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Posted on 01/24/2005 8:32:55 AM PST by Mike Fieschko
News
Platoon Leader awarded Silver Star for conduct under fire
1st Lt. Neil Prakash from Syracuse, New York, a tank platoon leader from 2nd Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment is presented the Silver Star Medal - one of the military’s highest decorations - by 1st Infantry Division Commander Maj. Gen. John R.S. Batiste for his actions under fire in Ba'qubah June 24. (Photo by Sgt. Kimberly Snow, 196th MPAD)
FORWARD OPERATING BASE SCUNION, BA’QUBAH, Iraq -- After leading his platoon through a fierce onslaught, enemy fire pounding them from every direction, 1st Lt. Neil Prakash went back in for more.
First Infantry Division Commander Maj. Gen. John R.S. Batiste joined Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment at FOB Scunion Jan. 14 to award this 24-year-old tank platoon leader one of the military’s highest honors - the Silver Star Medal.
“An incredible officer, his accomplishments on 24 June are clearly heroic,” said Batiste. “He sets a very high standard for every one of us. I guarantee veterans of the past are standing very tall right now.”
Although born in India and maintaining strong ties to the Indian community, Prakash was raised in Syracuse, New York, in what he called a very patriotic American household.
An ROTC cadet at Johns Hopkins University, he planned to follow in the footsteps of his mother, father and older brother - all doctors - and attend medical school. But after attending an ROTC Branch Orientation during his senior year, he knew what he was meant to do.
“There was this colonel, he was armored cav, so he had a Stetson and spurs,” said Prakash. “He was standing on his tank and he was like ‘alright listen up you (&$(@$#^, if you want 72 tons of pure power underneath you…’ and he just went off.”
Prakash made up his mind on the spot and has never regretted it since, he said.
And on the morning of June 24, he was ready.
After spending all night and morning patrolling and setting up observation posts around the city, 1st platoon pulled in to FOB Scunion at about 10:00 a.m.
“Capt. Fowler came sprinting over, all out of wind, and says ‘Alright, the whole company is going in to Ba’qubah,’” said Prakash. “I’ve just been given the order. Ba’qubah is under siege - the police station, the CMOC - all have been attacked, so we’re going in.”
The company geared up and by 10:45 a.m., was maneuvering south into Ba’qubah with 1st platoon in the lead. They were to seize and secure a set of twin bridges and set up a blocking position to prevent the enemy from reinforcing.
1st Lt. Neil Prakash from Syracuse, New York, a tank platoon leader from 2nd Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment is congratulated by Soldiers from his battalion after being awarded the Silver Star Medal - one of the military’s highest decorations - by 1st Infantry Division Commander Maj. Gen. John R.S. Batiste for his actions under fire in Ba'qubah June 24. (Photo by Sgt. Kimberly Snow, 196th MPAD)
As they advanced toward their objective, they began receiving reports of enemy activity in the city. Four-man RPG teams had been spotted on rooftops, as well as dismounted enemy infantry in alleyways. They were told to expect IED and RPG ambushes by a well-trained enemy who meant to stand and fight.
“This was the first time I even got a little bit nervous. I mean, ever, since I got here,” said Prakash. “I just got this weird feeling. Everything was silent, there was no movement. And then all of the sudden something blew up behind me.”
It took the crew about one hour to fight their way through the next one kilometer stretch of road. Official battle reports count 23 IEDs and 20-25 RPG teams in that short distance, as well as multiple machine-gun nests, and enemy dismounts armed with small arms and hand grenades.
Because enemy dismounts were attempting to throw hand grenades into the tank’s open hatches, Prakash ordered the tanks to open protected mode – bringing the hatches down, leaving them open only a crack.
As the lead vehicle, Prakash’s tank took the brunt of the attack, sustaining blasts from multiple IEDs and at least seven standard and armor piercing RPGs. The enemy fired mainly at the lead tanks, aiming for the few vulnerable spots. One round blew the navigation system completely off of the vehicle, while another well-aimed blast disabled his turret.
Although unable to rotate the turret, Prakash continued in the lead, navigating with a map and maneuvering his tank in order to continue engaging the enemy with the main weapon system and his .50 caliber machine-gun. He watched as men on rooftops sprayed down at his tank with machine-guns and small arms.
“I just remember thinking, ‘I hope these bullets don’t go in this one inch of space,’” said Prakash. “Looking out the hatch, I’m spraying guys and they’re just falling. They would just drop - no blood, no nothing. We just kept rolling, getting shot at from everywhere.”
The platoon was finally ordered to turn around and head back north in order to maintain contact with the enemy and to establish a defensive perimeter, allowing a recovery team to retrieve a downed vehicle.
1st Lt. Neil Prakash from Syracuse, New York, a tank platoon leader with the 2nd Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment is presented the Silver Star Medal - one of the military’s highest decorations - by 1st Infantry Division Commander Maj. Gen. John R.S. Batiste for his actions under fire in Ba'qubah June 24. (Photo by Sgt. Kimberly Snow, 196th MPAD)
Prakash took the opportunity to move his tank back to FOB Scunion for repairs and provide escort for medical evacuations. After assisting with repairs, he and his crew immediately moved back into position and requested to resume the lead.
Moving south back through the city, they encountered no resistance. Once they neared their objective, however, Prakash identified and engaged an enemy re-supply truck, destroying the vehicle and its contents.
“We blasted it with a main round from about 100 meters away. The thing just blew to shreds,” he said. “You could see the tubes from the launchers go flying in the air.”
The men encountered no further resistance as they moved to the objective, where they established a blocking position until they were relieved the following morning.
By battle’s end, the platoon was responsible for 25 confirmed destroyed enemy and an estimated 50 to 60 additional destroyed enemy personnel. Prakash was personally credited with the destruction of eight enemy strong-points, one enemy re-supply vehicle, and multiple enemy dismounts.
“He led the way,” said Alpha Company Commander Capt. Paul Fowler. “He’s a pleasure to command because he doesn’t require very much direction. He uses his own judgment and he’s simply an outstanding young lieutenant.” (Story by Sgt. Kimberly Snow, 196th MPAD)
That's very HU-AH!
Fantastic!
Attaboy! Proud of you. Very, very proud of this man.
WTG, soldier! Ya just gotta love a solid, brave tanker. :-)
Consider yourself flagged
Moving south back through the city, they encountered no resistance. Once they neared their objective, however, Prakash identified and engaged an enemy re-supply truck, destroying the vehicle and its contents.
“We blasted it with a main round from about 100 meters away. The thing just blew to shreds,” he said. “You could see the tubes from the launchers go flying in the air.”
I'll just bet it did! A 120mm round has a...tendancy to do that.
You might have to consider me fired :(
My last ping, I accidently did 'cut and paste' vs. 'copy and paste' and lost my ping list.
Xzins, do you still have your copy of your ping list?
Platoon Leader awarded Silver Star for conduct under fire
Tonk, I just screwed up and lost my ping list.
Can you ping this?
Amazing.
Silver Star Ping!
Tonk, I just screwed up and lost my ping list.
Can you ping this?
10 posted on 01/24/2005 11:03:42 AM PST by Calpernia
PING!
And as a good young Army leader, Prakash was leading his men from the front.
Thank you :)
Bet this will be the lead story on tonight's evening news!
/sarcasm
I would really like to get a FR TV started.
I wouldn't even know how to begin to do that though.
Can you imagine how fast the MSMs would have to clean themselves up to keep from losing ratings?
Damn. The kid keeps this up, we might have to make him Infantry. :)
I just love stories like this. Kudos
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