Valor Award
Ceremony
Distinguished Service Cross
and Silver Star
10th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Valor Award Ceremony
Staff Sergeant Jarion Halbisengibbs will be receiving the Distinguished Service Cross for
extraordinary heroism in action on 10 September 2007 in combat operations in support of Operations
Iraqi Freedom. As the Detachment weapon sergeant, Staff Sergeant Halbisengibbs displayed
extraordinary courage under fire while combat-advising a combined assault element of the Iraqi
National Police during Operation Chromium, a raid to capture Al Qaeda in Iraq’s Minister of Defense for
Ad Din Province in Samarra. Through his fearless actions, Staff Sergeant Halbisengibbs directly saved the
lives of two of his fellow Soldiers, personally killed six of the eleven enemies Killed in Action, enabled the
rescue of one hostage, and ensured the elimination of a terrorist responsible for kidnappings and
murders throughout the Samarra region. His unparalleled courage under fire, decisive leadership and
personal sacrifice were directly responsible for the operations success and ensured the province of Ad
Din did not fall into insurgent hands. Staff Sergeant Jarion Halbisengibbs’ outstanding performance of
duty is in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the
10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and the United States Army.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY THE AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS TO
STAFF SERGEANT JARION HALBISENGIBBS
For exceptional gallantry under intense enemy fire as the Detachment Weapons Sergeant of Special
Forces Operational Detachment - Alpha 083, Advanced Operating Base 080, on 10 September 2007. SSG
Halbisengibbs, while combat advising a combined assault element of Iraqi National Police during
Operation CHROMIUM, an intelligence driven raid to capture a High Value Islamic State of Iraq terrorist
in the Samarra area, acted with the utmost bravery and valor through exemplary violence of action to
eliminate a heavily armed and entrenched enemy stronghold. Upon air infiltration into an unplanned
landing zone, SSG Halbisengibbs immediately redirected the disoriented Iraqi assault force towards the
objective in total brownout conditions. His quick thinking and ability to refocus the confused assault
element ensured that the enemy could not effectively reposition itself and engage the support element
maneuvering to his flank. Upon clearing the first structure, the assault element immediately came
under enemy machine gun fire causing a dangerous pause in the momentum of the Iraqi National Police.
SSG Halbisengibbs instantly identified the immediate threat and killed an enemy defending from inside
the doorway of the targeted building. He then proceeded to regain the momentum by personally
leading the assault force into the targeted building while under constant enemy gunfire. Initiating the
assault with a single fragmentary grenade, instantly killing an additional three terrorists entrenched
inside the building, he instinctively cleared the entryway, entered the building and engaged and
instantly killed an enemy firing at the assault element from inside the building at close range. SSG
Halbisengibbs continued to clear the structure in complete darkness as his night vision goggles and
personal radio were all destroyed by enemy gunfire at point blank range. Stumbling over a dead enemy,
he was shot in the thumb and propelled to the ground by the blast of an enemy grenade which
propelled two other Operational Detachment - Alpha (ODA) assaulters out of the building. Alone, he
relentlessly continued to engage the concealed enemy and in a moment of intense close quarters battle
killed one additional terrorist inside the now chaotic structure. Once the targeted building was cleared,
SSG Halbisengibbs exited the building and immediately passed a verbal status report to his ODA
indicating that he was injured but that he was able to continue the fight. He immediately came under
10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Carson, Colorado
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Valor Award Ceremony
automatic weapons fire at close range from a defending enemy position in an adjacent structure not yet
cleared by the stalled National Police assault force. As SSG Halbisengibbs reacted to the threat, he was
shot in the abdomen, but was still able to kill the enemy as he fell to the ground seriously wounded.
SSG Halbisengibbs’ heroic performance rekindled the fighting spirit in the stalled Iraqi force, who carried
on the assault and cleared the remainder of the objective. SSG Halbisengibbs was responsible for single
- handedly killing six enemy out of a total of eleven on this objective and eliminating a High Value
Terrorist who led operations throughout Salah ad Din Province. His actions are in keeping with the finest
traditions of valorous military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Special Operations
Command Central, and the United States Army.
