 “This
is the type of stuff he does every day.” In the civilian world,
those words might describe a hardworking, devoted colleague. In a
combat zone, however, they take on a whole new meaning: “It's not
the first time [Capt. Goltry has] been shot, and it's not the first
time he charged the enemy,” explained Capt. Buddy Ferris, a fellow
officer in the legendary 82nd Airborne Division.
Those words
were used to describe then-Lt. Goltry's heroism in battle on
February 2, 2007. That evening, Goltry was in command of the second
truck in his platoon's five-vehicle convoy as it moved through
Sammara, just north of Baghdad. Though the sun had set, a moonlit
night provided little cover for the convoy – perfect conditions for
an ambush.
Suddenly, in what Goltry described as a complex
“L-shaped” attack, enemy combatants unleashed a barrage of
machine-gun fire at the convoy, disabling the lead humvee and
wounding its gunner. Goltry saw his fellow paratrooper's vulnerable
position, and realized that the only way to protect the wounded
soldier would be to imperil his own safety. He ordered his driver to
move his vehicle in front of the damaged truck to create a buffer
and draw away fire. Lt. Goltry opened his door to return fire, even
as his vehicle bore the brunt of the enemy's bullets.
Goltry
was shot twice in his left leg. But this didn't stop or apparently
even slow him down. He jumped from his vehicle, rallied his men, and
killed a hostile combatant as he led the offensive against the
ambush. Rather than retreat, the squads pursued the enemies for
several hundred meters and took over strategic positions as they
cleared nearby houses. These efforts yielded the capture of an enemy
combatant. Lt. Goltry refused to be evacuated in a medical vehicle
and instead stayed with his platoon. Goltry later called the whole
incident “just another day.”
For those who know him, Goltry's
valor in action is no surprise. And neither is his humility: When
discussing his actions, he always deflects attention from himself.
“I'm real proud of my men,” he said. “They fight real hard for me,
and they've saved my (rear) more than once.”
Aristotle once
declared that excellence is not an act, but a habit. For making a
habit of bravery, determination, and courage, Capt. Goltry was
awarded the Silver Star, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and two
Purple Hearts on July 31, 2007. He is scheduled to receive a third
Purple Heart for wounds sustained during an attack on Sammara's
police station this past May. Capt. Goltry continues to serve in
Iraq. |
