- SURNAME
Ritter
- FORENAME
Charles P
- UNIT
3 SF Group
- RANK
Master Sergeant
- NUMBER
- AWARD
Silver Star
- PLACE
Afghanistan 2013
- 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 Master Sergeant Charles P. Ritter, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in connection with military operations against the enemy on 30 May 2013, as Operations Sergeant, Operational Detachment-Alpha 3335, Special Operations Task Force-East, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
Sergeant Ritter distinguished himself by leading a small ambush patrol through restrictive terrain towards a hardened enemy. After being ambushed by the enemy and with one Afghan Commando wounded and pinned in the kill zone, Sergeant Ritter organized, inspired, and led a rescue effort into the enemy fire down a narrow alley to rescue the wounded commando. Sergeant Ritter was wounded three times before the element could successfully reach the trapped commando and bring him to safety. His actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military heroism and reflect distinct credit upon himself, The Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, the Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan, the United States Forces Afghanistan, and the United States Army.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD: Master Sergeant Charles P. Ritter, United States Army, heroically distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous conduct in the face of the enemy of the United States as Operations Sergeant, Operational Detachment-Alpha (ODA) 3335, Special Operations Task Force-East, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
On 30 May 2013, Master Sergeant Ritter was a mentor to 2nd Company, 6th Special Operations Kandak, during combat operations in Tagab District, Kapisa Province, Afghanistan. Early morning on 30 May, the Assault Force received heavy and accurate enemy fire from a machineguns, small arms, Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG), and hand grenades from an aggressive enemy force from distances within 50 meters of friendly positions. After several hours of intense fighting, Sergeant Ritter led a small force of eight Commandos and two Americans on a local patrol to emplace an ambush to interdict enemy fighters maneuvering on the main force. While moving into position the patrol was notified of an enemy ambush set to the south of their location. With this knowledge, Sergeant Ritter decided to maneuver to flank and eliminate the enemy before they could initiate their attack. After moving 25 meters down a narrow alley Sergeant Ritter's patrol was engaged with accurate machinegun fire. The initial burst of fire wounded a Commando and pushed the rest of the force back to a covered position leaving the wounded Commando isolated in the kill zone. Sergeant Ritter immediately communicated his situation to higher in order to receive air-to-ground fires on the enemy position and allow the patrol to move and recover the wounded Commando. However, the aircraft's weapons suffered a malfunction and the fire never came. Sergeant Ritter attempted several times to move down the alley to the casualty but was repelled by intense accurate volleys of machinegun and small arms fire each time. The enemy began to maneuver through orchards directly west of the force eventually engaging the main force with small arms fire. At this point Sergeant Ritter made the conscious decision with complete disregard for his own safety, to move to recover the casualty as he could no longer be seen from Sergeant Ritter's position. Sergeant Ritter organized the Commandos into a rescue effort and began moving towards the casualty while laying down a base of fire to cover their movement. Once movement began, the enemy returned with a high volume of accurate fire but was suppressed by Sergeant Ritter's rescue element. During movement Sergeant Ritter was wounded three times by enemy fire, the most severe injury was a bullet that remained lodged in his back. Sergeant Ritter then moved 40 meters back to cover so the Detachment Medic could render aid. While moving back to cover, the supporting effort successfully rescued the wounded Commando and moved him to safety. At that time an A-10 moved into position to destroy enemy positions.
Had Sergeant Ritter not organized, inspired, and led the rescue effort the Commando would have been taken captive or eliminated by the enemy. After receiving treatment, Sergeant Ritter moved on foot with the medic back to the Main Assault force over 125 meters away, all the while pulling security and leading Commandos. His actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military heroism and reflect distinct credit upon himself, the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, the Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan, the United States Forces-Afghanistan, and the United States Army.
Sergeant Ritter distinguished himself by leading a small ambush patrol through restrictive terrain towards a hardened enemy. After being ambushed by the enemy and with one Afghan Commando wounded and pinned in the kill zone, Sergeant Ritter organized, inspired, and led a rescue effort into the enemy fire down a narrow alley to rescue the wounded commando. Sergeant Ritter was wounded three times before the element could successfully reach the trapped commando and bring him to safety. His actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military heroism and reflect distinct credit upon himself, The Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, the Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan, the United States Forces Afghanistan, and the United States Army.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD: Master Sergeant Charles P. Ritter, United States Army, heroically distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous conduct in the face of the enemy of the United States as Operations Sergeant, Operational Detachment-Alpha (ODA) 3335, Special Operations Task Force-East, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
On 30 May 2013, Master Sergeant Ritter was a mentor to 2nd Company, 6th Special Operations Kandak, during combat operations in Tagab District, Kapisa Province, Afghanistan. Early morning on 30 May, the Assault Force received heavy and accurate enemy fire from a machineguns, small arms, Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG), and hand grenades from an aggressive enemy force from distances within 50 meters of friendly positions. After several hours of intense fighting, Sergeant Ritter led a small force of eight Commandos and two Americans on a local patrol to emplace an ambush to interdict enemy fighters maneuvering on the main force. While moving into position the patrol was notified of an enemy ambush set to the south of their location. With this knowledge, Sergeant Ritter decided to maneuver to flank and eliminate the enemy before they could initiate their attack. After moving 25 meters down a narrow alley Sergeant Ritter's patrol was engaged with accurate machinegun fire. The initial burst of fire wounded a Commando and pushed the rest of the force back to a covered position leaving the wounded Commando isolated in the kill zone. Sergeant Ritter immediately communicated his situation to higher in order to receive air-to-ground fires on the enemy position and allow the patrol to move and recover the wounded Commando. However, the aircraft's weapons suffered a malfunction and the fire never came. Sergeant Ritter attempted several times to move down the alley to the casualty but was repelled by intense accurate volleys of machinegun and small arms fire each time. The enemy began to maneuver through orchards directly west of the force eventually engaging the main force with small arms fire. At this point Sergeant Ritter made the conscious decision with complete disregard for his own safety, to move to recover the casualty as he could no longer be seen from Sergeant Ritter's position. Sergeant Ritter organized the Commandos into a rescue effort and began moving towards the casualty while laying down a base of fire to cover their movement. Once movement began, the enemy returned with a high volume of accurate fire but was suppressed by Sergeant Ritter's rescue element. During movement Sergeant Ritter was wounded three times by enemy fire, the most severe injury was a bullet that remained lodged in his back. Sergeant Ritter then moved 40 meters back to cover so the Detachment Medic could render aid. While moving back to cover, the supporting effort successfully rescued the wounded Commando and moved him to safety. At that time an A-10 moved into position to destroy enemy positions.
Had Sergeant Ritter not organized, inspired, and led the rescue effort the Commando would have been taken captive or eliminated by the enemy. After receiving treatment, Sergeant Ritter moved on foot with the medic back to the Main Assault force over 125 meters away, all the while pulling security and leading Commandos. His actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military heroism and reflect distinct credit upon himself, the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, the Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan, the United States Forces-Afghanistan, and the United States Army.
WEB LINKS:
https://www.instagram.com/charles.p.ritter/?hl=enhttps://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/140909
Last edited by a moderator:
