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Air controller awarded Bronze Star with Valor

  • Published
  • By Army Staff Sgt. Marie Schult
  • Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force - Afghanistan
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan --  Tech. Sgt. Jose C. Valentin, a Joint Terminal Attack Controller assigned to Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force - Afghanistan, received the Bronze Star with Valor for his actions during an insurgent attack last year. 

Army Maj. Gen. John F. Mulholland, commander, U.S. Special Operations Command - Central presented the medal Dec. 22, 2007, during an award ceremony here. Mulholland said Valentin, an experienced JTAC of 11 years, risked his life that day in order to save others. 

"I was no hero in that battle," said Valentin, a Puerto Rico native. "I simply did my job under really bad circumstances." 

Valentin, a 14-year Air Force veteran, was asked to join a combat reconnaissance patrol Aug. 19, 2006. The Special Operations team already had a JTAC, Senior Airman Adam P. Servais, assigned to support the mission; however the team needed a driver, therefore Valentin volunteered. 

Near the village of Yakhdan, Shahidi Hasas District, Oruzgan Province, in southern Afghanistan, the patrol made contact with enemy forces whose numbers greatly outnumbered the patrol. An airburst, rocket-propelled grenade exploded over the team leader's vehicle, wounding two team members and killing Servais instantly. 

Valentin reacted immediately, running through a barrage of enemy fire to determine its origin and assumed air controller duties. With the enemy position pinpointed, Valentine directed the planes providing combat air support overhead to fire on the enemy positions. 

"I prioritized these positions as my first target and employed 500-lb. bombs and artillery," said Valentin. 

With the enemy fire quieted for the moment, other team members called in helicopters to medically evacuate his wounded and mortally injured comrades. Taliban insurgents launched another attack as the injured were being loaded on the helicopter, firing a barrage of rocket-propelled grenades. Valentin and team members returned fire allowing the helicopter to lift-off safely. 

Team members were left to make their way back to a nearby military outpost, but even that journey was fraught with danger. As they traveled through a valley to the outpost, the team was ambushed by insurgents firing from high ground along the walls of the valley. 

"We fought as we moved," said Valentin, who recalled being in the back of a truck directing an A-10 aircraft and AH-64 helicopter to support his teammates under attack on the ground. 

The convoy returned enemy fire until they arrived at an Afghan National Army checkpoint where the fighting finally ceased. From there they moved back to the firebase without incident. 

Because of his cool, collected, and decisive actions on the field of battle, Valentin was awarded the Bronze star with V device. 

During the award ceremony, Valentin asked that everyone observe a moment of silence to remember his friend, Senior Airman Servais, who gave his life that day. 

As most heroes claim, Valentin does not think his actions that day as being very heroic. 

"The real heroes of that battle were Senior Airmen Servais, Sergeant First Class Bo Wynne, and Captain Kenneth Dwyer, who made sacrifices above and beyond the call of duty," Valentin stated. 

"All these events reinforce my belief that it's an honor and a privilege to continue to serve among Special Operation Forces," said Valentin. "You are truly the best our nation has to offer. Without any reservations, I will follow any of you to battle, anyplace, anytime."