Persian Gulf

*DILLON, YOUNG M.
Synopsis:
The is presented to Young M. Dillon, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Headquarters Battery, 82d Field Artillery Battalion, 3d Armored Division, in action during Operation Desert Storm.
Home Town: Aurora, Colorado

FREEMAN, BRYAN R.
Citation:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Bryan R. Freeman, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with the First Tank Battalion, FIRST Marine Division in Southern Kuwait during Operation DESERT STORM. On 25 February 1991, Corporal Freeman and his scout team were standing by the mark on the Landing Zone for the helicopter insert of Task Force X-Ray when the Battalion was suddenly hit by an Iraqi mechanized brigade counterattack. Hearing the beginnings of a heavy engagement, he quickly and on his own initiative moved his team through the dense fog and heavy smoke of numerous burning oil wells to a position on the Battalion's left flank. Quickly and thoroughly surveying the battlefield, Corporal Freeman acquired three enemy tanks 2,500 meters to his front, and immediately designated them with his mule, scoring two direct hits with Hellfire missiles. Once again, he instinctively relocated his team to the Battalion's northern flank in search of additional enemy targets. Having maneuvered his team to the heaviest fighting, Corporal Freeman acquired two additional enemy tanks, scoring another Hellfire hit. Noticing an Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA) threat 7,000 meters in front of the friendly positions too late for a section of Cobras, totally oblivious of the enemy small arms fire, Corporal Freeman maintained his position, designated four Hellfires, scoring three hits and destroying the AAA threat. By his daring actions, bold initiative, and loyal devotion to duty, Corporal Freeman reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.

GILLESPIE, DENNIS M.
Citation:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Commander Dennis M. Gillespie, United States Navy. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action as a Pilot of an F/A-18 aircraft in Strike Fighter Squadron 83 embarked in USS Saratoga (CV 60) while deployed to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command in support of Operation Desert Storm on 17 January 1991. As the strike leader of a 72-plane force from two Red Sea battle groups, Commander Gillespie spearheaded the first U.S. Navy daytime attack against Iraq. Undaunted by exceptionally heavy and sophisticated enemy air defenses, he orchestrated and executed a brilliant plan which resulted in the destruction of key facilities at two enemy airfields and the shootdown of two enemy fighter aircraft. Commander Gillespie personally penetrated several missile fire zones to deliver two Walleye Glide Bombs which scored devastating hits on lucrative airfield targets. His exemplary leadership of this historic mission was highlighted by the safe return of all battle force aircraft. Commander Gillespie's daring actions, aggressive leadership, and loyal dedication to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

KROCK, KASEY A.
Citation:
The is presented to Kasey A. Krock, Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action in connection with combat operations against the enemy while serving with Company A, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion (1), FIRST Marine Division in direct support of the 3d Battalion, 9th Marines as part of Task Force PAPA BEAR during Operation DESERT STORM in Kuwait on 24 February 1991. At the second Iraqi obstacle belt located southeast of Ahmet Al-Jabar Airbase, Lance Corporal Krock distinguished himself by twice braving enemy direct and indirect fire in order to successfully complete his mission, When a line charge fired from his MK 154 failed to detonate, he quickly gathered together the required equipment and proceeded outside to manually detonate the defective charge. After successfully doing so, Lance Corporal Krock re-entered the MK 154. the second line charge shot into the breach also malfunctioned and again lance Corporal Krock instantly exited the vehicle to manually prime it. This time, however, as the line charge did not lie exactly in line as the previous shot, he had to navigate through over 20 meters of live minefield in order to successfully prime the charge. After the detonation of the second line charge, the breach was complete and the assault element was able to successfully assault through the lane and defeat the defenders. Lance Corporal Krock's courage under fire, decisive leadership, and complete devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
Home Town: Redding, CA

McELROY, KEVIN J.
Citation:
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 First Lieutenant Kevin J. McElroy, United States Air Force, for gallantry in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed enemy of the United States as an Electronic Warfare Officer, 7440th Combat Wing (Provisional), Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, on 18 February 1991. On that date, Lieutenant McElroy's dedication and professionalism under extreme stress directly contributed to the destruction of airfield complexes at Qayyarah South and Qayyarah West in northern Iraq and saved a valuable EF-111 aircraft that experienced a serious malfunction resulting in a double engine compressor stall leaving only idle thrust available. Lieutenant McElroy quickly ran through emergency checklist procedures to assist the pilot in recovering engine thrust and at the same time continued to jam enemy acquisition and ground controlled intercept radars. Finally, while deep in an intense anti-aircraft artillery envelope, one engine recovered allowing the aircraft to climb and continue jamming. As a result, not one of the 40 attack package aircraft was lost or damaged by enemy ground based radar threats and an extremely valuable EF-111 aircraft was recovered safely. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Lieutenant McElroy has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

