Courtesy Photo | Sumter, S.C., native Sgt. Anthony Taylor earned the Combat Action Badge during his...... read more read more
Multi-National Division-Baghdad Public Affairs
BAGHDAD – The Army Combat Action Badge was approved by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Schoomaker May 2, 2005, and is intended to recognize Soldiers, other than those serving in infantry units, who personally engage or are engaged by the enemy while performing assigned duties in a war zone.
To earn the recognition that comes with the oak wreath supported by a rectangle bearing the likeness of a M9 bayonet laid over an M-67 grenade, a Soldier must satisfactorily comply with the prescribed rules of engagement while under fire.
Sumter, S.C., native, Sgt. Anthony Taylor, a six-year veteran of the South Carolina Army National Guard, was awarded with the CAB in June.
Twenty-three-year-old Sgt. Taylor, a Soldier with 151st Field Artillery Brigade, deployed to Iraq in October 2006. Once he set foot on Baghdad soil he was reassigned to the 1st Cavalry Division's Force Protection Team. As part of the team, he traveled throughout the Iraqi capital inspecting the numerous coalition bases for security vulnerabilities.
"During our inspections, we try to think like the enemy and find weaknesses in the base defenses," Taylor said. "We want to fix any holes in the defenses before the insurgents can attack."
On December 29, 2006, the FPT was inspecting Forward Operating Base Loyalty in eastern Baghdad, when the base was suddenly engaged by incoming mortar rounds.
Three members of the FPT, 1st Lt. Luis Aviala, Sgt. 1st Class Apollo Williams, along with Taylor, were walking through the motor pool area when the first mortar hit a building just behind them. As the barrage continued, the three Soldiers scrambled under the shelter of the nearest bunker and directed other Soldiers to follow them to safety.
In less than five minutes, 33 mortar rounds exploded in and around FOB Loyalty.
"At first there were just a couple of loud explosions," Taylor said. "Then the FOB really seemed to explode open all around us."
Although the members of the FPT were not injured, the enemy barrage killed one civilian contractor and injured several Soldiers.
The team's sergeant major nominated the three soldiers for the CAB award. After a six month review, the Commander of Multi-National Division-Baghdad, Maj. Gen. Joseph F. Fil Jr., approved the nomination.
| Date Taken: | 07.29.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 07.31.2007 07:17 |
| Story ID: | 11532 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 335 |
| Downloads: | 78 |
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