured and laying perilously close to an enemy position, he crossed open terrain in order to move his follow Soldier closer to safety. After the Soldier collapsed due to the severity of his wounds, Sergeant First Class Wanner refused to abandon his teammate, remaining in the exposed position as enemy fire impacted all around him. Using his own body as a shield to prevent further harm to his fellow Soldier, he coordinated the detachment’s suppressing fire until there was enough of a lull in enemy activity to allow him to carry his wounded teammate to the medical evacuation site. His selfless conduct while under heavy enemy fire saved the life of a teammate and is an example for all Soldiers to follow. Sergeant First Class Wanner’s heroic actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Special Operations Command Central, and the United States Army. NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD: Sergeant First Class Mark A. Wanner, United States Army heroically distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous conduct in the face of an enemy of the US as the Senior Medical Sergeant, Gardez Afghanistan, Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) 9224, Special Operations Task Force 92, Bagram Airfield, serving in support of Operation Enduring Freedom on 31 May 2009. During the hours of darkness, in a rural village in Waghez District Sergeant First Class Wanner’s ODA and its partnered Afghan Force became heavily engaged, at close range with a numerically superior, heavily armed, Taliban Force. Several members of the partner force were injured by small arms fire before the assault could even begin. Disregarding his own safety, Sergeant First Class Wanner voluntarily left the security of a covered position to render aid. As the assault began ODA Member, Sergeant First Class Sean Clifton was struck by multiple rounds, most grievously in his pelvis and abdomen. He fell within ten feet of the front door to the enemy compound, leaving him lying directly under small arms fire. With further disregard to his safety Sergeant First Class Wanner moved immediately to Sergeant First Class Clifton and dragged him to what was believed to be a covered position. Upon their arrival, however, enemy elements emerged from the north side of the building and began pouring intense, heavy small arms fire into their position. By this point Sergeant First Class Clifton had collapsed. Realizing the gravity of the injuries Sergeant First Class Wanner refused the safety of a more secure position and immediately began medical aid. The enemy was pouring sustained small arms fire directly at the two men. Rounds impacted all around their exposed position, some landing between the legs of Sergeant First Class Wanner. Realizing it was only a matter of seconds before Sergeant First Class Clifton sustained a mortal wound Sergeant First Class Wanner used his body as a shield between the enemy fire and the exposed body of Sergeant First Class Clifton. While doing so he called for his teammates to place suppressive fire on the enemy positions. While simultaneously treating Sergeant First Class Clifton he directed one of his teammates to take a fragmentation grenade from his combat load and throw it into the doorway. As he and Sergeant First Class Clifton remained at danger close range to the fragmentary grenade Sergeant First Class Wanner again shielded Sergeant First Class Clifton with his body as the grenade detonated inside the doorway. This act and the use of crew-served weaponry suppressed enemy fire enough for Sergeant First Class Wanner to carry Sergeant First Class Clifton to the medevac site where Sergeant First Class Wanner was able to load Sergeant First Class Clifton aboard under continuous small arms fire. So fortified was the enemy position that upon the evacuation of the wounded it was destroyed through the use of CAS. Sergeant First Class Wanner’s medical care and valorous conduct in using his own body to shield his teammate saved Sergeant First Class Clifton’s life. Waking for a brief few minutes on the day after the engagement Sergeant First Class Clifton’s first remark was to attribute his very survival to Sergeant First Class Wanner’s skill and valor. Sergeant First Class Wanner’s actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military heroism and reflect distinct credit upon himself, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan, and the United States Army.