Staff Sergeant Jarion Halbisengibbs, from Peterboro, New Hampshire, enlisted in the U.S. Army October
2002 into the Special Forces program. In early 2003, he attended the Infantry One Station Unit Training
and the Basic Airborne Course at Ft. Benning, Georgia before his assignment to the Special Warfare
Center and School at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina for attendance of the Special Forces Qualification Course.
Upon successful completion of the Special Forces Weapons NCO Qualification Course, SSG Halbisengibbs
was assigned to 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Operational Detachment - Alpha (ODA) 083, Fort
Carson, Colorado. He immediately deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in December 2004 in support of Operation
IRAQI FREEDOM III. In March 2007, he again deployed in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM V to
Samarra, Iraq.
SSG Halbisengibbs has attended the Basic Airborne Course, Special Forces Qualification Course, SERE
Level C, Combat Diver Course, and the Special Forces Sniper Course.
SSG Halbisengibbs awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, Army
Commendation Medal with “V” Device and one oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq
Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantrymen’s
Badge, Special Forces Tab, Parachutists Badge and the Combat Divers Badge.
SSG Halbisengibbs is an avid martial artist earning his 1st degree Black Belt in the International Tae Kwon
Do Federation in August 2002. He currently resides in Colorado Springs with his wife and son.
10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Carson, Colorado
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Valor Award Ceremony
Captain Matthew A. Chaney will be receiving the Silver Star for gallantry in action on 10
September 2007 while serving as the Detachment Commander, Operational Detachment Alpha 083,
Samarra, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. His heroic actions during combat operations
resulted in his detachment decisively defeating a prepared and determined enemy. Captain Chaney’s
bravery in the face of the enemy, skill at arms, and aggressive assault of prepared enemy defenses saved
lives and enabled the Special Forces Operations Detachment Alpha to defeat a prepared and
determined enemy. Captain Chaney’s valorous performance is in keeping with the finest traditions of
military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the Special Operations Command Central, and the
United States Army.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY THE AWARD OF THE SILVER STAR MEDAL TO
CAPTAIN MATTHEW A. CHANEY
Captain Matthew A. Chaney, United States Army, heroically distinguished himself by exceptionally
valorous conduct in the face of the enemy of the United States as the Detachment Commander for
Operational Detachment Alpha 083, Samarra, Iraq, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 10
September 2007. Captain (CPT) Chaney, the overall Ground Force Commander during Operation
CHROMIUM targeting a high-value Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) cell leader in the vicinity of Samarra, in Iraq,
acted with the utmost bravery and valor to eliminate a heavily armed and entrenched terrorist strong
hold by ensuring that the momentum of the assault was maintained throughout the combined
operation with the Iraqi National Police. Upon helicopter infiltration on an unplanned, alternate landing
zone, CPT Chaney was faced with an immediately dangerous situation as the entire objective was
obscured by brown-out conditions due to the rotor wash of the platform. He immediately led a
combined Iraqi and ODA assault element to clear the first two structures on the objective before the
enemy could reposition itself to engage his men and partnered Iraqi National Police force. As he
maneuvered to the second structure, his element came under immediate direct machine gun fire. He
quickly assessed the situation and reconsolidated the assault force under cover to regain the
momentum and violence of action required to unhinge the now entrenched enemy position. He
directed his element to initiate a breach with fragmentary grenades into a building occupied by nine
armed terrorists. Instinctively reacting to the detonation with an overwhelming assault on the target
building, CPT Chaney was instantly shot from the side but continued to direct the assault into the
building ensuring that it was cleared of enemy personnel. Substantially outmanned, the assault element
under the command of CPT Chaney killed a total of nine defending enemy inside the targeted building.
