Updated 2 October 2007

AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY HEROES
(Medal citations are compiled by the ADA Historian's Office, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery School, Fort Bliss, Texas. Check back for monthly updates.)

Sergeant First Class Matthew T. Gruidl, A Battery, 1st Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Artillery. The US Army awarded Sergeant First Class Matthew T. Gruidl the Silver Star Medal for heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force in support of Operation Iraqi Freed. Gruidl distinguished himself while serving as platoon sergeant of 2nd Platoon, Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, Third Air Defense Artillery from 27 January to June 2003.
     On 22 March 2003, Task Force 2-7 Infantry made contact with Iraqi Forces in As Samawah, Iraq. Gruidl willingly and without orders volunteered to reestablish linkup for a lost and separated portion of Task Forc 2-7 convoy that was receiving small-arms fire. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Gruidl continually exposed himself to hostile fire while using his Bradley Linebacker to shield the lost convoy against sporadic AK-47 fire as he led it out of the hostile area to safety and reestablished linkup with the remainder of the Task Fore 2-7 Tactical Operations Center. Numerous rounds of small-arms fire hit his Bradley Linebacker with one round striking his combat vehicle crewman helmet.
     On 24 March 2003, Alpha Battery was ambushed while securing Objective Jenkins by a large Iraqi infantry force. Gruidl maneuvered his Bradley Linebacker toward four Iraqi soldiers hiding in a ditch. The Iraqi soldiers immediately exited the ditch, and one ran around the rear of his platoon leader’s track. Almost immediately, one of the Iraqi soldiers leapt onto the platoon leader’s Bradley Linebacker. Without hesitation, Gruidl engaged the Iraqi soldier with a burst of .50-caliber rounds that removed the Iraqi soldier from the platoon leader’s vehicle. His quick action saved the lives of the three-man crew.
     During the seizure of Objective Lions (Saddam International Airport) on 4 April 2003, Gruidl contributed to the stustainment of platoon operations, which enable the only Air Defense Artillery elements at Objective Lions to successfully complete their mission. His actions at Objective Lions directly affected his platoon’s success.
Gruidl’s selfless service and dedication to the mission were exemplary. His person courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of military services and reflected  great credit upon himself, the Third Infantry Division, and the US Army.

Captain Charles E. Branson, A Battery, 1st Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Artillery The U.S. Army awarded Captain Charles E. Branson the Silver Star Medal for gallantry in action in connection with military operations against a hostile force in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Captain Branson distinguished himself while serving as the commander of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Artillery, in direct support of the First Brigade Combat Team of the Third Infantry Division (Mechanized) during the Battle for Objective Jenkins from 24 to 29 March 2003. The First Brigade commander issued Captain Branson a tactical mission order to secure a bridge in the vicinity of the village of Al Kifal to enable the brigade to continue its attack in Karbala. For this mission, in addition to his two Bradley Linebacker platoons, Captain Branson received a tank platoon from 3-69 Armor as a reserve, a Combat Observation Lasing Team (COLT), and a Long-Range Acquisition System (LRAS) team. An air defense battery commander leading a Bradley and tank company team in an attack was unprecedented. Just after midnight on 25 March 2003, Captain Branson’s company team reached the service road leading to the bridge and immediately began receiving heavy rocket-propelled grenades and small arms and mortar fire from a hostile force well established in prepared defensive positions on the near side of the bridge. Captain Branson pulled his forces back to a rally point and called in artillery fire to suppress the enemy fire. He rallied his forces and continued the attack, only to receive additional heavy fire. For the next eight hours, Captain Branson maintained the momentum of the attack, calling for artillery fires on three separate occasions and requesting he commitment of the reserve tank platoon, which arrived at 0800 on the morning of 25 March 2003. In a last ditch effort to halt Captain Branson’s unrelenting assault, the Iraqis attempted to blow the bridge. A portion of the bridge collapsed, but that did not stop the attack as Captain Branson aggressively ordered his tanks to cross the weakened structure. This action turned the tide of the battle. Following additional fire and maneuver, Captain Branson’s force secured the bridgehead, but fierce fighting continued for the next 36 hours. Later that day, the remainder of Task Force 3-69 Armor was committed to the fight. On 26 March 2003, Task Force 2-69 Armor relieved Task Force 3-69 Armor to continue the lodgment expansion on the far side of the bridgehead. Captain Branson and his company team were ultimately relieved on 29 March 2003. The enemy battle damage assessment for this operation included more than 200 enemy killed in action, 20 “technical” vehicles destroyed, and the capture of numerous weapons caches. Captain Branson’s personal bravery, expert coordination of artillery fire and ground attack, and exemplary devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflected greet credit upon himself, the “Rock of the Marne” Division and the United States Army.

