Army Reserve Soldier awarded Silver Star for Iraq heroism 

By Staff Sgt. Chris Farley, Army News Service

      FORT McCOY, Wis. -- Spc. Jeremy Church's platoon sergeant said he wasn't surprised to see Church be awarded the Silver Star.

      Church, a member of the 724th Transportation Company from Bartonville, Ill., returned with his unit Wednesday, Feb. 25 from a 14-month deployment to Iraq. 

Spc. Jeremy Church (right) of the 724th shakes the hand of Col. Dan Puhl, Fort McCoy deputy commander for mobilization, upon the unit's return from Iraq . (Photo by Staff Sgt. Chris Farley)

      Two days later, after the unit permanently arrived back on American soil, more than 440 family members and 130 Soldiers from the 724th gathered at Fort McCoy to witness Church become the first Army Reserve Soldier to be awarded the third highest medal, the Silver Star for heroic actions during the Global War on Terrorism.  Lt. Gen. James Helmly, chief of the Army Reserve, pinned the medal on Church during a homecoming ceremony at Fort McCoy, Wis.                 

      "He deserves it. He did some amazing things out there on that day. He helped save a lot of lives that could have been lost without his initiative," said Sgt. 1st Class David R. Groff, 2nd platoon leader of the 724th Transportation Company.

      According to Groff, April 9, 2004 was the day that Church performed remarkably. It was a day that Church labeled "rough" for the unit.

Spc. Jeremy Church (left) and 1st Lt. Matt Brown exchange a hug of appreciation at Church's award ceremony. (Photo by Allan Harding)

      Two 724th Soldiers, Sgt. Elmer Krause and Pfc. Gregory Goodrich, made the ultimate sacrifice with their lives in a battle with enemy insurgents whose numbers were estimated to exceed 150 personnel when the 724th convoy was attacked.  Spc. Keith "Matt" Maupin of the 724th was captured during the battle and remains missing today.

      Church was 1st Lt. Matt Brown's, the convoy commander, driver in the lead vehicle for an emergency fuel mission to Baghdad International Airport. During the mission, the convoy was attacked by Madr Militia enemy insurgents. 

      According to the medal citation, as soon as then-Pfc. Church's vehicle entered the kill zone, enemy insurgents attacked from built-up areas with rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), improvised explosive devices (IEDs), machine guns and assault rifles. 

      Church drove aggressively to avoid detonating IEDs and hitting objects placed by the enemy to slow the convoy.  Within minutes of entering the kill zone, Brown was shot twice in the head by an enemy sniper.

Members of the 330th Military Police Detachment of Wisconsin return to Volk Field. The 330th returned on the same plane as the 724th. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Chris Farley)

      Prior to the convoy, Church had said Brown was very adamant that he learn the convoy commander's job because there might be a day when he'd have to take over the position for some reason, and on April 9 that day came. 

      Church immediately grabbed Brown's first-aid pouch and instructed him to apply the bandage while he continued to drive.

      An IED exploded and blew out his front tire. Church continued to engage the enemy with his M-16A2 while he navigated his vehicle on three functioning tires. 

      Church led the convoy for four miles into a secured perimeter established by a cavalry company from 2nd, 12th Cavalry.  He then carried Brown out of the vehicle for immediate medical attention and medical evacuation, according to the citation. 

      "I knew I had the entire convoy behind me and I knew they were following me.  They needed me to get them out of there," Church said.

      Church then rallied Soldiers in the secured area and went back into the kill zone.  Returning to the fire fight Church had just left, the Soldiers launched an immediate recovery mission to aid other Soldiers and civilians pinned down by enemy fire.

      Church identified the assistant commander's vehicle among the wreckage of burning fuel trucks and found two wounded Soldiers and four civilian truck drivers.  Church immediately set up a hasty triage and administered first aid to a Soldier that had a sucking chest wound.  He applied a bandage and carried the Soldier over to one of the recovery vehicles while exposing him self to enemy fire, according to the citation.

      According to the citation, once the wounded were loaded there wasn't enough room for Church to get in.  Church instructed the cavalry troopers to take the wounded back to the casualty collection point and he would wait for their return.  Ten minutes later the recovery team would return and take Church from the kill zone.

      Church credits his survival and success on that day to his military police background and unit leadership.

      "My primary MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) is military police.  So basically I credit that."  Church also said, "The unit kept on us all the time so we were always ready to go and professional when we went outside the gates. We were always mission orientated."

      But the military police background almost stopped him from deploying with the 724th. 

      "He needed a general officer wavier because he had a MOS that didn't fit into the UMR (Unit Manning Report)," said Capt. Joseph Huber, S-3 operations officer of the 336th Transportation Group.

      Huber said Church was a good fit for the unit and the 88M (Motor Transport Operator) MOS because he was licensed on all the vehicles and knew all the weapon systems.  This gave Huber justification to sign and send forth a packet to have Brig. Gen. Michael W. Beasley, commanding general of the 88th Regional Readiness Command, sign off on and grant a wavier for Church's deployment. 

      `"I was actually very pleasantly surprised when LT Brown came back and thanked me that I signed that wavier for Specialist Church because of the fact he saved his life," said Huber.

      For Sandy Hankins, Church's mother, she was happier just for him to get back to the United States. Hankins watched the medal ceremony with Church's sister, Ashley, and father, Curt. 

      "I'm extremely proud of him.  I actually can't articulate in words how I feel about the whole thing right now," said Hankins after Church was awarded the Silver Star.  Hankins also said, "It hit me more just listening to someone reading the citation other than me reading it myself.  It was just overwhelming."

      Church said one of the worst things he saw was his lieutenant (Brown) and friend get shot. "Matt (Brown), we are really close friends -- that's the worst thing to see -- and I worked on (Pfc.) Goodrich when he passed away and that was hard to see.  Stuff like that -- those are probably the two key points that really bother me from that day. Other than that you just have to drive on and go right through."            

      "I can't wait till Maupin gets back.  It really helps out when people give him his prayers.  I know his family is going through a really hard time right now, much harder then we are," said Church.  

(Farley is a Public Affairs NCO with the 88th Regional Readiness Command.)