As he was directing this effort, an enemy grenade exploded in close proximity to CPT Chaney propelling
him outside the structure where he quickly recovered and engaged and killed another enemy firing
directly at him from an open door. Once the immediate threat was eliminated, CPT Chaney, now more
seriously wounded and disoriented from the blast of the grenade, realized that two other ODA members
were also seriously wounded and required immediate medical evacuation. He immediately called for
the ODA medic to move to the position of the assault force and begin treating the casualties while
simultaneously coordinating for the infiltration aircraft, loitering off of the objective, to return to the
target area and evacuate his wounded men. Although wounded, CPT Chaney relentlessly continued to
control actions on the objective ensuring that all structures were cleared of enemy personnel. His
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Valor Award Ceremony
actions under fire were directly responsible for the killing of eleven enemy personnel, including a highvalue foreign fighter that coalition forces had been chasing for over a year. His valorous leadership and
successful elimination of these terrorists had a significant impact on Al Qaeda operations in the Samarra
area and contributed immeasurably to the security of Salah ad-Din Province in Iraq. His actions are in
keeping with the finest traditions of military heroism and reflect distinct credit upon himself, the Special
Operations Command Central, and the United States Army.
Captain Matthew Chaney, from Washington, Illinois, graduated from the United States Military
Academy at West Point in 2001 with a Bachelors of Science in Economics and commissioned as a Second
Lieutenant. After completing the Engineer Officer Basic Course, the Basic Dive Officer Course, Salvage
Dive Officer Course and Ranger School, Chaney was assigned as the Executive Officer for the 7th Engineer
Dive Detachment at Fort Shafter, HI. Chaney was promoted to Captain in 2004 and served as the
Assistant S-3 for the 29th Engineer Battalion before attending Special Forces Assessment and Selection in
2005.
CPT Chaney then attended the Infantry Captains Career Course and Airborne School at Fort Benning, GA
en route to the Special Forces Qualification Course at Fort Bragg, NC. In March of 2007, CPT Chaney
graduated the Special Forces Qualification Course and the Special Forces Arabic Language School and
was assigned to Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Carson, CO.
He immediately deployed in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM V as the Company Executive Officer
and later took command of ODA 083. CPT Chaney deployed in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM VI
and continues to serve as the commander of ODA 0323 (previously known as ODA 083).
CPT Chaney’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star (1 oak leaf cluster), Purple Heart, Army
Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), National Defense Service Medal,
Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Combat
Infantrymen’s Badge, Naval Dive Officer Insignia, Combat Divers Badge, German Armed Forces
Proficiency Badge, Army Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, and Special Forces Tab.
CPT Chaney currently resides in Colorado Springs with his wife and son.
10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Carson, Colorado
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Valor Award Ceremony
Sergeant First Class Michael D. Lindsay will be receiving the Silver Star for gallantry in action
on 10 September 2007 under intense enemy fire while serving as Detachment communications
Sergeant, Operational Detachment Alpha 083, Samarra, Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Sergeant
First Class Lindsay’s heroic actions during combat operations resulted in his detachment decisively
defeating a prepared and determined enemy. His bravery in the face of the enemy, skill at arms, and
aggressive assault of prepared enemy defenses saved lives and enabled the Special Forces Operational
Detachment – Alpha to defeat a prepared and determined enemy. Sergeant First Class Lindsay’s
performance is in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon
himself, the Special Operations Command Central, and the United States Army.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY THE AWARD OF THE SILVER STAR MEDAL TO
SERGEANT FIRST CLASS MICHAEL D. LINDSAY
Sergeant First Class Michael D. Lindsay distinguished himself through conspicuous gallantry and
intrepidity in action against enemy forces, in Samarra, Iraq, on 10 September 2007, while serving as the
Detachment Communications Sergeant for Operational Detachment – Alpha 083. While combat
advising an Iraqi National Police assault element during Operation CHROMIUM, an intelligence driven,
air assault raid to capture a high value Islamic State of Iraq terrorist in the Samarra area, SFC Lindsay