NOVAK, ROBERT L.
Citation:
The Silver Star is presented to Robert L. Novak, Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as TOW Squad Leader, Combined Anti-Armor Team II, Weapons Company, First Battalion, 8th Marines, Second Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force during Operation DESERT STORM from 24 to 27 February 1991. On 24 February, Corporal Novak's platoon was the lead element of the Battalion as it continued its attack north of the initial encountered small arms fire, Corporal Novak, acting through his own initiative, directed his squad into firing positions and personally acquired targets. Within minutes, he destroyed an enemy tank, two armored personnel carriers, and a towed artillery piece that was in the process of displacing. On the evening of 25 February, Corporal Novak's platoon was again screening forward of the Battalion when it encountered, at close range, six enemy armored personnel carriers. He directed his squad to firing positions and then began employing his own weapon, quickly destroying three enemy armored personnel carriers. Realizing his TOW missile system was out of ammunition, he used its thermal sight to adjust the fire of an adjacent vehicle heavy machinegun onto an enemy vehicle. Corporal Novak then observed a member of his squad whose weapon had malfunctioned. While under intense enemy fire, he ran to the aid of his Marine and assisted him in performing the necessary steps to correct the problem. Corporal Novak then directed the fire of the weapon onto an enemy vehicle which was subsequently destroyed. By his aggressive initiative, superior gunnery skills, and courageous devotion to duty, Corporal Novak reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

STRICKLIN, GREGORY R.
Citation:
The Silver Star is presented to Gregory R. Stricklin, Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy as the 60-mm. Mortar Squad Leader, Weapons Platoon, Company G, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division, during Operation DESERT STORM, on the night of 23 February 1991. Corporal Stricklin displayed superlative leadership by example and intense personal fortitude. During a period of obscured visibility while infiltrating through the first obstacle belt in the Kuwaiti Theater of Operations, Corporal Stricklin, without hesitation, personally pulled a 300 pound ammunition cart through an unmarked minefield along a very narrow path. He negotiated the route, heavily laden with anti-tank and anti-personnel mines, by using the anti-tank mines as stepping stones. Returning to his section, Corporal Stricklin guided a second cart through the minefield. His quick, decisive action kept the Company from delaying in an enemy obstacle, thus saving the lines of his fellow Marines. Corporal Stricklin's indomitable spirit, zealous leadership, and complete dedication to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Navy.

SWEENEY, CHRIS A.
Citation:
The Silver Star is presented to Chris A. Sweeney, Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as TOW Gunner, 1st Squad, 3d Section, Combined Anti-Armor Team I, Weapons Company, First Battalion, 8th Marines, 2d Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force on 25 and 26 February 1991in support of Operation DESERT STORM. During the early morning hours of 25 February 1991, as Lance Corporal Sweeney's unit prepared to move north, an enemy armored battalion launched an aggressive counterattack against the Battalion's vulnerable right flank. He positioned his vehicle and within minutes destroyed two Iraqi tanks that were rapidly approaching the Battalion's flank. Without regard for his own safety while under heavy small arms and tank main gun fire, Lance Corporal Sweeney remained dangerously exposed for more than eleven seconds as he engaged and destroyed an enemy armored personnel carrier. Realizing his position had become untenable, he directed his vehicle into an abandoned enemy revetment and engaged and destroyed a third enemy tank. As the Battalion continued its attack, Lance Corporal Sweeney observed several enemy tanks in hull-defilade positions in prepared revetments. Recognizing the imminent threat to the Battalion, he quickly went into action destroying three enemy tanks with lightning speed. On 26 February 1991 as the Battalion continued its attack toward Kuwait City, Lance Corporal Sweeney engaged and destroyed two additional enemy tanks. Moments later, the Battalion's lead elements came under intense enemy fire from an Iraqi tank. Without hesitation, he moved forward and destroyed the enemy vehicle. Lance Corporal Sweeney's aggressive initiative, superior gunnery skills, and courageous devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

ZUEGEL, KEITH W.
Citation:
Captain Keith W. Zuegel distinguished himself by gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing force near Ali Al Salem Airfield, Kuwait on 17 January 1991. On that date, Captain Zuegel was an F-111F Element Lead Weapons System Officer in an attack against a hardened aircraft shelter on Ali Al Salem Airfield. Despite heavy antiaircraft fire which caused three of the six aircraft involved to turn back, and despite being forced to outmaneuver a surface-to-air missile during ingress, he and his aircraft commander elected to continue the attack. During his bomb delivery in the center of the intense airfield defenses, Captain Zuegel was able to maintain a solid lock on his target with the aircraft laser even while directing his aircraft commander to use violent maneuvering to avoid a surface-to-air missile launched at them. The result was direct hit, destroying the aircraft shelter. Again during egress north of Kuwait City, Captain Zuegel directed his aircraft commander to use chaff and maneuvering to avoid a third missile fired at their aircraft, prior to punching through the last of the antiaircraft artillery and ground fire to the relative safety of the Persian Gulf. By his gallantry and selfless devotion to duty, Captain Zuegel has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.