As the 724th Transportation Company was welcomed home from Iraq Feb. 25, the first Army Reserve Soldier in the Global War on Terrorism received a Silver Star.
Pfc. Jeremy Church of the 724th was presented the third-highest medal for valor by Army Reserve Chief Lt. Gen. James R. Helmly during a unit homecoming ceremony at Fort McCoy, Wis.
Church earned the medal when his convoy was attacked April 9 by more than 150 insurgents in an ambush during which Spc. Keith "Matt" Maupin was captured.
Church was the convoy commander's driver in the lead vehicle. His actions are attributed with saving the lives of at least five Soldiers and four civilians.
After dodging explosions, obstacles and small arms fire in the ambush "kill zone" while firing his M-16 out the window, Church led vehicles from his convoy into a secure perimeter set up by a company from 2-12 Cav. He then carried his wounded platoon leader out of the vehicle to a casualty collection point for treatment.
Then Church led the cavalry troopers back into the kill zone for a recovery mission.
"Pfc. Church identified the assistant commander's vehicle amidst heavy black smoke and flaming wreckage of burning fuel tankers to find two more wounded Soldiers and four civilian truck drivers," his citation reads, adding that he carried wounded over to a recovery vehicle while exposing himself to continuous enemy fire.
When all the wounded were loaded in the truck, there was no room and Church volunteered to remain behind. He climbed into a disabled Humvee for cover and continued firing at insurgents until the recovery team returned. He then loaded up several more wounded before evacuating.
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