- SURNAME
Osthoff
- FORENAME
Dane S.
- UNIT
2nd Raider Battalion
- RANK
Staff Sergeant (Assistant Element Leader)
- NUMBER
- AWARD
Silver Star
- PLACE
Mosul, Iraq. 20th October 2016
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
CITATION:
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Dane S. Osthoff, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy on 20 October 2016 while serving as Assistant Element Leader, Second Marine Raider Battalion, in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. Staff Sergeant Osthoff assisted partnered Peshmerga forces in operations to isolate Mosul. After sustained enemy contact throughout the day, he and his team occupied a strongpoint between two enemy-held villages. That evening, enemy forces mounted a counterattack consisting of 25 heavily-armed fighters and an armored vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. Staff Sergeant Osthoff effectively suppressed enemy dismounted forces with his sniper rifle, but was unable to halt the advancing armored vehicle. While exposed to enemy fire, he climbed atop a vehicle to retrieve a Javelin anti-tank missile. Upon employment of the weapon, the missile failed to launch. Once provided a second Javelin, Staff Sergeant Osthoff again exposed himself to enemy fire, and effectively engaged the armored vehicle. His decisive actions under fire repelled the enemy and saved the lives of friendly forces. By his bold initiative, undaunted courage, and total dedication to duty, Staff Sergeant Osthoff reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service and the United States Marine Corps.
