assault element that still had several
serious casualties in need of evacuation.
Sergeant Williams directed suppressive
fire and exposed himself to enemy fire
in order to reestablish the team’s critical
satellite radio communications. He then
assisted with moving the wounded
down the near-vertical mountainside
to the casualty collection point. Noting
that the collection point was about to
be overrun by enemy fighters, Sergeant
Williams led the Afghan commandos
in a counterattack that lasted for
several hours. When helicopters
arrived to evacuate the wounded,
Sergeant Williams again exposed
himself to enemy fire, carrying and
loading casualties onto the helicopters
while continuing to direct commando
firepower to suppress numerous
insurgent positions. His actions
enabled the patrol to evacuate wounded
and dead comrades without further
casualties. Sergeant Williams’ complete
disregard for his own safety and his
concern for the safety of his teammates
ensured the survival of four critically
wounded soldiers and prevented the
lead element of the assault force from
being overrun by the enemy. Sergeant
Williams’ actions are in keeping with
the finest traditions of military service
and reflect great credit upon himself,
Combined Joint Special Operations Task
Force-Afghanistan, Special Operations
Command Central, and the United
States Army.
STAFF SERGEANT
DAVID G BELLAVIA
Staff Sergeant David G Bellavia
distinguished himself by acts of gallantry
and intrepidity above and beyond the
call of duty on 10 November 2004, while
serving as a squad leader in support of
OPERATION PHANTOM FURY in Fallujah,
Iraq. While clearing a house, a squad from
Staff Sergeant Bellavia’s platoon became
trapped within a room by intense enemy
fire coming from a fortified position under
the stairs leading to the second floor.
Recognizing the immediate severity of the
situation, and with disregard for his own
safety, Staff Sergeant Bellavia retrieved an
automatic weapon and entered the doorway
of the house to engage the insurgents.
With enemy rounds impacting around
him, Staff Sergeant Bellavia fired at the
enemy position at a cyclic rate, providing
covering fire that allowed the squad to
break contact and exit the house. A Bradley
Fighting Vehicle was brought forward to
suppress the enemy; however, due to high
walls surrounding the house, it could not
fire directly at the enemy position. Staff
Sergeant Bellavia then re-entered the house
and again came under intense enemy fire.
He observed an enemy insurgent preparing
to launch a rocket-propelled grenade at
his platoon. Recognizing the grave danger
the grenade posed to his fellow soldiers,
Staff Sergeant Bellavia assaulted the
enemy position, killing one insurgent and
wounding another who ran to a different
part of the house. Staff Sergeant Bellavia,
realizing he had an un-cleared, darkened
room to his back, moved to clear it. As
he entered, an insurgent came down the
stairs firing at him. Simultaneously, the
previously wounded insurgent reemerged
and engaged Staff Sergeant Bellavia. Staff
Sergeant Bellavia, entering further into the
darkened room, returned fire and eliminated
both insurgents. Staff Sergeant Bellavia
then received enemy fire from another
insurgent emerging from a closet in the
darkened room. Exchanging gunfire, Staff
Sergeant Bellavia pursued the enemy up
the stairs and eliminated him. Now on the
second floor, Staff Sergeant Bellavia moved
to a door that opened onto the roof. At this
point, a fifth insurgent leapt from the thirdfloor
roof onto the second-floor roof. Staff
Sergeant Bellavia engaged the insurgent
President Donald J Trump presents the Medal
of Honor to Staff Sergeant David G Bellavia
during a ceremony at the White House in
Washington, DC, 25 June 2019. US Army Photo
by Sergeant Kevin Roy.
130 The TRUMP RALLY Publication