CAMP PHOENIX, KABUL , AFGHANISTAN (12/16/2008)(readMedia)-- Army Specialist Salvatore Galgano, age 23 from Pomona, NY was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device today for exceptionally meritorious service while under fire.

On 20 August, Spec. Galgano was a member of a combat patrol of about 20 U.S. troops in Bala Murghab, Badghis Province in western Afghanistan. The patrol came under fire from entrenched enemy forces surrounding a corn field, which forced the patrol to take cover in ditches and behind rock walls adjacent to a small farming village. The estimated strength of the enemy force was approximately 70 fighters.

Specialist Galgano moved to the site of enemy contact and then rushed to a position on top of hill in order to establish a base of fire with his M240B machinegun and provide cover for the other members of his team.

According to the combat report, Spec. Galgano repeatedly exposed himself to heavy fire, delivered effective suppressive fire against enemy positions and served as a forward observer as other members of his team used grenade launchers as artillery to engage the enemy who were occupying covered positions in close proximity to the patrol. From his over watch position, he drew considerable small arms, sniper, machinegun and rocket propelled grenade fire. More than 50 rounds landed within inches of him. He occupied this position for nearly three hours.

Later, when he had evacuated his position under concealment from smoke grenades, he joined in the ground assault and clearing operation which swept most of the enemy from their positions.

The engagement lasted almost 6 hours, with most of the fighting taking place at close quarters. Specialist Galgano once again took an exposed position on top of the roof of a building in the village in order to engage the enemy

Specialist Galgano is also credited with taking out several enemy fighters who were attempting to attack the patrol's flank and for eliminating an RPG gunner who was targeting a team mate. At the end of the battle, approximately 30 enemy fighters had been killed or wounded.

Specialist Galgano joined the Army 3 years ago as an infantry soldier and is assigned to the 11^th Armored Cavalry Regiment based at Fort Irwin, CA. He was deployed to Afghanistan about a year ago and assigned to Afghan Regional Security Integration Command-West (ARSIC-W) as one of a 44-member training team to support the Afghan National Army. His rotation to Afghanistan is concluding and he will soon be coming home to the U.S.

ARSIC-W is a command of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix, a part of Combined Security Transition command-Afghanistan with the mission to train, mentor and develop the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police.

At the time of the incident Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix was being led by the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the New York Army National Guard.

Cutline:

Col. Brian K. Balfe, a member of the New York Army National Guard and commander of CJTF-Phoenix pins Spec. Salvatore Galgano with the Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device at Camp Phoenix, in Kabul on 13 December 2008.

U.S. Army Photo by Major Kathy Oliver, 27th Brigade Combat Team

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Posted Tuesday December 16, 2008 at 10:45 am by New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs
Last Updated Thursday August 26, 2010 at 09:25 am