Navy SEAL Awarded Navy Cross for actions in Afghanistan

San Diego Union Tribune | November 1st, 2003 | Otto Kreisher

[A Simple Soldier]

San Diego Union-Tribune

November 1, 2003

Coronado SEAL Wins Navy Cross

Award for heroism in Afghanistan

By Otto Kreisher, Copley News Service

WASHINGTON – A Navy SEAL assigned to the Special Warfare Center in Coronado received the Navy Cross, the nation's second-highest award, this week for heroism during a rescue mission in Afghanistan.

Chief Petty Officer Stephen Bass also was one of three special-operations personnel among six service members honored by a prominent national-security support group, underscoring the unprecedented role special-operations forces played in the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts.

Bass was cited for "extraordinary heroism" during combat operations in northern Afghanistan as part of a U.S. and British special-operations mission to rescue two missing Americans. During the operation, he was "continuously engaged" by small-arms, mortar and rocket-propelled-grenade fire and had to walk through a minefield to reach the Americans, according to a citation honoring Bass.

The award statement said Bass advanced nearly one-quarter of a mile "under constant enemy fire" in an attempt to find one of the Americans. When he ran low on ammunition, the SEAL used weapons from dead enemy forces to continue his mission, which resulted in the recovery of the American.

The Navy Cross is second only to the Medal of Honor for bravery in combat.

Bass was among the first recipients of the "Grateful Nation" award from the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs.

The organization also honored Maj. George Thiebes for his actions as an Army Special Forces company commander fighting in northern Iraq and Air Force Master Sgt. Michael Lamonica for two special-operations combat deployments to Afghanistan.

The "Grateful Nation" award also went to Army 1st Sgt. John R. Hawley for combat leadership in Afghanistan, Marine Reserve Cpl. Seth Wells for performance under fire in Iraq, and Coast Guard Reserve Chief Petty Officer Paula Jaklitsch for service in New York City during and after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

[HiJinx]

We will not again likely see a living Medal of Honor recipient.

Well said, and probably true. The Engineer NCO who saved his Bn TOC from being overrun at the Baghdad Airport, and died in the process, is currently being considered for award of the CMH. I beleive he is the only one so far from this conflict who has been nominated...

[Alamo-Girl]

Praise God for our heroes!

[StarCMC]

Sorry if this was posted, but it is important to recognize those who truly stand out and perform their duties above and beyond the normal call of duty.

You got that right! Thank you for posting and many, many thanks to this TRUE AMERICAN HERO. Makes my heart sing to read about the bravery of one of ours! Also makes me...

[StarCMC]

Thanks for the ping Tonk - always happy to honor a hero!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

"it is important to recognize those who truly stand out and perform their duties above and beyond the normal call of duty."

Bump that. Thank you for the post and pings.

Bass advanced nearly one-quarter of a mile "under constant enemy fire" in an attempt to find one of the Americans. When he ran low on ammunition, the SEAL used weapons from dead enemy forces to continue his mission, which resulted in the recovery of the American.

~~~
Thank you, Chief Petty Officer Stephen Bass.
~~~

If you want on or off my Pro-Coalition ping list, please Freepmail me. Warning: it is a high volume ping list on good days. (Most days are good days).

[ken5050]

I had the same thought...for a variety of reasons...probably only a posthumous award of the CMH is now possible...unless of course, the soldier in question is a minority, and we have a Dem president in the WH?...seriously, the reviewing authorities all seem to justify their existence by a need to "diminish" the narrative of the original citation...if you look back at the last two awards, in Somalia...had the two troopers survived, they'd probably have been "lucky" ( for want of a better word) to get the Silver Star....the argument being that they made a very heroic, braave, yet conscious decision to put themselves in harm's way to protect their downed comrades..,,they did have some hope/expectation of being relieved/rescued....

[Alamo-Girl]

Praise God for our heroes! Bump!

[MEG33]

Thank you ,Chief Bass,for performing such an heroic deed.I am humbled by your service.Go Navy!

[Hondo1952]

Thanks for the ping Tonk.

Ping for a REAL American Hero. God bless and keep the troops safe.

This book is about living Medal of Honor Recepients from previous wars. The best and most inspirational book I have ever read.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[Squantos]

Thanks Knighthawk.......stories like these are just the ones we get to read about.

Stay Safe !

[Pro-Bush]

When he ran low on ammunition, the SEAL used weapons from dead enemy forces to continue his mission, which resulted in the recovery of the American.

American spirit defined.

[PhilipFreneau]

>> If heroics like that only earn the Navy Cross, what does a guy have to do to earn the Medal of Honor?

I recall during the Vietnam war several Navy Hospital Corpsmen threw themselves onto grenades to prevent injury or death to their fellow Marines. In at least one case the grenade failed to explode. They were awarded Medals of Honor.

[MEG33]

Greater love hath no man than this,that he lay down his life for his friends.

[Travis McGee]

My question too!!!! WOW!!!

[windchime]

Bump!

[Nitro]

We will never hear the details of the mission, but...

I say any SEAL is worthy of praise!

God Bless the United States Navy and all who serve in her!!

[ErnBatavia]

This book is about living Medal of Honor Recepients from previous wars. The best and most inspirational book I have ever read.

I love to brag here that I'm aquainted with Mitchell Paige (USMC Guadalcanal)...he's just about the last of the living Marine recipients from World War II - I think he's eighty six now, but still in reasonable health, and enjoying life right here in La Quinta.

I have an autographed copy of his book ("A Marine Named Mitch", as well as an autographed copy of his GI Joe.

[Hondo1952]

Hero bump for your uncle. God bless him.

[PhilDragoo]

CPO Stephen Bass