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Video by Staff Sgt. Kris Bonet, Maj. Brett Lea

Social media: I am The Ready First, Spc. Collin Jackson

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division

Aug. 21, 2019 | 2:09

U.S. Army Spc. Collin S. Jackson, Forward Observer with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade, 1st Armored Division, was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Valor at Fort Bliss, Texas, July 11, 2019.

Spc. Collin S. Jackson, United States Army, heroically distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous conduct in the face of the enemy as an Infantry Uplift Soldier attached to Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha (SFODA) 9522, Advanced Operations Base Central. Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan during Operation Freedom’s Sentinel in support of Resolute Support Mission. On 16 August 2017, Jackson was a combat enabler for SFODA 9522 as well as 8th Special Operations Kandak Commandos during a deliberate clearance operation of Mohmand Valley, a stronghold of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria¬-Khorasan (ISIS-K) in southern Nangarhar, Afghanistan. After taking fierce enemy contact from machine gun and indirect fire for over eight hours, the combined U.S. and Afghan element consolidated at an isolated compound on the valley floor in order to secure a defensible remain overnight position.

As the dismounted element finished clearing the compound, an explosive weapon of unknown origin suddenly detonated, wounding 30 personnel and ultimately killing four. Jackson immediately responded to the radio call for help, dismounting from the safety of his armored vehicle and moving over open ground to help collect the wounded and move them to a casualty collection point. As he was doing so, ISIS-K fighters exploited the chaos and confusion with a complex attack and opened fire from Defensive Fighting Positions (DFPs) to the west, south, and north. Jackson steadfastly continued to help move the casualties despite the heavy volume of incoming fire and at one point even assisted performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a critical American casualty. Once all the wounded had been staged for an aerial Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC), Jackson moved back to his vehicle, which was receiving prodigious fire from small arms as well as rocket-propelled grenades.

With total disregard for his own personal safety, he retrieved a 60mm mortar from the truck and began engaging enemy DFPs. Most of the element had moved into an open wheat field in preparation for the incoming MEDEVAC and Jackson had no choice but to fight from an exposed position in front of his vehicle. He was vulnerable but had good fields of fire and he courageously held his ground, destroying an enemy DFP with six mortar rounds.

Jackson remained in his exposed position for nearly an hour as the overwhelming number of casualties behind him were treated and eventually medically evacuated. His efforts directly contributed to the successful MEDEVAC of 13 critical casualties and the failure of the enemy to inflict further damage on his element. Specialist Jackson's actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military heroism and reflects great credit upon himself, the Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, the NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan/Special Operations Joint Task Force¬ Afghanistan, and the United States Army.

U.S. Army video by Maj. Brett Lea and Staff Sgt. Kris Bonet