Navy SEAL Awarded Navy Cross for actions in Afghanistan

San Diego Union Tribune | November 1st, 2003 | Otto Kreisher

[A Simple Soldier]

San Diego Union-Tribune

November 1, 2003

Coronado SEAL Wins Navy Cross

Award for heroism in Afghanistan

By Otto Kreisher, Copley News Service

WASHINGTON – A Navy SEAL assigned to the Special Warfare Center in Coronado received the Navy Cross, the nation's second-highest award, this week for heroism during a rescue mission in Afghanistan.

Chief Petty Officer Stephen Bass also was one of three special-operations personnel among six service members honored by a prominent national-security support group, underscoring the unprecedented role special-operations forces played in the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts.

Bass was cited for "extraordinary heroism" during combat operations in northern Afghanistan as part of a U.S. and British special-operations mission to rescue two missing Americans. During the operation, he was "continuously engaged" by small-arms, mortar and rocket-propelled-grenade fire and had to walk through a minefield to reach the Americans, according to a citation honoring Bass.

The award statement said Bass advanced nearly one-quarter of a mile "under constant enemy fire" in an attempt to find one of the Americans. When he ran low on ammunition, the SEAL used weapons from dead enemy forces to continue his mission, which resulted in the recovery of the American.

The Navy Cross is second only to the Medal of Honor for bravery in combat.

Bass was among the first recipients of the "Grateful Nation" award from the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs.

The organization also honored Maj. George Thiebes for his actions as an Army Special Forces company commander fighting in northern Iraq and Air Force Master Sgt. Michael Lamonica for two special-operations combat deployments to Afghanistan.

The "Grateful Nation" award also went to Army 1st Sgt. John R. Hawley for combat leadership in Afghanistan, Marine Reserve Cpl. Seth Wells for performance under fire in Iraq, and Coast Guard Reserve Chief Petty Officer Paula Jaklitsch for service in New York City during and after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

[A Simple Soldier]

Sorry if this was posted, but it is important to recognize those who truly stand out and perform their duties above and beyond the normal call of duty.

[A Simple Soldier]

Ping

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Military Hero Ping

A Simple Soldier : Thank You for posting this.

[Dr. Marten]

"If you want to wear the name, you have to bear the pain"
-C905

Hoo-ya! for CPO Bass!

[Labyrinthos]

If heroics like that only earn the Navy Cross, what does a guy have to do to earn the Medal of Honor?

[Pan_Yans Wife]

ping

[A Simple Soldier]

This is my opinion only!!!!!

We will not again likely see a living Medal of Honor recipient.

[jwalsh07]

A salute to all.

[RightOnline]

Congratulations to them all..........and may God richly bless them.

[ErnBatavia]

We will not again likely see a living Medal of Honor recipient.

We might, but it's probably going to have to involve rescuing his CO from certain death!

[Smokin' Joe]

For starters, you have to do what you do and have an officer witness it.

[Prodigal Son]

You gotta link for this one?

[IGOTMINE]

Generally you have to get killed.

Not bad for a swab jockey ;)

Semper Fi, Chief Bass!

[A Simple Soldier]

I got it off of Early Bird this morning, but here is the original link

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/uniontrib/sat/metro/news_2m1seal.html

[verity]

only earn the Navy Cross,

What a sorry-ass statement!

[A Simple Soldier]

Believe it or not, nothing on the Navy's website, though.

[Prodigal Son]

Thanks.

[A Simple Soldier]

FYI, politics plays a role when conferring decorations for extraordinary heroism. Who witnesses the action and who recommends the award play very big roles. Surviving or dying plays a role, not a definitive role, but a role nonetheless.

Bill Carpenter's DSC was written up as a Medal of Honor by his battalion commander. If he would have died, as was expected, when he deliberately called the napalm strike on his own unit (the scene depicted in PLATOON is based on this incident, but Carpenter commanded in the 101st), he would have gotten it. The napalm splashed away from his unit and on to the NVA. He and the remnants of his unit survived and "held the field" at the end of the day.

Chesty Puller had 5 Navy Crosses over 3-4 wars. After the 2nd or 3rd NC, he would have likely gotten the Medal of Honor, if he had been killed, in any of the subsequent actions that he was decorated with the NC for.

[taxcontrol]

You forgot the part of the officer liking you enough to put in the paperwork.

[A Simple Soldier]

Special Operations Force Ping!!!
I'll try to scare up his citation. Would be useful research material for your books.