Brave acts in combat earn two Fort Rich soldiers Silver Stars

According to an Army statement, Chester fought continuously for 25 minutes unprotected after being thrown from his vehicle while on patrol near the village of Moshak, Afghanistan.

Parson fought enemy fire at a medical center in the Afghan province of Paktika, to protect the evacuation of his wounded squad leader.

The Silver Star is the third-highest award given by any branch of the United States armed forces for bravery in the face of the enemy. The two soldiers were members of Fort Richardson's 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) of the 25th Infantry Division, which began a year-long deployment to Afghanistan in February 2009.

The awards ceremony took place on Fort Richardson's Pershing Field Tuesday morning. First Lt. Kathryn Robbins hosted the ceremony and Maj. Gen. William Troy, the highest ranking Army officer in Alaska, presented the Silver Stars. About 950 soldiers, a third of the "Spartan Brigade," as the Airborne brigade is known, attended.

"This is a milestone in the life of this brigade" said Troy, referring to two U.S. Army specialists receiving such an honorable award on the same year.

Chester, of the 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, earned his star July 6, 2009, while conducting a vehicle patrol near the village of Moshak, Afghanistan, with a 19-man platoon. Chester was a gunman in the roof turret of one of the armored vehicles, according to the Army narrative.

While patrolling, the platoon was ambushed by at least 30 enemy fighters. As Chester fired round after round from the turret, an enemy shot hit his ammo can. The can exploded and knocked Chester from the turret. When he came to, he picked up his assault rifle and resumed firing at the enemy forces.

Chester remained in the line of fire for 25 minutes, protecting his platoon, despite shrapnel wounds to his hands, arms, and mouth. Before the battle was over, at least 13 rocket-propelled grenades directly hit Chester's vehicle.

"We offered to switch out but he never wanted to," said Capt. Colin O'Donnell, a member of Chester's platoon.

On Aug. 26, 2009, Spc. Parson of the 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, was serving in a clearing operation at the Sar Hawza Medical Center in Paktika Province when his squad leader, Staff Sgt. Kurt Curtiss, was shot by the enemy, according to the Army.

Parson protected other soldiers, while they tried three times to rescue his squad leader.

Parson was wounded from two shots to his chest and a grenade. Curtiss died from his wounds.

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