- SURNAME
Federmann
- FORENAME
Christopher L. (Chris)
- UNIT
1 SF Group
- RANK
Staff Sergeant
- NUMBER
- AWARD
Silver Star
- PLACE
Iraq 2007
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Cincinnati,Ohio
WIA 3.6.2007 Ad Diwaniyah,Iraq
CITATION:
Silver Star : 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 Staff Sergeant Chris L. Federmann, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with as the Detachment Weapons Sergeant, Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 165 (ODA-165), under Advance Operating Base 160, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, while under intense enemy fire during Operation JACKAL, at Ad Diwaniyah, Iraq. Staff Sergeant Federmann repeatedly subjected himself to direct enemy fire while maneuvering to engage and kill enemy personnel. His actions prevented anti-Iraqi forces from overwhelming and destroying friendly positions. Although wounded in the course of the operation, Staff Sergeant Federmann continued to provide vital covering fire to protect the lives of his fellow Operational Detachment Alpha and Coalition Force Soldiers. Staff Sergeant Federmann's heroism is in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the Special Operations Command Central, and the United States Army.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD:
On June 3, 2007, during an operation to capture a suspected terrorist leader in the city of Ad Diwaniyah, Iraq, Sergeant First Class Chad M. Kite and Staff Sergeant Chris L. Federmann heroically distinguished themselves by exceptionally valorous conduct amidst the bravery exhibited by all the Soldiers participating in this battle. Sergeants Kite and Federmann were part of the primary assault force, consisting of seventeen Soldiers--four US Special Forces Soldiers, 3 Special Operation Team-Alpha Soldiers, three coalition Soldiers, and seven Iraqi Soldiers. A second assault force, consisting of nearly thirty US and coalition soldiers were staged in another part of the city waiting as the quick reaction force. Using a hallmark trait of Special Forces, the assault force infiltrated into the target area using an indigenous vehicle. This tactic was used to prevent the local populace and any insurgent force from detecting their presence. The team quickly moved into the area, and assaulted the target building when the team began taking fire from multiple directions. Sergeants Kite and Federmann, along with two other coalition soldiers, moved 100 meters under hostile fire. Sergeant Kite continued to suppress the enemy, while Sergeant Federmann threw multiple hand grenades neutralizing the enemy threat. They called the second assault force forward to their location. As a result, enemy fire increased and one Iraqi troop was mortally wounded. The now forty man force of US and coalition Soldiers began taking heavy sniper and Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) fire from a nearby building. A Special Forces Soldier launched a shoulder fired missile at the building from which the sniper and RPG fire were originating. However, despite the missile strike, the enemy sniper and RPG fire from the building did not stop. A coalition sniper fired from a nearby rooftop at the enemy forces, but could not eliminate the threat. US fighter jets could not attack the building due to the close proximity to civilian homes. Sergeants Kite and Federmann again moved under heavy enemy fire to engage the enemy. Sergeant Kite fired at the enemy, enabling Sergeant Federmann to fire multiple high explosive rounds from his M-79 grenade launcher. Sergeant Federmann then launched a smoke grenade onto the rooftop, marking the building for coalition helicopters to place precise machine gun fire into the building, destroying the remaining enemy presence. After moving back to the assault force, Sergeants Kite and Federmann noted that insurgent forces had taken position on the rooftop of a building less than 15 meters away. The surrounding insurgent forces moved to close the distance with the coalition forces. Realizing the deadly threat developing, Sergeant Kite suppressed the rooftops and intersection, while Sergeant Federmann fired his M-4 carbine and threw multiple grenades at both locations, again neutralizing the threat. At this point, the assault force began regrouping to leave the area. So far, the force had sustained two wounded Soldiers, including a coalition soldier shot in the chest who continued to fight off the enemy for more than two hours, and one Iraqi soldier killed in action. The force mounted their military vehicles and the indigenous vehicle. Under heavy fire, the assault force withdrew from the area returning fire from the sides of their vehicles. During withdrawal from the target area, Sergeant Federmann was wounded in the arm from a bullet fragment.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD:
On June 3, 2007, during an operation to capture a suspected terrorist leader in the city of Ad Diwaniyah, Iraq, Sergeant First Class Chad M. Kite and Staff Sergeant Chris L. Federmann heroically distinguished themselves by exceptionally valorous conduct amidst the bravery exhibited by all the Soldiers participating in this battle. Sergeants Kite and Federmann were part of the primary assault force, consisting of seventeen Soldiers--four US Special Forces Soldiers, 3 Special Operation Team-Alpha Soldiers, three coalition Soldiers, and seven Iraqi Soldiers. A second assault force, consisting of nearly thirty US and coalition soldiers were staged in another part of the city waiting as the quick reaction force. Using a hallmark trait of Special Forces, the assault force infiltrated into the target area using an indigenous vehicle. This tactic was used to prevent the local populace and any insurgent force from detecting their presence. The team quickly moved into the area, and assaulted the target building when the team began taking fire from multiple directions. Sergeants Kite and Federmann, along with two other coalition soldiers, moved 100 meters under hostile fire. Sergeant Kite continued to suppress the enemy, while Sergeant Federmann threw multiple hand grenades neutralizing the enemy threat. They called the second assault force forward to their location. As a result, enemy fire increased and one Iraqi troop was mortally wounded. The now forty man force of US and coalition Soldiers began taking heavy sniper and Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) fire from a nearby building. A Special Forces Soldier launched a shoulder fired missile at the building from which the sniper and RPG fire were originating. However, despite the missile strike, the enemy sniper and RPG fire from the building did not stop. A coalition sniper fired from a nearby rooftop at the enemy forces, but could not eliminate the threat. US fighter jets could not attack the building due to the close proximity to civilian homes. Sergeants Kite and Federmann again moved under heavy enemy fire to engage the enemy. Sergeant Kite fired at the enemy, enabling Sergeant Federmann to fire multiple high explosive rounds from his M-79 grenade launcher. Sergeant Federmann then launched a smoke grenade onto the rooftop, marking the building for coalition helicopters to place precise machine gun fire into the building, destroying the remaining enemy presence. After moving back to the assault force, Sergeants Kite and Federmann noted that insurgent forces had taken position on the rooftop of a building less than 15 meters away. The surrounding insurgent forces moved to close the distance with the coalition forces. Realizing the deadly threat developing, Sergeant Kite suppressed the rooftops and intersection, while Sergeant Federmann fired his M-4 carbine and threw multiple grenades at both locations, again neutralizing the threat. At this point, the assault force began regrouping to leave the area. So far, the force had sustained two wounded Soldiers, including a coalition soldier shot in the chest who continued to fight off the enemy for more than two hours, and one Iraqi soldier killed in action. The force mounted their military vehicles and the indigenous vehicle. Under heavy fire, the assault force withdrew from the area returning fire from the sides of their vehicles. During withdrawal from the target area, Sergeant Federmann was wounded in the arm from a bullet fragment.
WEB LINKS:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/3841
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