The Team

Red Platoon - 1st Platoon
B Troop 3-61 Cavalry, 4th BCT, 4th ID

The 13-hour battle to re-take Combat Outpost Keating from an assault by 400 Taliban fighters on Oct. 3, 2009, was a team effort. Below are the members of Staff Sgt. Clinton Romesha’s platoon who fought beside him. Four members of the team perished that day. This site is dedicated to their memory and the memory of the four other Black Knight troops - Sgt. Christopher T. Griffin, Staff Sgt. Vernon W. Martin, Sgt. Michael P. Scusa, and Pfc. Kevin C. Thomson - who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

** Fallen Heroes during the Battle of COP Keating

1st Lt. Andrew L. Bundermann

Now Capt. Andrew Lawrence Bundermann

  • Silver Star
  • Bronze Star
  • Army Commendation Medal
  • National Defense Service Medal
  • Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star
  • Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
  • Army Service Ribbon
  • Overseas Service Ribbon
  • NATO Medal
  • Valorous Unit Award (2 awards)
  • Combat Action Badge

Sgt. Armando Avalos Jr.

Now Staff Sgt. Armando Avalos Jr.

  • Army Commendation Medal (5 awards)
  • Army Good Conduct Medal (3 awards)
  • National Defense Service Medal
  • Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star
  • Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star
  • Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
  • Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
  • NCO Professional Development Ribbon
  • Army Service Ribbon
  • Overseas Service Ribbon (4 awards)
  • ATO Medal
  • Valorous Unit Award
  • Meritorious Unit Commendation
  • Combat Action Badge

Sgt. Bradley D. Larson

Now 1st Lt. Bradley Duane Larson

  • Silver Star
  • Purple Heart
  • Army Commendation Medal (2 awards)
  • Army Achievement Medal
  • Army Good Conduct Medal
  • National Defense Service Medal
  • Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars
  • Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star
  • Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
  • NCO Professional Development Ribbon
  • Army Service Ribbon
  • Overseas Service Ribbon (2 awards)
  • NATO Medal
  • Combat Action Badge

Spc. Justin J. Gregory

Now Sgt. Justin James Gregory

  • Army Commendation Medal with V device
  • Army Commendation Medal (3 awards)
  • Army Achievement Medal (7 awards)
  • Army Good Conduct Medal (2 awards)
  • National Defense Service Medal
  • Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star
  • Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
  • Korean Dense Service Medal
  • Army Service Ribbon
  • Overseas Service Ribbon (3 awards)
  • NATO Medal
  • COA
  • Valorous Unit Award
  • Combat Action Badge

Spc. Kyle Jeffrey Knight

  • Army Commendation Medal
  • Army Good Conduct Medal
  • National Defense Service Medal
  • Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 2 campaign stars
  • Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
  • Army Service Ribbon
  • Overseas Service Ribbon
  • NATO Medal
  • Valorous Unit Award
  • Combat Action Badge

Spc. Zachary S. Koppes

Now Sgt. Zachary Steven Koppes

  • Bronze Star with V device
  • Purple Heart
  • Army Commendation Medal
  • Army Achievement Medal (5 awards)
  • Army Good Conduct Medal
  • National Defense Service Medal
  • Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars
  • Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
  • Korean Dense Service Medal
  • Army Service Ribbon
  • Overseas Service Ribbon (2 awards)
  • NATO Medal
  • Valorous Unit Award
  • Combat Action Badge

Spc. Thomas C. Rasmussen

Now Sgt. Thomas Corey Rasmussen

  • Silver Star
  • Purple Heart
  • Army Commendation Medal (2 awards)
  • Army Achievement Medal (2 awards)
  • Army Good Conduct Medal (2 awards)
  • Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal
  • National Defense Service Medal
  • Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star
  • Iraq Campaign Medal
  • Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
  • NCO Professional Development Ribbon
  • Army Service Ribbon
  • Overseas Service Ribbon
  • NATO Medal
  • COA (4 awards)
  • Valorous Unit Award
  • Combat Action Badge

Pfc. Christopher Blake Jones

Now Spc. Christopher Blake Jones

  • Bronze Star with V device
  • Purple Heart
  • National Defense Service Medal
  • Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars
  • Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
  • Army Service Ribbon
  • Overseas Service Ribbon
  • NATO Medal
  • Valorous Unit Award
  • Combat Infantryman Badge

** Sgt. Justin T. Gallegos

Posthumously promoted to Staff Sgt. Justin Timothy Gallegos

  • Silver Star
  • Bronze Star
  • Purple Heart (3 awards)
  • Army Commendation Medal (2 awards)
  • Army Achievement Medal (2 awards)
  • Army Good Conduct Medal
  • National Defense Service Medal
  • Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star
  • Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star
  • Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
  • Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
  • Army Service Ribbon
  • Overseas Service Ribbon (2 awards)
  • NATO Medal
  • Combat Action Badge

** Sgt. Joshua Mitchell Hardt

  • Bronze Star
  • Purple Heart
  • Army Commendation Medal (2 awards)
  • Army Achievement Medal
  • Army Good Conduct Medal
  • National Defense Service Medal
  • Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star
  • Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star
  • Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
  • Army Service Ribbon
  • Overseas Service Ribbon
  • NATO Medal
  • Combat Action Badge

** Sgt. Joshua John Kirk

  • Bronze Star
  • Purple Heart
  • Army Commendation Medal
  • Army Achievement Medal
  • Army Good Conduct Medal
  • National Defense Service Ribbon
  • Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star
  • Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
  • Army Service Ribbon
  • Overseas Service Ribbon
  • NATO Medal (2 awards)
  • Combat Action Badge

** Pfc. Stephan Lee Mace

  • Bronze Star
  • Purple Heart
  • National Defense Service Medal
  • Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star
  • Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
  • Army Service Ribbon
  • NATO Medal
  • Combat Action Badge