WEST POINT, N.Y. (October 1, 2015) - Maj. Christopher Dean, U.S. Military Academy Class of 2002, was presented the West Point Association of Graduates 10th annual Alexander R. Nininger Award for Valor at Arms Sept. 24 at Washington Hall.
Dean received the Nininger Award for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Division during combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a young first lieutenant April 4, 2004 in Baghdad.
Dean's actions were directly responsible for defeating the enemy and saving the lives of many Soldiers while serving as the quick reaction force platoon leader of four M1A1 tanks attached to the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment during the Mahdi Army attacks on coalition forces in the Sadr City portion of Baghdad, according to his Silver Star citation. Dean fought two separate but continuous actions over the period of four hours in densely populated and constricted urban terrain in Sadr City with no dismounted support.
Dean led an initial platoon attack from the northeast along Route Delta to relieve 1st Platoon, C Company, 2-5 Cavalry that had suffered one killed in action and two wounded in action, including Dean. Despite his wounds to the neck and left arm and after his commander's .50-caliber machine-gun was destroyed by enemy fire, Dean fought tenaciously from his open hatch, personally destroying enemy troops within 15 meters of his tank and his M4 carbine. First Lt. Dean's leadership ensured the success of the company's mission to evacuate 19 infantrymen isolated and surrounded by the enemy.
Dean did not go into much detail about the battles he was in, preferring to talk directly to the cadets and prefacing his remarks with "I must confess to the Corps that I was an average cadet."
"In fact, my roommates would probably tell you my graduation was not guaranteed until I walked up the ramp and grabbed my diploma," Dean said. "My Graduation Day, now 13 years ago, was one of the best days of my life. Since then, I have often realized just how much I learned here in my four years. That topic is the heart of my message to you this evening."
Talking to the cadets, Dean assured them that they are being well prepared to be a platoon leader who will be at the lead of an American attack of any scale and that a platoon leader, along with his or her Soldiers, will form the steely tip of America's spear.
Dean also spoke about what it takes to be a leader, to be THAT platoon leader, that America's spear. "On Day 1, you will know that trust is critical," Dean said. "You will know to observe the group dynamics and that your Soldiers are sizing you up as well. From day one, nurturing trust within your platoon will become an essential objective of your leadership, which will no longer be an academic concept."
Dean said as a platoon leader, he or she must share hardships with the Soldiers whether it is a repair part for a deadlined vehicle that doesn't arrive until 1600 hours on a Friday, it is the platoon leader's duty to stay with the Soldiers in the motor pool, to help drag track sections or operate an impact wrench and that the wallet can handle a platoon's worth of pizzas.
"The long days and nights with your Soldiers will forge your team," Dean said. "You will learn about hard childhoods in poor communities, laugh at their high school pranks and car crashes, and hear about which video game is 'the new hotness,' but you will also hear how the Army provided many of your Soldiers a path to a brighter future, and, often, you will be struck by the purity of their patriotism."
Dean received a Master of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 2015. He is a graduate of the Armor Officer Basic Course, Unit Movement Officer's Course, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense Course and Command and General Staff College Common Core.
His decorations to date include the Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Overseas Service Ribbon (5th Award) Combat Action Badge and the Parachutist Badge.
Dean was accompanied by his parents, retired Col. Jeffrey and Cathy Dean and his wife Grace.
Dean was also presented with the Cadet Saber at the completion of his speech. Dean's father also received the Silver Star for his actions during the Vietnam War.
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