CITATION TO ACCOMPANY THE AWARD OF THE SILVER STAR

AWARDED FOR ACTIONS DURING THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR

OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM - SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA - AFGHANISTAN

BRADLEY T. REILLY

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star (Army Award) to Technical Sergeant Bradley T. Reilly, United States Air Force, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action.

Technical Sergeant Reilly distinguished himself by his exceptionally valorous actions as the Combat Controller from the 23d Special Tactics Squadron, 16th Special Operations Wing, assigned to Operational Detachment Alpha 163, Advanced Operational Base 160, forward Operational Base 12, the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM VI, on 11 April 2005.

On that date, the detachment responded to a no-notice air Quick Reaction Force (QRF) in direct support of an Anti-Coalition Militia (ACM) ambush. The target was General Khil Baz, the new Border Battalion Commander. The Khowst-Gardez pass (ambush site) is extremely rugged terrain and is a historical ACM ambush site. The detachment loaded two UH-60 aircraft; Technical Sergeant Reilly was in the second aircraft. Upon arrival at the ambush site the detachment was pointed in the direction of ACM egress. Once the aircraft flew over the area, the detachment was able to identify the suspected ACM. Technical Sergeant Reilly's aircraft landed and immediately began receiving a high rate of effective machine gun and small arms fire. The detachment returned fire and assaulted uphill to the enemy position, again while under heavy effective enemy machine-gun fire. The detachment overran the enemy machine gun position through the use of small arms, fragmentary grenades, and 40-mm. grenade fire.

Once the detachment secured the enemy position, they began to receive an additional high rate of effective fire from three sides. The ACM forces were extremely close, well supplied, well trained, and dedicated, allowing them to sustain effective fires against the detachment. The majority of enemy fire was coming from down an extremely steep cliff. Immediately Master Sergeant Cooper and Technical Sergeant Reilly assaulted down the cliff in the direction of fire. During the assault, Master Sergeant Cooper was critically wounded in both legs and Technical Sergeant Reilly were pinned down approximately 100 meters down the cliff and isolated from additional detachment members. Even though Technical Sergeant Reilly was shot, he continued to return fire. During the lulls in the heavy machine gun fire, Technical Sergeant Reilly treated Master Sergeant Cooper's wounds, saving his life, and continued to control the rotary wing and fixed wing aircraft, control fires against the enemy forces (2 x AH-64's, 2 @ A-10's, and 2 x UH-60's).

After the AH 64's departed the area, the still motivated enemy attempted to overrun Technical Sergeant Reilly and Master Sergeant Cooper's position. Technical Sergeant Reilly, additional detachment members, and a UH-60 provided suppressing fires to the advancing enemy forces, forcing them to retreat to cover ending up approximately 50 meters from Staff Sergeant Day, Master Sergeant Cooper, and Technical Sergeant Reilly's position.

Technical Sergeant Reilly provided life saving medical care, controlled aircraft fires, and provided suppressive fires for approximately three hours while being wounded. Throughout this time, they were still receiving effective machine gun fire. At one point, he was willing to have all other USSF move back up hill and call in A-10 ordnance danger close to his position (200 Meters) to save other lives.

Due to the stand-alone actions of Technical Sergeant Reilly, his medical expertise, marksmanship skills, and proficiency for controlling aircraft, Master Sergeant Cooper is alive today.

The distinctive and life saving actions of Technical Sergeant Reilly reflects great credit upon himself, the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, and the United States Air Force.

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HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- Tech. Sgt. Bradley Reilly, a combat controller with the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, received the Silver Star and the Purple Heart for his actions in Afghanistan during a ceremony at the Hurlburt Field Air Park April 11.

Gen. Michael Wooley, Air Force Special Operations Command commander, presented the medals to Sergeant Reilly, exactly one year after surviving a grueling firefight and saving a teammate’s life in Afghanistan.

Sergeant Reilly was awarded the medals for his medical expertise, marksmanship skills, air traffic control experience and saving a teammates life.

“It’s an auspicious day for valorous actions,” said Lt. Col. Bradley Thompson, commander of the 23rd STS. “Brad is the epitome of the quiet professional.”

Assigned to an operational detachment, Sergeant Reilly was part of a quick-response force that responded to an ambush by the Anti Coalition Militia. Their target was Gen. Khil Baz, the new border battalion commander.

Two helicopters, each carrying 10 men, headed into the mountains.

“We pretty much assumed it would be over by the time we got there,” said Sergeant Reilly. “Due to the timing, we didn’t expect to find a firefight.”

After locating and securing the safety of General Baz, the teams obtained information on the enemy and searched for the insurgents.

One of the helicopters landed and took fire. The enemy was 30-50 feet higher than the team, but the troops fought their way to the top.

After securing the area, Sergeant Reilly and Army Special Forces Master Sgt. Paul Cooper noticed more enemy fire coming from below them.

While advancing in the new direction of fire, Sergeant Reilly was shot in the foot and Sergeant Cooper in both legs.

They took cover behind a tree where Sergeant Reilly tried to stop the bleeding in Sergeant Cooper’s legs. At the same time he reloaded the guns, returned fire and called for air support.

“I told the helicopters ‘if you can see us, then get in here’,” said Sergeant Reilly.

Army Sergeant First Class Jubal Day, a Special Forces medic, went down the mountain to aid the two injured men.

“I was relieved to see him,” said Sergeant Reilly. “That’s where the real life-saving got done.”

The call was made for a medical evacuation, but there was still heavy enemy fire on the hill.

“One of the helicopter pilots told us that the enemy was coming up the side at us,” said Sergeant Cooper. “The pilot told Sergeant Reilly to put them (the helicopter) between us and the enemy. So he did.”

“I looked up to see both gunners standing straight up, firing down at the enemy,” Sergeant Reilly said.

“That act alone helped us out a lot.”

Army Capt. Brian Dowling, Special Forces team leader, instructed the teams to get down the hill and clear the path for the medevac helicopter.

“Just before the helicopter came into range, we opened fire for five minutes,” said Captain Dowling. “It allowed the helicopter to fast rope in a medic and a stretcher to retrieve the men.”

The injured men returned to the base and were stabilized before flying to other bases for additional medical care.

Recovered from his injuries, Sergeant Reilly is ready to go out there and do it again.