Spc. Jason Harrington
Company A, 1st Battalion, 172nd Armor, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, Pennsylvania National Guard
As a member of a long range surveillance and sniper team on Sept. 19, 2005, three of Harrington’s platoon members, including his platoon leader, were killed after being attacked with an improvised explosive device (IED). Harrington immediately volunteered to be part of a reaction force to respond. Along with another platoon, he left his base and moved into a known high-threat area. As the two Humvees in his group were moving to the scene, his vehicle was struck with an IED, tearing off the front of it. Disoriented from the explosion, not knowing the extent of his own injuries at the time and suffering from a possible concussion, Harrington’s training took over. First, he physically checked the crew in his Humvee for injuries. Next, he exited the destroyed vehicle and began to engage the enemy positions exposing him to small arms fire. The platoon sergeant hooked a tow strap to Harrington’s vehicle and began to pull it away from enemy fire when both Humvees were struck by a second IED, knocking the platoon sergeant out of the vehicle. Harrington helped a medic begin first aid on the wounded platoon sergeant.
With the two Humvees now disabled and without communications, Harrington grabbed a radio out of his bag and established communications with headquarters. After the recovery effort was completed, he again assumed additional risk to himself by helping to sweep the unsecured area for insurgents.
Staff Sgt. Timothy F. Nein
617th Military Police Company, Kentucky National Guard
(DSC)
Sgt. 1st Class Joshua D. Betten
Company A, 3rd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group, Florida National Guard
Sgt. Russell L. Collier
Battery A, 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery, Arkansas National Guard
Spc. Richard A. Ghent
1st Battalion, 172nd Armor, New Hampshire National Guard
Spc. Jason Harrington
Company A, 1st Battalion, 172nd Armor, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, Pennsylvania National Guard
Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester
617th Military Police Company, Kentucky National Guard
1st Lt. Tyler J. Jensen
19th Special Forces Group, Utah National Guard
Spc. Gerrit Kobes
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 161st Infantry, Washington National Guard
Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Lewis
Company A, 3rd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group, Florida National Guard
Spc. Jose Maldonado
130th Engineer Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division
Puerto Rico National Guard
Staff Sgt. Chad Malmberg
Company A, 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota National Guard
1st Lt. Michael J. McCarty
Company C, 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry, 39th Brigade Combat Team, Arkansas National Guard
Lt. Col. Michael E. McLaughlin
Brigade Effects Coordinator, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania National Guard
Staff Sgt. Michael J. McMullen
243rd Engineer Company, Maryland National Guard
Spc. Jason L. Mike
617th Military Police Company, Kentucky National Guard
Tech. Sgt. Keary J. Miller
123rd Special Tactics Squadron, Kentucky National Guard
Sgt. Robert S. Pugh
Company A, 1st Battalion, 155th Infantry, Mississippi National Guard
Staff Sgt. Joseph Proctor
638th Support Battalion (Aviation) Indiana National Guard
1st Sgt. Kevin K. Remington
957th Multi-Role Bridge Company, 142nd Combat Heavy Engineer Battalion, North Dakota National Guard
Spc. Brian M. Sheetz
Company C, 1st Battalion, 103rd Armor, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania National Guard
Staff Sgt. Emmett Spraktes
Company C, 1-168th General Support Aviation Battalion,California National Guard
Sgt. 1st Class Chad M. Stephens
Company A, 1st Battalion, 120th Infantry, 30th Infantry Brigade, North Carolina National Guard
Capt. John Vanlandingham
1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery, 39th Infantry Brigade, 39th Infantry Brigade, Arkansas National Guard
Sgt. 1st Class Mark A. Wanner
Company B, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group, Ohio National Guard
Tech. Sgt. Kevin Whalen
Tactical Air Control Party, 116th Air Support Operations Squadron, Washington National Guard
Sgt. Matthew Zedwick
Company B, 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry, 41st Brigade Combat Team, Oregon National Guard