“SPC Lamkin demonstrated his expert marksmanship, medical skills and conspicuous gallantry; he is truly the epitome of the combat medic,” says the narrative summary of Lamkin’s gallantry.

The medal will be presented during a ceremony Friday morning in front of the headquarters building of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment.

SPC Andrew Lamkin distinguished himself by his gallantry and personal courage while assigned as a combat medic with A Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment on 5 September 2004 during Operation Iron Fury II.

SPC Lamkin established his platoon’s Casualty Collection Point (CCP) in a building adjacent to the corner of Route Bravo and Route Maine, deep in Sadr City. The platoon made contact with Mahdi Militia fighters and a Soldier was wounded in a squad on an adjacent rooftop.

Without hesitating, he left his covered and concealed position and made his way toward the injured infantryman. The enemy massed their fires on him as he moved to treat the casualty in an effort to pin him down, but he continued undeterred.

Noticing that two insurgent gunmen were exposed on a rooftop across the street, SPC Lamkin halted and quickly killed them both with accurate rifle fire.

Rushing to the side of the wounded Soldier, PFC Young, he immediately assessed the casualty and began treating him for a gunshot wound to his arm. He soon realized that he could not effectively treat PFC Young’s injury at the location due to the high volume of incoming fire.

SPC Lamkin saw a locked door that appeared to lead downstairs, and ran toward it at full speed, knocking it off its hinges. He dragged door to the casualty and, using empty ammunition bandoliers, fashioned a makeshift litter, which he used to drag PFC Young to safety.

Once out of direct fire contact, he stabilized PFC Young until his platoon could evacuate him.

Less than an hour after the first casualty, another Soldier was critically wounded. PV2 McCauley had been shot in the head and needed immediate medical attention. Again, without hesitation, SPC Lamkin ran to the side of the fallen Soldier and began treating him under fire.

With another Soldier’s help, he dragged PV2 McCauley to a sector of the rooftop that seemed safer and less exposed. Upon reaching it, however, SPC Lamkin and his patient were immediately taken under heavy rifle and RPG fire from insurgent gunmen across the street. Without regard to his own safety, SPC Lamkin used his own body as a shield, and began to stabilize his seriously wounded comrade as withering fire raked the rooftop around him.

SPC Lamkin realized that PV2 McCauley was unconscious and choking on his own blood. He quickly opened the casualty’s airway using a “J-tube,” enabling him to breathe although he was unconscious. The enemy continued to hammer the rooftop with RPG and rifle fire, but Lamkin shielded PV2 McCauley’s body with his own. Securing the “J-tube” with 550-cord in order to move his patient, SPC Lamkin called for the evacuation vehicle.

Before he could evacuate the casualty, however, SPC Lamkin helped carry him over a four-foot high wall, under fire, and then down three flights of stairs to the evacuation vehicle - an impressive show of stamina and strength.

On the ground floor, the Bradley Fighting Vehicle tasked to evacuate PV2 McCauley backed up to the door. As the wounded Soldier’s squad placed him in the Bradley, SPC Lamkin continued to scan for insurgent fighters. He identified two that were repositioning to interdict the MEDEVAC vehicle, and killed them both with accurate rifle fire.

SPC Lamkin demonstrated his expert marksmanship, medical skills and conspicuous gallantry; he is truly the epitome of the combat medic.

Click Here For 1st Cavalry Division Web Site

Click Here For Fort Hood Web Site