Sergeant Klain W. Garriga, 1st Battalion, 44th Artillery, November 25 1968.  Sgt. Garriga distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions while serving as a squad leader of a self-propelled gun near Con Thien, South Vietnam.  After providing fire support for a reconnaissance in force operation during the day, Sergeant Garriga and his Duster crew left the infantry and other elements and began the return trip to a lightly held outpost that they were to defend during the night.  With darkness quickly approaching he realized there was a possibility of an ambush and elected to drive the lead track himself.  Suddenly he and his crew came under intense automatic weapon, rocket-propelled grenade, and small arms fire.  A grenade exploded in the driver’s compartment, seriously wounding him and causing him to momentarily lose control of the vehicle.  Despite his wounds he regained control of the track, assured that all his men were still on board, and directed them to return fire against the enemy.  Skillfully maneuvering his crippled vehicle through the hostile barrage, he drove nearly two miles to the base camp, where he refused medical aid until all his men had been treated. The Army awarded Sergeant Garriga the Silver Star for gallantry.

SGT Floyd T. Barton, 21st Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion, February 1951. In the vicinity of Yong-dongpo, Korea, SGT Barton found his half-track suddenly attacked by a hostile patrol. The initial attack forced the entire American crew to leave the half-track and take cover, but then SGT Barton and the driver made their way back through enemy lines to recover the vehicle. SGT Barton manned the machine gun turret and delivered a steady stream of deadly fire against the enemy, inflicting numerous casualties and forcing the others to retreat. He received a Silver Star.

SGT John J. Kelly, 459th Antiaircraft Artillery AW Battalion, June 1944. His unit had gone ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day when SGT Kelly saw a German machine gun firing into other GIs who were wading in through the surf. Though wounded, he hastily organized a party and advanced through mine fields toward the enemy post. After throwing a hand grenade, which killed the entire enemy gun crew, he led a second assault that cleared enemy snipers from a position where they had been firing against U.S. Army engineers. He received the Distinguished Service Cross.

SGT Frank Gardella, Jr., 165th Infantry, July 1918. SGT Gardella was manning one of the earliest guns used against aircraft during World War I when two enemy airplanes flew parallel to US infantry lines in France. The planes poured shells into the American position, forcing everyone to cover. SGT Gardella rushed to his machine gun and took aim at the higher of the two planes. Although he was in the midst of a hail of bullets from the aircraft and from German snipers on the ground, he sighted his gun and riddled his target. It fell in flames, hitting the lower plane, and both crashed to the ground in a blaze. SGT Gardella became the first American air defender to receive the Distinguished Service Cross.

PFC Joey Clements, Battery I (Searchlight), 2nd Battalion, 29th Artillery, June 1970. PFC Clements was operating a searchlight on the defensive perimeter of his base in the Republic of Vietnam when he came under heavy enemy fire. He engaged the advancing enemy with a machine gun and was hit in both legs and the chest with shrapnel. Nevertheless he refused to be evacuated and continued to provide effective suppressive fire. As he maneuvered to another position, he was wounded in the arm, but still refused aid and manned his new position until the enemy retreated. He received the Silver Star.

SGT James S. Light, 468th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion, December 1944. The 468th was providing protection to a field artillery battery in Belgium, which was repeatedly attacked during the night by German planes and was also under constant enemy artillery fire. In spite of the extreme danger, SGT Light remained at his post and directed intense and accurate fire against the planes, which resulted in four being brought down. The Army awarded him a Silver Star, noting his "steadfast devotion to duty and indomitable courage."

PVT James E. Brisco, 82nd Antiaircraft Artillery AW Battalion (SP), September 1950. When enemy shelling forced the evacuation of an American antiaircraft firing vehicle near Yongsan, Korea, one man, PVT Brisco, was prevented from leaving by very accurate small arms fire. As two enemy soldiers approached with hand grenades, he shot them. Then, although untrained in operation of the vehicle, he drove it through heavy enemy fire and crashed through an enemy road block, bringing both the vehicle and himself to safety. He received the Silver Star for gallantry in action.

Captain John S. Wilson, Vulcan Weapons System Evaluation Team, February 1969.  He had already served one tour in Vietnam and been seriously wounded there, but in late 1968 Captain Wilson, an instructor in the ADA School's Low Altitude Area Defense Department, volunteered for another Vietnam tour. He did so because of the need for evaluation of forward area weapons in actual combat situations. Due to the severity of his previous wounds, he had to obtain a waiver from the Surgeon General in order to go. During an intense enemy attack on his Vulcan Evaluation Team's position at Long Binh, Captain Wilson gave up his secure position within a bunker to some civilians. This action saved their lives, but exposed him to enemy fire, and he was killed by an rocket burst. The Army awarded him a posthumous Silver Star. He also was awarded the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, and three Purple Hearts.