That's right. Our Combat Camera guys 'n gals - the ones who provide the pictures we bloggers use so much - are tougher than your Afghan bandits. Most of you have heard about the battle that ended up earning 10 soldiers, mostly SOF guys, Silver Stars.
Meet the exception to that rule:Specialist Michael Carter, Combat Cameraman.
Well done, soldier!
Meet the exception to that rule:Specialist Michael Carter, Combat Cameraman.
Spc. Michael Carter
Combat Documentation & Production Specialist 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera)
On Dec. 12, 2008 Spc. Michael Carter, Combat Documentation & Production Specialist 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera) was awarded the Silver Star for actions in the Shok Valley of Nuristan Province, Afghanistan April 6, 2008.
Spc. Carter was one of 10 Soldiers awarded Silver Stars for that engagement, but unlike the Soldiers of Operational Detachment A (ODA) 3336 on the raid, Spc. Carter is a Combat Cameraman.
During the hour-long mountainside battle, Spc. Carter charged forward while laying down suppressive fire to recover a wounded Soldier, then alternated between providing first aid and repulsing the enemy. He again exposed himself to enemy fire when he ran across open ground to recover a satellite phone. He assisted the ODA commander with calling for and directing close air support, and assisted the team medic in providing first aid to two more wounded Soldiers.
When the enemy closed to within 40 feet, Spc. Carter stood his ground and laid suppressive fire to block the advance. With danger-close airstrikes landing less than 100 meters away, Spc. Carter used his body to shield casualties from falling debris, and assisted in a daring rescue down a nearly vertical 60-foot cliff.
For his gallantry in action, Spc. Michael Carter is this week's Warrior-Soldier.
Well done, soldier!
will wonders never cease?!?!
huzzah for that young stud.
I guess this is why they're not just cameramen, they're combat cameramen...
But you can afford to be magnanimous. Because you got proof of walking the walk, while these guys are just talk. And gal, too.
Might even have used his camera for some of them, before or after.
The only thing that could make this story better would be if he were a she so we'd have yet another example of our women kicking the crud out of their 'men'.
Too bad our Military is currently facing the only foe that could defeat it - a Liberal Administration. Let's hope they win there too.
"They were in the wrong place at the wrong time; what else could they have done but become heroes?"
Although one can only image the thoughts that were going through SPC Carter's head when things started getting hot and nasty.
I was thinking along the lines of a proper response to (my dearly beloved) Marines who think they're all that and a bag of chips. As in, "The U.S. Army is so tough even our cameramen get Silver Stars!" ;)