acted with the utmost bravery and valor to eliminate a heavily armed and entrenched insurgent
stronghold. His combined assault force was inserted onto an unplanned landing zone less than 30
meters from an enemy position. The enemy, alerted by the incoming aircraft, started to maneuver by
fire to defend their position against the oncoming assault. SFC Lindsay assessed the situation and
immediately realized that his Iraqi assault force was seriously disoriented as a result of brownout
conditions caused by the rotor wash of the aircraft. Disregarding his own safety, SFC Lindsay
courageously exposed himself to enemy automatic weapons fire as he directed his Iraqi counterparts
towards an initial structure on the objective. As the insurgents increased their volume of fire, SFC
Lindsey remained composed, continuing to combat advise the force as he received direct automatic
weapons fire from the primary target building south of his position. Identifying an enemy firing from a
covered and concealed position, SFC Lindsey aggressively assaulted, neutralizing an imminent threat to
the maneuvering assault force. He then instinctively acquired and effectively neutralized an enemy
insurgent before the insurgent was able to bring effective fire on the U.S. Special Operators and their
Iraqi partners. SFC Lindsay remained cool under fire, advising the point man to initiate the entry into
the target building with a fragmentary grenade while receiving withering small arms fire from within.
SFC Lindsay assaulted directly into the breach and entered a room full of armed enemy fighters. While
acquiring targets through the dark and dust filled room, SFC Lindsay was shot through the throat but
relentlessly continued to engage the enemy in close quarters battle, killing an enemy firing at the assault
force. At great risk, SFC Linsday continued to engage numerous insurgents within the target house,
ensuring his team’s ability to clear the objective. While he was decisively engaged, an enemy grenade
exploded directly in front of SFC Lindsay, striking him in the lower abdomen with shrapnel and
propelling him back through the open doorway into the line of fire of another enemy position to the
east of the main building. Although seriously wounded and stunned by the concussion of the grenade
blast, SFC Lindsay continued to courageously engage the enemy until the direct fire threat was
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Valor Award Ceremony
eliminated. His valor enabled a fellow detachment member to maneuver to his position and carry two
other wounded teammates to the casualty collection point, saving their lives. SFC Lindsay demonstrated
unparalleled valor in the face of a determined enemy and contributed to the killing of a total of eleven
enemy fighters and the subsequent capture of four suspected insurgents. His heroic actions are in
keeping with the finest traditions of gallantry and intrepidity, which reflect great credit upon himself,
the Special Operations Command Central, and the United States Army.
Sergeant First Class Michael D. Lindsay, from Gates County, North Carolina, enlisted in the U.S. Army
upon graduation from High School in 1997 serving at Ft. Gordon, Georgia; Bad Krueznach Germany;
Weisbaden, Germany; and Ft. Hood, Texas before attending Special Forces Assessment and Selection in
2002.
After completing selection, SFC Lindsay attended Airborne School at Ft. Benning, Georgia before
attending Special Forces Qualification Course at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina in October 2004. He was then
assigned to B Company, 3rd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Carson, CO. He
immediately deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in December 2004 in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM III.
In 2005, SFC Lindsay attended and graduated the Combat Diver’s Qualification Course and the StaticLine Jumpmaster Course. He completed Special Operation Target Interdiction Course in 2006 and in
March 2007, he again deployed in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM V with Operational
Detachment - Alpha (ODA) 083 to Samarra, Iraq. SFC Lindsay attended the Advanced NonCommissioned Officers course and the Special Forces Intelligence Sergeants Course in 2008, before
deploying once again in support Operation IRAQI FREEDOM VI in August the same year.
SFC Lindsay’s awards and badges include the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal,
Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, NATO medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Good
Conduct Medal (3rd award), National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on
Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Divers Badge, Army Parachutist Badge, Combat
Infantryman’s Badge, and Special Forces Tab.
SFC Lindsay currently resides in Colorado Springs with his wife who is expected to give birth to twins in
June.
10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Carson, Colorado
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