RANGERS 2 Keough, Sean P.

Craig Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
Keough
  • FORENAME
Sean P.
  • UNIT
75th Ranger Regiment (Company B, 2nd Battalion)
  • RANK
Sergeant
  • NUMBER
  • AWARD
Silver Star
  • PLACE
Afghanistan, 7th October 2011
  • 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 Sergeant Sean P. Keough, United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company B, 2d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, on 7 October 2011 during combat operations against an armed enemy of the United States, as a Squad Leader for a Joint Task Force in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Sergeant Keough, with total disregard for his own safety, selflessly exposed himself to automatic weapons fire in order to maneuver his squad inside a narrow alleyway. With his Platoon Sergeant wounded at the breach and the assault force in sustained contact, Sergeant Keough engaged multiple combatants barricaded inside a compound allowing his fellow Rangers to rescue their wounded Platoon Sergeant. During the firefight that ensured, Sergeant Keough and nine other members of his element were wounded, yet he continued to provide suppressive fire and direct his element to evacuate the casualties. Staff Sergeant Keough's distinctive accomplishments are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon him, this Command, and the United States Army. NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD: Staff Sergeant Sean Keough, on 7 October 2011, distinguished himself by exceptionally heroic gallantry as a Ranger Rifle Squad Leader while deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. On 7 October 2011, an element of Bravo Company, 2d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment executed special operations raid on a suspected location for a known enemy active within Logar Province. During this operation, Staff Sergeant Keough positioned his squad to conduct a call out when his Squad, along with assaulters on the rooftop of the target compound, came under heavy, effective enemy fire from barricaded insurgents inside an adjacent compound. During the ensuing firefight, an enemy insurgent charged through the breach firing bursts of automatic weapons fire, while another insurgent barricaded himself in a well-defended position inside the compound. Sergeant First Class Nicholas Moore, the Platoon Sergeant, was immediately wounded and fell down inside the alleyway. With his Platoon Sergeant laying vulnerable and exposed in the line of fire, Staff Sergeant Keough selflessly positioned himself in the doorway in order to provide suppressive fire while other members of his Squad maneuvered to pull Sergeant First Class Moore behind cover. The insurgent charged into the alleyway with his AK-47 on full automatic, and Staff Sergeant Keough, along with a Ranger Sergeant, returned fire, killing the combatant in the alley. Staff Sergeant Keough pushed back up to the breach where he was again met by a high volume of effective fire and received a gunshot wound to his right arm from the barricaded enemy insurgent inside the compound. Despite being injured himself, Staff Sergeant Keough again engaged the enemy inside the building to allow the Ranger Sergeant to continue to treat Sergeant First Class Moore. As the engagement developed, another Ranger Squad Leader stacked on the doorway behind Staff Sergeant Keough directed him to throw a grenade into the building. After the first grenade detonated, Staff Sergeant Keough and the Ranger Squad Leader continued to receive heavy effective fire from multiple buildings inside the compound. To destroy the enemy, the Ranger Squad Leader threw a second grenade into the barricaded insurgent's building. As Staff Sergeant Keough stood pressed up against the wall waiting for the grenade to go off, he saw an enemy grenade come out of the breech and enter the alleyway. Staff Sergeant Keough yelled "Grenade!" to the assault force in the alleyway and fell back behind cover. The Ranger Sergeant, Sergeant First Class Moore, and Specialist Ricardo Cerros were trapped in the alleyway and had nowhere to get behind cover. The enemy grenade exploded, severely wounding Specialist Cerros, leaving only the Ranger Sergeant to treat both casualties trapped in the alleyway. With complete disregard for his own safety while under enemy fire, Staff Sergeant Keough maneuvered back up to the breach to regain the initiative and suppress the enemy to allow other members of the assault force to move past the breach and assist the Ranger Sergeant. At this time, members of the assault force on the roof and in the alley received multiple casualties and were in sustained contact from well-fortified enemy combatants inside the compound. Recognizing the imminent threat, Staff Sergeant Keough directed everyone to pull the casualties out of the alleyway to where they could be prepared for MEDEVAC. Staff Sergeant Keough held his position and continued to engage the enemy until everyone had moved past he breach and exited the alleyway. Once consolidated at the Casualty Collection Point, Staff Sergeant Keough refused to receive treatment until others who were more seriously wounded were treated. Staff Sergeant Keough again refused to be evacuated while his squad and fellow Rangers remained on the ground. Staff Sergeant Keough courageously volunteered to remain in the fight and maneuver back up to clear the target compound. Following the medical evacuation of the Platoon's casualties, the Quick Reaction Force comprised of Rangers from another platoon reinforced the assault force. Staff Sergeant Keough then flawlessly maneuvered and employed his squad for the next eight hours as an integral part of a Company clearance operation. The assault force methodically cleared all of the compounds surrounding the fortified enemy insurgents and was ultimately able to destroy the hostile force and kill the enemy combatants. Staff Sergeant Keough's valorous actions saved the lives of his fellow Rangers and directly contributed to the assault force's ability to evacuate wounded Rangers, regain the initiative, and defeat a determined enemy. Staff Sergeant Keough demonstrated bravery under fire, courageous actions, and outstanding leadership. He is most deserving of the special recognition afforded by the awarding of the Silver Star Medal. Through his distinctive accomplishments, Staff Sergeant Keough's actions and leadership reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

WEB LINKS:

https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/84830
Last edited:
Top