Summit Soldier Provencher Receives Silver Star
(January 31, 2011)
KUNDUZ, Afghanistan (Jan. 26, 2011) – United States Army 1st
Lt. David Provencher of the 10th Mountain Division's 1st
Brigade Combat Team received the Silver Star medal, the
nation's third highest award for valor in combat, Jan. 26,
during a ceremony at Forward Operating Base Kunduz, in
northern Afghanistan.
U.S. Army 1st Lt. David
Provencher, from Ellenville, N.Y., and an
infantry platoon leader with 1st Battalion, 87th
Infantry Regiment, from the 10th Mountain
Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team, receives the
Silver Star Medal from Maj. Gen. James Terry,
the division's commander, during a ceremony at
Forward Operating Base Kunduz, in northern
Afghanistan on Jan. 26, 2011. Provencher is
credited with saving the lives of three wounded
soldiers and refusing to leave two others that
were mortally wounded.
Provencher, from Ellenville, N.Y., and an
infantry platoon leader with 1st Battalion, 87th
Infantry Regiment, is credited with saving the
lives of three wounded soldiers and refusing to
leave two others that were mortally wounded.
“Today we honor a great soldier from this
battalion. His actions last June demonstrated
exceptional inspired leadership, valor, and
heroism,” said Maj. Gen. James Terry, commander
of the 10th Mountain Division, as he presented
the award. “In today's environment that's what
it takes; men and women, who are inspired
leaders – who demonstrate their wisdom in this
fight.”
On the morning of June 16, 2010,
Provencher's platoon was serving as the quick
reaction force for a joint United States Special
Forces and Afghan National Army commando
operation in the volatile northern Afghanistan
province of Kunduz.
During the operation,
the Special Forces units suffered a series of
weapons malfunctions that jeopardized the
mission. Provencher moved his platoon forward
and established two mounted positions with his
vehicles. He then dismounted and moved on foot
with Cpl. Daniel Stein, a dedicated marksman, to
meet up with the Special Forces Team Leader to
gain a better idea of the battlefield situation
and to identify security positions.
Provencher
moved forward exposing himself several times to enemy small
arms, machinegun, rocket-propelled grenade, and mortar fire.
From his vantage point Provencher was able to identify
enemy fighters moving into positions north and west of his
platoon's location. Once again, he moved through enemy fire
to emplace his men in security positions.
His rapid
emplacement of troops, and their precise fire, halted the
enemy advance, causing a lull in the fighting.
Taking
advantage of this respite, a group of combat engineers
consolidated their position and continued their road
clearing operations. Within minutes, however, an improvised
explosive device detonated under one of the engineer's route
clearance vehicles near Provencher's position.
Knowing the engineers may be injured, Provencher led two of
his soldiers to their overturned vehicle through intense
enemy machinegun and RPG fire. Once at the vehicle,
Provencher and his men found multiple casualties and
instantly began aiding the wounded in order to evacuate them
to safety.
As his two soldiers worked to help the
wounded, Provencher provided security and suppressed enemy
fire. At the same time, he repositioned the other members of
his platoon to better secure the blast site.
With a
perimeter established, Provencher gathered the three wounded
engineers and lead them to a Special Operations Forces
medic. Before returning to his embattled troops, he ensured
the wounded were being treated and readied for evacuation.
Once back with his men, Provencher noticed a mortally
wounded engineer near the overturned vehicle. He quickly
recovered the soldier and placed him in a vehicle for
evacuation.
Provencher then saw a fifth engineer
trapped under the gunner's turret of the destroyed vehicle
and went to recover him.
At this point the enemy's
fire intensified.
Seemingly oblivious to the
onslaught of small arms, machinegun, and mortar fire,
Provencher worked feverously to free the soldier.
“There were two men down and we were not about to leave them
on the ground for any amount of time,” Provencher said.
“Whether we were waiting for the fire to die down, or for
the conditions to be set, there was no time to wait.”
The withering enemy fire drove the ANA and Special
Operations Forces back nearly 75 meters leaving Provencher
as an exposed target. Seeing he was trying to recover the
trapped engineer, the enemy forces concentrated their fire
on him.
Refusing to leave a fallen comrade,
Provencher continued to work freeing the soldier.
Provencher's fearless resolve inspired and revitalized his
platoon to continue fighting. A recovery vehicle was brought
forward to lift the wreckage off the fallen engineer.
With the deceased soldier now free, Provencher carried
him through a bombardment of mortar and RPG fire to another
vehicle for evacuation.
Provencher and the soldiers
of 4th Platoon remained dismounted and stayed in their
positions providing suppressive fire until the remaining
engineers and their equipment moved out of the enemy's line
of fire.
With the engineers safely out of the area,
Provencher's men remounted their vehicles while he made one
final security sweep ensuring no soldiers, weapons, or
equipment were left behind.
“Lieutenant Provencher
your acts described in this citation exemplify the
complexities in this battlefield and the enemies we face in
Afghanistan,” Terry said. “Through your actions you
demonstrated the incredible abilities of today's soldiers.”
Article, video and photos by Army SFC John Queen
1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Public
Affairs
Copyright 2011
