Documents >> LTC Daly's Bronze Star |
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The recommendation was endorsed by Colonel Douglas H. Starr, the Regimental Commander, and signed by his adjutant. The adjutant might not have been aware of circumstances surrounding this award, nor could he check each of the literally thousands of awards crossing his desk for accuracy. Colonel Starr however, was fully aware that this was a fabricated narrative, but gave it his blessing nonetheless. Fortunately, some unknown individual crossed out the "W/ V DEVICE" portion of LTC Daly's award. Thus, he was awarded a Bronze Star for meritorious achievement, not valor in combat. The Bronze Star is divided into two categories: valor and achievement. The award for valor has a small "V" device on the ribbon and medal. It is much more coveted and rare than its counterpart for simple achievement. Of the over 100 Bronze Stars awarded to troopers in the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, only a handful were for valor. Three of those were for the regimental surgeon, and the two crew members in LTC Daly's vehicle. Nonetheless, the narrative, witness statement, and blatant attempt to obtain an undeserved medal for valor for LTC Daly as a result of this incident was a slap in the face to the Fielder family. Witness Statement (LTC John Daly) 6 Mar 91 While serving as the Third Squadron Commander during the U.S. War with Iraq, LTC John Daly distinguished himself by valorous action by leading the squadron in the ground offensive during the period 24-28 Feb 91. LTC Daly's leadership was ever present as he continuously positioned himself at the point of expected enemy contact. His valor was clearly demonstrated on the evening of 26 Feb and morning of 27 Feb when he participated in the assault of an enemy airfield. After conducting a night forward passage of lines and crossing the probable line of deployment (PLD), the Squadron Commander received a report of fleeing enemy vehicles and hostile fire. Upon receiving the report, he directed the squadron command group to remain in place as he moved to the enemy contact. Disregarding his order, I moved with the SCO to the area where I Troop had reported receiving enemy fire and where we were observing I Troop firing 25mm. When we arrived at the skirmish line, we pulled behind the 3rd Platoon, I Troop. However, after scanning the area we observed dismounts fleeing the scene. At which time HQ66 & HQ33 maneuvered to the left flank of I Troop in order to provide suppressive fires & prevent the enemy escape from the I Troop skirmish line. Once set on the flank LTC Daly demonstrated outstanding leadership as he calmly and systematically orchestrated actions on the objective. We continued to encroach on the enemy position until within about 50 meters. LTC Daly dismounted part of his crew to begin clearing the objective while I maneuvered to the rear of the position to prevent the enemy's egress/assist in clearing the objective. Prior to completion of those activities the burning truck (US 548) exploded sending burning debris and exploded material behind the position of the command group. We then pulled back and continued to develop the situation. During the entire ground war, but most specifically during the aforementioned night attack, LTC Daly's actions were both valorous and meritorious. He clearly demonstrated his ability to lead and to fight.
ELECTRONIC DA FORM 638 (RECOMMENDATION FOR AWARD)
PART I - PERSONAL DATA
PART II - RECOMMENDATION FOR ACHIEVEMENT OR SERVICE 10. 24 SEP 90 - 7 MAR 91 11. AAM (1OLC), ARCOM (2OLC), MSM (1OLC) PART IV - PROPOSED CITATION FOR EXCEPTIONALLY MERITORIOUS AND VALOROUS ACHIEVEMENT AS COMMANDER, THIRD SQUADRON, THIRD ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT, DURING OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM. THROUGH HIS CALM BUT TENACIOUS LEADERSHIP, THE THUNDER SQUADRON SMOOTHLY TRANSITIONED FROM A CONUS FIELD ENVIRONMENT TO COMBAT OPERATIONS IN SOUTHWEST ASIA, OVERCOMING EXTREMES OF ENVIRONMENT AND DISTANCE AS WELL AS FIELDING OF ALL NEW COMBAT SYSTEMS. DURING COMBAT OPERATIONS DEEP INTO IRAQ, HE ALWAYS LED BY EXAMPLE AT THE SQUADRON'S CRITICAL POINTS ON THE BATTLEFIELD, EXPERTLY GUIDING THE SQUADRON'S COMBAT FORCE TO QUICKLY OVERWHELM ENEMY RESISTANCE. LIEUTENANT COLONEL DALY'S MANNER OF PERFORMANCE REFLECTS GREAT CREDIT ON HIMSELF, THE REGIMENT OF MOUNTED RIFLEMEN AND THE UNITED STATES ARMY. PART V - OTHER INSTRUCTIONS AND AUTHENTICATION
NARRATIVE WHILE SERVING AS COMMANDER, 3D SQUADRON, 3D ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT DURING OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM, LTC JOHN DALY HAD DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF BY BOTH MERITORIOUS AND VALOROUS ACTION. FROM 10 AUGUST 1990 TO 17 JANUARY 1991, LTC DALY'S CALM BUT TENACIOUS LEADERSHIP WAS EVER PRESENT AS HE FORMED THE SQUADRON INTO AN AGILE, COHESIVE FIGHTING UNIT WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY ENSURING THE BEST LIVING CONDITIONS POSSIBLE FOR HIS TROOPERS. DURING THE GROUND CAMPAIGN, 24-28 FEBRUARY 1991, LTC DALY DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF BY VALOROUS ACTION BY CONSISTENTLY PLACING HIMSELF WITH THE LEAD TROOP OR POINT OF MOST LIKELY ENEMY CONTACT DURING OUR 200 MILE OFFENSIVE DRIVE INTO IRAQ. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DEMONSTRATION OF VALOR OCCURRED ON 26-27 FEBRUARY 1991, DURING A NIGHT ATTACK OF AN ENEMY AIRFIELD. AS THE SQUADRON CLOSED ON THE OBJECTIVE AREA, I TROOP REPORTED THEY WERE RECEIVING HOSTILE FIRE. LTC DALY, WITHOUT HESITATION OR CONCERN FOR HIS PERSONAL SAFETY, MOVED TO THE POINT OF CONTACT. MONITORING THE BATTLE FROM THE TAC, IT WAS APPARENT THAT LTC DALY HAD MOVED INTO AN AREA IN WHICH DISMOUNTED TROOPS AND AT LEAST ONE BURNING VEHICLE HAD BEEN OBSERVED. LTC DALY CALMLY AND SYSTEMATICALLY SORTED THROUGH THE CONFUSION AND DIRECTED THE ACTIONS OF I TROOP IN CLEARING THE OBJECTIVE, AT ONE POINT DISMOUNTING HIS OWN OBSERVERS TO ASSIST. THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE NIGHT ATTACK, AND GROUND CAMPAIGN, LTC DALY'S CALM AND DECISIVE LEADERSHIP WAS EVER PRESENT. IN ALL PHASES OF THIS OPERATION, LTC DALY'S SERVICE HAS BEEN REPLETE WITH VALOROUS AND MERITORIOUS ACTION.
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