10th Combat Aviation Brigade Pathfinders earn medals for valorous action
Multi-National Division – North PAO - COMBINED OPERATING BASE SPIECHER, Iraq – Five Pathfinders of Company F, 2nd Battalion, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, were recognized for their efforts during Operation Wolf Pursuit II, which occurred from 17 March to 30 April 2009.
Maj. Gen. Robert Caslen, commanding general of Multi-National Division-North, awarded Bronze Stars with ‘V’ device to Staff Sgt. Lazaro Perez and Staff Sgt. Bryce Venem. Caslen also presented Army Commendation Medals with ‘V’ device to Capt. Michael Keasler, Spec. Joshua Campbell and Private Juan Alvarez.
The medals were a result of combining the unique capabilities of the Pathfinders with the expert skills of their Aviation Brigade; the match helped to successfully neutralize insurgent activity in the South Balad Ruz area of Northern Iraq.
“Ground elements were uncomfortable convoying into this area due to the significant number and size
On one of the missions a bunker was identified by Pathfinder Sgt. 1st Class David Pavey from a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. The target was deemed worthy of exploitation and was approached on the ground by Staff Sgt. Perez’s squad.
“Unlike all of the others we visited, this one was occupied with three to five violent extremists that would not surrender and were determined to fight to the death,” O’Dell explained. “Staff Sgt. Perez and Staff Sgt. Bryce Venem approached the bunker three times while under enemy fire [to throw a series of grenades]. The bunker was completely sub-surface with an opening no larger than four foot by four foot, with a camouflaged piece of plywood serving as the door.”
The Pathfinders were able to neutralize the bunker with the support of brigade aviators. Capt. O’Dell credits the aviators for their excellent communication and aerial marksmanship skills in helping the Pathfinders to be successful on the ground.
“The flexibility and maneuverability of an air-ground team was paramount to success,” commented O’Dell. “When Tigershark or Aces would call a spot report we knew it was worth checking out and exploiting. Often throughout the mission, there were [numerous] rotary wing aircraft working for and with the Pathfinders, each performing an exceptionally import piece of the mission.”
During their missions, they not only gathered information about the extremists’ composition and plans, but also reduced large amounts of material that the suspected insurgents were using for support. The Pathfinders were able to destroy 22 bunkers and three spider-holes, as well as multiple weapons caches.
“It was about half a battalion's worth of weapons and ammo,” said O’Dell. “Including rifles, machine guns, mortars, anti–armor weapons, to include grenades, missiles, various mortars and explosives. We also destroyed over 25 vehicles used for the insurgency’s various activities."
The mission was originally supposed to last for one day but it turned into six weeks of exploiting what had previously been a violent insurgent support area. The Pathfinders were instrumental in neutralizing extremist activity in the South Balad Ruz area of Northern Iraq.
Due to their exceptional efforts during Operation Wolf Pursuit, the Pathfinders of 2nd Bn., 10th Combat Aviation Bde. have been awarded 14 Combat Infantrymen’s Badges; seven Combat Action Badges; one Combat Medics’ Badge; three Army Accommodation Medals with ‘V’ device and two Bronze Star Medals with ‘V’ device.
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