this is a story on a buddy of mine chad kite, also i have a video on my page and wrote a little something about shad on my home page check it out
3 Fort Lewis soldiers pick up Silver Stars
By MIKE BARBER
P-I REPORTER
(Editor's Note: This story has been altered. Sgt. 1st Class Chad Kite's affiliation with the Green Berets was mischaracterized in earlier versions.)
Three Fort Lewis soldiers who put their lives on the line in Iraq and Afghanistan were honored this week for their courage with the nation's third-highest award for combat valor, the Silver Star.
In a ceremony Wednesday at 1st Special Forces Group headquarters, a Green Beret -- Staff Sgt. Chris Federmann of Cincinnati -- and a soldier serving with the group -- Sgt. 1st Class Chad Kite of Elkton, Va. -- received Silver Stars for their actions last year in Diwaniyah, Iraq.
"While under intense enemy fire and without regard for their safety, (Federmann and Kite) prevented anti-Iraqi forces from overwhelming friendly positions, protecting the lives of coalition and Iraqi Security Forces," a 1st Special Forces Group statement said.
On Monday, Sgt. Michael Espejo Jr. of Bakersfield, Calif., a military police officer with the post's 66th Military Police Company, 42nd Military Police Brigade, received the award for single-handedly stopping a suicide bomber disguised as an Afghan National Police officer in Nangahar, Afghanistan, last September.
Espejo's actions saved not only the lives of his Army teammates and Afghan police officers, but a large crowd of civilians that had gathered.
In honoring gallantry in action against an enemy, the Silver Star ranks beneath only the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest award for valor, and the Army's Distinguished Service Cross. It was established in 1918 and originally called the Citation Star until Congress revised the award in 1932.
A 1st Special Forces Group statement said Kite and Federmann earned theirs on June 3, 2007, as part of a primary team of 17 U.S., coalition and Iraqi soldiers whose mission was to capture a suspected terrorist leader in Diwaniyah. A second assault force of nearly 30 U.S. and coalition soldiers was staged to respond quickly.
Kite and Federmann "heroically distinguished themselves by exceptionally valorous conduct amidst the bravery exhibited by all the soldiers participating in this battle," the 1st Special Forces statement read.
"Using a hallmark trait of the Special Forces," the statement said, Kite, Federmann and the first team used a civilian car or truck to infiltrate the area to avoid detection and get close to their target.
When they moved in on the building to capture the suspected terrorist leader, however, they came under heavy fire.
Kite and Federmann suppressed it with gunfire and grenades, and the second force was called in. As it arrived, enemy fire became heavier, with increasing sniper fire and rocket-propelled grenades.
Unable to pick off the enemy snipers and grenade launchers on top of a building, Kite and Federmann worked their way toward the building under withering fire.
As the Green Berets fought their way closer, Kite covered Federmann, who launched high explosive rounds from his M-79 grenade launcher. Once within range, Federmann fired a smoke grenade onto the rooftop, marking it for a helicopter's machine guns to subdue the threat.
But it wasn't over.
As they returned to their group, Kite and Federmann spotted a number of insurgents taking up positions on another building.
The Green Berets engaged the enemy, suppressing them with gunfire and grenades.
They withdrew under tremendous fire, returning it from both sides of their vehicles, where Federmann was wounded in the arm by a bullet fragment.
Espejo, a husband, father and former Marine, faced fewer people, but his cool, quick actions against an intended suicide bomber saved many innocent lives, a statement from Espejo's brigade said.
While stationed at Forward Operating Base Torkham, Espejo is credited with first trying to help the suicide bomber -- who posed as an injured Afghan policeman -- then trying to get him to surrender and finally killing him.
According to the statement, Espejo discovered the bomb "when (he) placed his hand around the individual's torso (and) felt something bulky underneath his shirt, then noticed a wire running out of the sleeve of his left arm and identified a switch-type device in the palm of his hand."
Espejo and another soldier threw the individual to the ground, raised their weapons and took cover, ordering the man in Pashtu and English to raise his hands and surrender.
Originally compliant, the bomber dropped his hands to his lap and tried to detonate the device. Espejo shot and killed him before the device could go off.
Espejo previously saw combat in Afghanistan from March 2004 to September 2005 while serving as a Marine Corps team leader with the 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. After his Marine enlistment ended in 2005, he joined the Army to become a military police squad leader.
