Photo By Spc. Andrew Ingram | Staff Sgt. Montral Ferguson, a combat engineer assigned to the Force Protection...... read more read more
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq – Noncommissioned officers get the job done to the expectations of superiors and subordinates alike, overcoming difficult circumstances to accomplish the mission.
Staff Sgt. Montral Ferguson, a combat engineer assigned to the Force Protection Vulnerability Assessment Team, Company A, Division Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, earned recognition as “Ironhorse Strong” Soldier of the Week for his resolve to protect his comrades following an enemy attack in northern Iraq, Feb. 4.
When a convoy came under attack from extremists detonating multiple improvised explosive devices, Ferguson took charge of the security element of the convoy, establishing a cordon and conducting a follow-on search of nearby buildings that resulted in the detention of suspects.
“I thought the leadership and spirit Sergeant Ferguson displayed that day was inspirational,” said Master Sgt. Jim Meneley, noncommissioned officer in charge of Force Protection for 4th Infantry Division and U.S. Division-North.
Meneley said Ferguson, a native of Marion, La., has a good attitude and his professional nature distinguishes him as one of the best soldiers he has ever worked with.
“There is nothing I have seen that can get him in a bad mood or get him down,” said Meneley, who supervises Ferguson in the division’s day-to-day force protection mission. “I’ve been with him in the best of circumstances and the worst of circumstances. He has been an even-keeled soldier the entire time.”
After seven years service in the U.S. Army, and four deployments with the “Ironhorse” Division, Ferguson said his reaction that day was second nature.
“When something happens, you have to react; you don’t even think about it,” said Ferguson. “It’s an honor to get recognized for that.”
Ferguson’s positive attitude makes him an outstanding part of the Ironhorse Team, said Sgt. 1st Class Lenard Thomas, NCOIC, engineer section, 4th Inf. Div. and U.S. Division-North.
“He’s a seasoned, hard working NCO,” said Thomas. “There has been a lot to do since we got to Iraq, but any task that we give him, he does it without question and that is typical of a good NCO—NCOs get the mission done.”
| Date Taken: | 03.03.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.03.2011 10:01 |
| Story ID: | 66400 |
| Location: | CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, IQ |
| Web Views: | 103 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Even-keeled Soldier remains ‘Ironhorse Strong’ in face of enemy, by SPC Andrew Ingram, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
