BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - A Bronze Star with "V" device for valor was awarded to Army Sgt. Ryan P. Inabnet, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 1-91 Cavalry Squadron, at Fire Base Naray, Kunar province, April 24.
Brig. Gen. Mark Milley, CJTF-101 deputy commanding general of operations, awarded the medal to Inabnet and presented him with a coin for excellence.
Inabnet was recognized for his actions in combat July 27, 2007, when he saved more than a dozen Soldier's lives during a combat operation in Kunar province. The Quick Reaction Team he was on was called out to re-enforce International Security Assistance Forces engaged in combat with insurgents.
"We first set out after receiving word that four casualties on the ground were injured and two of them were serious," said Inabnet, a wheeled vehicle mechanic. "Once we arrived we got the four injured in the vehicles and dropped them off at the medevac site."
Shortly afterward, Inabnet provided first aid to a wounded Soldier from his QRT.
"Once we had all the equipment and personnel, we started to head back," said Inabnet. "That's when we started taking [rocket propelled grenades] and small-arms fire."
As the group tried to break contact, several Soldiers were wounded and put into Inabnet's vehicle.
"My main goal was to get these guys back to the helicopter landing zone so they could survive," said Inabnet. "I ended up staying up for hours until we got all our guys back inside the [forward operating base]."
"That day will be with me for a long time," he said. "I would like to thank the Lord above and all my brothers who were in that fight with me."
Inabet's unit is based out of Schweinfurt, Germany.
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