617th Military Police Company, Kentucky National Guard
Nein, along with other unit members, distinguished himself in action on March 20, 2005. A three-vehicle, squad-sized element of his company was escorting a convoy of 30 trucks driven by civilian contractors along Alternate Supply Route Detroit, Iraq. The convoy was attacked by 50 enemy fighters, using rocket-propelled grenades, heavy machine guns and small arms. Most of the enemy was concealed in an irrigation ditch and orchard, making them difficult to engage. The initial attack disabled the lead truck of the convoy, blocking the rest in the kill zone. Nein had members of his squad move forward to outflank them on the right side. Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester ordered her Humvee gunner to place covering fire on the enemy positions.
Hester then moved her vehicle to a flanking position and dismounted, ordering her gunner to continue his fire into the orchard, adding hers to the battle. Using her M4 carbine with an attached grenade launcher, she fired grenades into the field. While this was happening, Nein, noting an insurgent behind a 10-foot embankment, threw a grenade, killing him. He then moved forward to the right side of the berm, followed by Hester. Nein quickly engaged and eliminated five enemy fighters. As they proceeded along the embankment, they both continued to take out insurgents, with Hester killing three. Once they reached the end of the trench, Nein called a cease fire.
In total, this action resulted in 27 enemy fighters killed and seven captured (six of them wounded). While the squad suffered at least four serious casualties, none died from their wounds.
A National Guard Bureau Heritage Series painting of this action “Raven 42†can be found at http://www.ngb.army.mil/resources/photo_gallery/index.html?lib=heritage/index.htm.
Staff Sgt. Timothy F. Nein
617th Military Police Company, Kentucky National Guard
(DSC)
Sgt. 1st Class Joshua D. Betten
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Sgt. Russell L. Collier
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Spc. Richard A. Ghent
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Spc. Jason Harrington
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Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester
617th Military Police Company, Kentucky National Guard
1st Lt. Tyler J. Jensen
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Spc. Gerrit Kobes
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Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Lewis
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Lt. Col. Michael E. McLaughlin
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Staff Sgt. Michael J. McMullen
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Spc. Jason L. Mike
617th Military Police Company, Kentucky National Guard
Tech. Sgt. Keary J. Miller
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Sgt. Robert S. Pugh
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Staff Sgt. Joseph Proctor
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Spc. Brian M. Sheetz
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Staff Sgt. Emmett Spraktes
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Sgt. 1st Class Chad M. Stephens
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Capt. John Vanlandingham
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Sgt. 1st Class Mark A. Wanner
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Tech. Sgt. Kevin Whalen
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Sgt. Matthew Zedwick
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