Medal of Honor: Master CPO Britt Slabinski, Eagle Scout

[RememberSchiff]

Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL), Retired, Britt K. Slabinski who led a firefight and rescue mission on a snow-covered mountaintop in Afghanistan in 2002 will receive the Medal of Honor later this month at the White House.

Master Chief Slabinski will be awarded the Medal of Honor during a White House ceremony on May 24, 2018 for his actions while leading a team under heavy effective enemy fire in an attempt to rescue teammate Petty Officer First Class Neil Roberts during Operation ANACONDA in 2002. Master Chief Slabinski's selfless actions throughout the 14-hour battle constituted gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.

In the early morning of 4 March 2002, then-Senior Chief Slabinski led a reconnaissance team to its assigned area atop Takur Ghar, a 10,000-foot snow-covered mountain in Afghanistan. An enemy rocket-propelled grenade attack on the insertion helicopter caused Petty Officer Neil Roberts to fall onto the enemy-infested mountaintop below, and forced the damaged helicopter to crash land in the valley below. Fully aware of the risks, a numerically superior and well-entrenched enemy force, and approaching daylight, without hesitation Senior Chief Slabinski made the selfless and heroic decision to lead the remainder of his element on an immediate and daring rescue back to the mountaintop. Senior Chief Slabinski's team, despite heavy incoming enemy fire, was subsequently successfully inserted on top of Takur Ghar. Senior Chief Slabinski, without regard for his own life, charged directly toward the enemy strongpoint. He and a teammate fearlessly assaulted and cleared one enemy bunker at close range. The enemy then unleashed a murderous hail of machine gun fire from a second hardened position twenty meters away. Senior Chief Slabinski exposed himself to enemy fire on three sides, then moved forward to silence the second position. With bullets piercing his clothing, he repeatedly charged into deadly fire to personally engage the enemy bunker with direct rifle fire, hand grenades and a grenade launcher on the surrounding enemy positions. Facing mounting casualties and low on ammunition, the situation became untenable. Senior Chief Slabinski skillfully maneuvered his team across open terrain, directing them out of effective enemy fire over the mountainside.

Senior Chief Slabinski maneuvered his team to a more defensible position, directed danger-close air support on the enemy, requested reinforcements, and directed the medical care of his rapidly deteriorating wounded teammates, all while continuing to defend his position. When approaching daylight and accurate enemy mortar fire forced the team to maneuver further down the sheer mountainside, Senior Chief Slabinski carried a seriously wounded teammate through waist-deep snow, and led an arduous trek across precipitous terrain while calling in fires on enemies engaging the team from the surrounding ridges. Throughout the next 14 hours, he stabilized the casualties and continued the fight against the enemy until the mountain top could be secured and his team was extracted. His dedication, disregard for his own personal safety and tactical leadership make Master Chief Slabinski unquestionably deserving of this honor.

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Growing up around Northampton, (MA) Slabinski earned the rank of Eagle Scout at 14 and graduated from Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School in 1988. After his graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and attended boot camp in Orlando, Florida, before fulfilling a lifelong dream to become a Navy SEAL in 1990 as a member of Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL Class 164.

He has one son who is also an Eagle Scout.

Scout Salute,

more at source links

http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=105491

http://www.gazettenet.com/Northampton-native-and-Navy-SEAL-to-be-awarded-Presidential-Medal-of-Honor-for-bravery-in-Afghanistan-17501127

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britt_K._Slabinski

Edited May 15, 2018 by RememberSchiff