- SURNAME
Gassman
- FORENAME
Matthew D.
- UNIT
10 SF Group (1 Bn)
- RANK
Staff Sergeant
- NUMBER
- AWARD
Silver Star
- PLACE
Afghanistan 2010
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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 Matthew D. Gassman, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with the 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), in action on 17 December 2010, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan. On that date, Captain David Fox, three French engineers, an interpreter, an Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) commander and Sergeant McKenna Miller, a member of his Special Operations Task Unit, were conducting a site assessment for future placement of an ANSF checkpoint when the team was engaged by the enemy. From his position Captain Fox noticed that his security elements were taking small arms and Rocket-propelled grenade attacks from two separate enemy positions. He moved the survey element to the top of a ridgeline to engage the enemy when a devastating improvised explosive device detonated near the team, leaving Captain Fox unconscious, killing a French Captain and critically wounding the ANSF commander. Located at the eastern-most security position, Staff Sergeant Gassman made several attempts to scale the mountain directly to the blast site. Realizing enemy rounds were impacting on his position and the ascent route was too steep, he moved 100 meters to the west of his position and around the ridgeline to another access route. Finding he was still off, Staff Sergeant Gassman climbed several hundred near-vertical feet on the mountain, fully exposed to enemy observation. Impacting rounds sparked the rocky surface near him, but he continued on until he realized he had climbed south of Captain Fox's position. One again, he ran down the mountain and moved 200 meters north and started his desperate climb again, still taking enemy fire. After scrambling twice up restrictive terrain and wearing nearly 80 pounds of gear, he finally reached Captain Fox and the wounded ANSF commander. Staff Sergeant Gassman made his way back down the mountain under a hail of fire with the ANSF commander to the Helicopter Landing Zone, but had to abort because of too much enemy fire at that location. He continued on to establish another landing zone 1,000 meters away. After loading everyone in an LMTV, Staff Sergeant Gassman dismounted and ran in front of the vehicle to suppress enemy fire and led the vehicle to the second HLZ where the wounded ANSF commander and the fallen French officer were evacuated. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
WEB LINKS:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/54003
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