CITATION TO ACCOMPANY THE AWARD OF THE SILVER STAR MEDAL TO 

CHRISTOPHER F. LEWIS

Staff Sergeant Christopher F. Lewis distinguished himself by gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force as a Joint Terminal Attack Controller attached to a Naval Special Warfare Platoon near Mosul, Iraq on 20 October 2016.

On that date, Sergeant Lewis' team escorted Kurdish Peshmerga Forces beyond the forward line of troops in an effort to clear two villages held by an unknown number of Da'esh fighters. Shortly after entering enemy-held territory, his element began receiving a high volume of effective fire, prompting Sergeant Lewis to call for immediate close air support in what would become a violent ten hour firefight. Attempting to break contact, his team took intense fire from enemy positions at which time the automated .50 Caliber turret system in Sergeant Lewis' vehicle became inoperable.

While receiving a heavy volume of accurate rocket propelled grenade, 81 millimeter mortar, and small arms fire, Sergeant Lewis selflessly exposed himself to grave danger in order to control airstrikes within 400 meters of his team's position destroying two enemy fighting positions and an unknown number of enemy fighters maneuvering.

Then, while manning a .50 Caliber machine gun in an open turret, Sergeant Lewis again selflessly exposed himself to enemy fire to engage and destroy an onrushing vehicle-borne improvised explosive device within 150 meters of his position driving at high speed directly towards his team and Peshmerga Forces. Shortly thereafter, the enemy attempted to open another avenue of attack from a concealed tunnel at close range to Sergeant Lewis' team.

Maneuvering from enemy fire, his team was halted after identifying multiple pressure-plate improvised explosive devices on their withdrawal route. Then a series of improvised explosive devices detonated, destroying one vehicle and mortally wounding a United States service member. While still under fire, Sergeant Lewis dismounted his vehicle and risked his life to provide life-sustaining medical care to his injured teammate who lay within five meters of an unexploded improvised explosive device.

He then pulled two remaining teammates from the damaged vehicle who were confused from the blast, controlled a hasty medical evacuation, and facilitated airstrikes resulting in 20 enemies killed in action.

By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Sergeant Lewis has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

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Portraits in Courage: SSgt. Lewis

Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  As the Mosul offensive commenced, Staff Sgt. Christopher Lewis and the U.S. Navy SEAL Team in which he was embedded were tasked to advise, assist, and accompany Kurdish Peshmerga forces in order to clear two villages held by heavily entrenched ISIS fighters.

On Oct. 20, 2016, Lewis and his team escorted the partner force into enemy-held territory where they were quickly ambushed from three locations and engaged in a ten-hour firefight. As his team attempted to break contact with the enemy, the automated .50 caliber turret system on Lewis’ vehicle became disabled.

In the midst of withering grenade, mortar, and small arms fire, Lewis systematically engaged the enemy in multiple locations from the open turret. He held this vulnerable position for hours despite direct enemy fire impacting within inches of him.

While the fight raged all around him, Lewis directed F-15Es and B-52s to conduct airstrikes within 400 meters of his team, eliminating enemy defensive fighting positions and fighters moving toward their position. After successfully engaging multiple targets and suppressing enemy fire, Lewis identified, engaged, and destroyed an enemy vehicle-borne improvised explosive device barreling toward his team at high speed - exploding within 100 meters of the convoy.

Moving out of the line of fire to recover, the convoy was ambushed again by enemy fire from a concealed tunnel entrance only 100 meters away. They maneuvered away from the attack as Lewis prepared to direct an airstrike on the building. During the movement, the team in the lead vehicle identified an improvised explosive device (IED) ahead and halted the convoy.

As the convoy backed away, another IED detonated, triggering seven subsequent explosions that rocked the team and mortally wounded one U.S. service member. Without hesitation, Lewis leapt out of the turret and ran across the top of the truck to assist the wounded.

Lewis controlled the casualty evacuation on the radio while simultaneously providing medical care to his teammates. While he moved his severely wounded teammate and established a hasty helicopter landing zone, he also worked with aircraft to assess and eliminate a second vehicle-borne threat before it reached his team.

Over the course of the hours-long firefight, Lewis engaged the enemy at close range on three occasions within 100 meters and directed four precise airstrikes, which provided his team crucial air coverage and eliminated more than 20 enemy forces. He has been recommended for the Silver Star Medal for his actions.