The United States Army has awarded the Bronze Star to 22-year-old Army Specialist David Mosley of Pickens County. Trained as a tank crewman, Mosley distinguished himself by what the Army termed "exceptionally meritorious service" during a second tour of duty in Iraq.
Based with an armored regiment out of Fort Riley, Kansas, Mosley completed a seven-month tour in Iraq about a year and a half ago. His outfit returned to Iraq in February of 2005 for a year-long tour just completed.
Though trained as a tanker, qualified to drive the massive tracked vehicle and load its cannon, Mosley manned a humvee in Iraq.
"We're tankers," Mosley said, "but they took away our tanks and gave us humvees to ride around in over there, because tanks are not that combat effective over there. City streets. You can't be riding around in a tank."
Mosley received the Purple Heart last December for injuries suffered on a patrol through Taji, Iraq in October. A roadside bomb, improvised by the enemy from two artillery shells, exploded near Mosley's humvee. The armored humvee protected two other crewmen inside. But because he was manning a machine gun at the top of the vehicle, Mosley's upper body received the force of the explosion.
The blast knocked Mosley momentarily unconscious. Shrapnel struck his neck. His injuries included a concussion, damage to his knee, back and shoulder, and third-degree burns on his face and arms. By the time he received the Purple Heart in December, Mosley had almost completely recovered from his injuries.
Between February 2005 and last month, Mosley fought in 51 platoon or company-sized raids and attacks. Combined, the actions gleaned 90 captured insurgents and hundreds of captured enemy weapons and stores of ammunition. In turn, Mosley's platoon sustained enemy attacks on 30 different occasions, including 21 aggressions by IED [improvised explosive device, a roadside bomb].
The following quoted text is from the Army narrative accompanying award of the Bronze Star to Mosley:
"SPC Mosley successfully maneuvered his M1114 [humvee] to intercept an enemy vehicle being used to transport two SA-7 Surface to Air Missiles, leading to the capture of a known insurgent leader.
"SPC Mosley's controlled aggressiveness, sound judgment, and focus on the mission at hand saved the lives of the men in his unit during combat. SPC Mosley worked tirelessly to provide his fellow Soldiers with sound guidance and concerned leadership. He carried out all tasks assigned to him with vigor and professionalism."
Mosley's lieutenant, captain, company commander and battalion commander recommended him for the Bronze Star, an unusual award for a soldier of his rank.
"Only two people got it in the brigade that were specialist or below," Mosley said. "Usually it's only awarded to platoon sergeants."
Mosley's brigade included some 800 soldiers. He lost his sergeant and some close friends in Iraq. Only reluctantly does he describe the action by which he won the Bronze Star. His preference would be for the men who died to receive the medals.
Stateside now, Mosley will spend the remainder of his active duty service at Fort Riley, Kansas. The Army extended Mosley's three-year term of active duty to send him to Iraq the second time.
"So May first is his last day in the Army," explained Stacy Mosley, his wife, who formerly served as a soldier in the military police.
"I could have been out January 15th," David Mosley said. He thinks of pursuing a law enforcement career after the Army. "It sort of all depends," he said.
Asked if he will miss the service, Mosley admitted he will. "A little bit," he clarified. "I'll miss the excitement."
Stacy Mosley numbered each of her husband's days in Iraq. There were 336, she said. With leave he has accumulated, David Mosley will come home from the Army April 16. He and Stacy will make their home in Jasper. Stacy Mosley is ready for her husband to be home –– home from the Army and home from the war.
"I was ready a long time ago," she said. |
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