Soldier earns Silver Star Taking the guidon Shooting for a target ...

a r k a n s a s M I N U T E M A N
September 2007
Arkansas Guardsman awarded Silver Star
ny, Brig. Gen. Richard
By Sgt. Rick Fahr
New Blaine Soldier embodied ‘never leave a Troop’ philosophy Swan praised the captain’s
119th Mobile Public Affairs
Detachment
actions.
“Without a doubt you
FORT CHAFFEE
have proven that you are a
MANEUVER TRAIN-
Soldier and a Warrior. God
ING CENTER, Ark.
bless you,” he commented.
— Capt. John F. Vanlandingham’s
mission for Op-
A letter penned by Maj.
Gen. William Wofford,
eration Iraqi Freedom
adjutant general of Arkansas,
honored the Soldier’s
was to train Iraqi National
Guard (ING) troops to defend
their country. When
“dynamic leadership.”
“Your discipline and
insurgents attacked the
professionalism serve as
convoy he and his comrades
were traveling in,
an example to your peers
and have earned for you
Vanlandingham ignored
the respect of your superiors.
You are a fine asset
his own personal safety
and saved the lives of several
ING Troops by ven-
to the Arkansas Army National
Guard,” the adjutant
turing numerous times
general wrote.”
into the kill zone to help
Vanlandingham is the
them escape.
fourth Soldier to earn the
That “never leave a
Silver Star during service
troop on the battlefield”
with Arkansas’ 39th Brigade
during Operation
philosophy earned Vanlandingham
a Silver Star.
Photo by 1LT Chris J. Heathscott, 39th Brigade Public Affairs Office Iraqi Freedom II. The Silver
Star was posthumously
“The Iraqis to me were
Standing Ready. Capt. John Vanlandingham, left, of New Blaine, Ark., stands ready with (left to right) Staff Sgt. Shawn
like American Soldiers, Buffalo, of Jacksonville, Ark., 1st Lt. Mark Bourgery, of Cranston, R.I., and an Iraqi National Guard Captain while waiting for presented to the Family of
and I wouldn’t do that to the word to move forward from Maj. Christian Neary, of Cumberland, R.I. (on radio in back). The leaders were at the starting
line of an operation to cordon and search 23 homes and buildings in Taji Village along the banks of the Tigris River while
Sgt. Russell ‘Doc’ Collier,
them, either,” the captain
said. “We put the time and deployed with the 39th Brigade Combat Team in October 2004. Vanlandingham earned the Silver Star for his “exceptionally of Harrison, Ark. Collier,
meritorious actions” less than one month later during an ambush by anti-Iraqi forces on Nov. 14, 2004. Without regard to his who was also a member
effort and countless hours
own personal safety, Vanlandingham’s actions saved the lives of several Iraqi National Guard Soldiers. Capt. Vanlandingham of the 39th’s 1st Battalion,
into training them. We
is the third Arkansas Guardsmen to earn the Silver Star while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Silver Star 206th Field Artillery, gave
had the duty to help them presentation took place at Fort Chaffee Maneuver Training Center on Sunday, August 12, 2007.
his life in an attempt to
as much as we would have gents an opportunity to mediately realized that the
save a fellow Soldier during
the same deployment.
a fellow American.” prepare for an ambush Iraqi Soldiers were caught
The captain, a member
of 1st Battalion, 206th only available route back “I was the only cadre
of Bono, Ark., and Staff
along the roadway – the in the attack.
1st Lt. Michael McCarty,
Field Artillery Regiment, to the U.S. post.
there who was in charge
Sgt. Matthew Zedwick, of
of Arkansas’ 39th Infantry
Brigade Combat Team, plosive device] went off around and went back,” he
presented the prestigious
“The [improvised ex-
of the Iraqis, so we turned
Corvallis, Ore., were both
served as an ING advisor. two vehicles behind me,” said of his decision to return
to the fight.
tions in combat as well.
award for their heroic ac-
He was presented the Silver
Star during a ceremoplaining
how the ambush The captain directed
McCarty served with the
the captain noted, exny
Sunday, Aug. 12, at Fort began.
American forces to suppress
the enemy fire as he
Infantry. Zedwick served
39th’s 3rd Battalion, 153rd
Chaffee Maneuver Training
Center.
vehicles the Iraqis were made his way into a ditch
with the 2nd Battalion,
He explained that the
The citation for the traveling in each held and back toward the Iraqi
162nd Infantry of Oregon’s
41st Brigade Combat
award, the Army’s thirdhighest
for valor, touted and did not have proteceral
wounded and at least
Team. Zedwick’s battal-
nearly two dozen troops Troops. He retrieved sev-
Vanlandingham’s “exceptional
meritorious brav-
them susceptible to IED along with several weap-
39th Brigade during the
tive armor, thus making one dead Iraqi Soldier
ion served with Arkansas’
ery.”
attacks.
ons. The Iraqi Troops had
mobilization.
Documents relating to Seconds after the first suffered severe injuries,
Despite the kind words,
the award indicate that bomb exploded, another and without quick medical
attention, they would
Vanlandingham downplayed
his “hero” status.
Vanlandingham was leading
a convoy from an oil vehicles, and several in-
likely have died.
Ready for Action. Capt. John Vanlandingham earned “I really appreciate
IED detonated near the
Photo by 1LT Chris J.Heathscott, 39th Brigade Public Affairs Office
refinery back to a U.S. post surgents began attacking After accounting for all the Silver Star for his “exceptionally meritorious actions” during
an ambush by anti-Iraqi forces on Nov. 14,2004. Without to give me this award,” he
what the people have done
north of Taji, Iraq, on Nov. with small arms.
Troops, Vanlandingham
14, 2004. Included in the Vanlandingham’s vehicle,
the convoy lead, leading the way back to saved the lives of several Iraqi National Guard Soldiers. Capt.
reorganized the convoy, regard to his own personal safety, Vanlandingham’s actions
said. “I’m no hero. I just
convoy were about 50 ING
did what I had to do that
troops in several vehicles.
Vanlandingham is the third Arkansas Guardsmen to earn the
escaped the ambush and post to secure medical
day to survive and to have
A delay in the convoy’s
Silver Star while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The Silver Star presentation took place at Fort Chaffee
motored to safety, but he treatment for the wounded.
At the award ceremo-
Maneuver Training Center on Sunday, August 12, 2007.
my fellow Soldiers survive.”
movement allowed insur-
and troops with him im-