Special Tactics Airman battled through injuries, awarded Silver Star

Special Tactics Chief awarded Silver Star for countering overwhelming Afghan ambush

By Senior Airman Rachel Williams ,

What began as a typical reconnaissance patrol during a brisk November in Afghanistan quickly took a devastating turn for the worst.

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Chris Grove, a Special Tactics combat controller assigned as the 720th Special Tactics Group superintendent, delivered thousands of pounds of munition, securing the safety of his joint and partner forces, and now he’s receiving the Silver Star Medal.

A crowd of over 100 family members, friends and teammates gathered at the Special Tactics Memorial, here, as U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Jim Slife, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, presented the nation’s third highest medal against an armed enemy of the United States to Grove during a ceremony, November 15.

“Luck is when preparation meets opportunity,” said Slife. “On the 2nd of November, 2007, [Grove was] the right Airman at the right place, at the right time, who rose to the occasion brilliantly. Thanks for being our example of the embodiment of the American Airman and a testament to the proud Special Tactics wing.”

Grove was originally awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor for his actions in October 2008, but due to a recent review of awards within the 24th Special Operations Wing, his package was resubmitted for an upgrade.

“I’m grateful that [leadership] valued the actions that day and sought out this upgrade,” said Grove. “Within our formation, we are fortunate that we have those leaders, both military and civilian, that take care of our people and what they do.”

Then-Tech. Sgt. Grove, assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, here, was deployed with a U.S. Special Forces Team to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

As an ST CCT, Grove is part of a highly trained special operations community that lethally integrates air power into the special operations’ ground scheme of maneuver. 

On November 2, 2007, conditions were at their worst.

Grove was assigned as the joint terminal attack controller with a U.S. Special Forces Team while on patrol in an area that was hammered by the largest Taliban offenses in the country when his team encountered a disastrous, close-range enemy ambush.

Bearing an uphill vantage point, the enemy had an overwhelming force of heavy machine gun, rocket propelled grenade, mortar and rifle fire, flanking the team’s left and front position.

Grove and his team immediately began returning fire and sought cover in a nearby compound.

With no regard for his own personal safety, Grove exposed himself to a hail of gunfire to establish an observation post and check on with aircraft overhead.

While under continuous, accurate fire from the enemy, Grove valiantly controlled airstrikes from F-15 Strike Eagles, coordinating multiple 25mm strafes and six 500-pound bombs, decimating advancing enemy forces.

As the battle raged, the ground force commander became trapped inside a building of the compound. Insurgents were advancing on his position and the chances of being overrun were rising by the minute.

Grove assessed the situation and did what any Special Tactics Airman would do: he called for air power.

With the precision employment of a complex danger-close airstrike, Grove created a window of opportunity for his team to maneuver against the enemy forces who had advanced to within 20 meters of their isolated position and allowed his ground force commander to escape.

Grove’s intrepidity and competency on the battlefield allowed his team to break contact and recover a fallen teammate, saving the lives of many U.S. and coalition forces and ensuring no one was left behind.

“The best of our organization, whom Chief Grove epitomizes, maintain a steady sense of humility balanced with quiet confidence,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Matt Allen, commander of the 24th SOW. “[Grove] embodies the best of Special Tactics, the best of [Air Force Special Operations Command], and the best of the Air Force.”

Special Tactics Airmen are U.S. Special Operations Command’s tactical air to ground integration force, and AFSOC’s special operations ground force, leading global access, precision strike, personnel recovery and battlefield surgery operations.

Since 9/11, ST Airmen have received one Medal of Honor, 11 Air Force Crosses and 48 Silver Star Medals.

“It’s not about me, but more about our Airmen that are hauling the mail daily,” Grove said. “There are hundreds of valorous acts, both in the last 18 years and to this day; I appreciate what our Air Force, [Air Force Special Operations Command], and Special Tactics Airmen are doing daily while prosecuting the nation’s business.”

15 November: Special Tactics Airman battled through injuries, awarded Silver Star

The sun was peaking over the urban Afghanistan terrain after days of cloudy grey skies … creating a peculiarly warm late-October morning last year.

The change in weather created a tempered omen as a joint special operations team was heading back to camp following two long weeks outside the wire … a wary contrast for what they would soon face.

The team knew they had to transit through a particularly dangerous area, but had no idea what lied ahead … a six-hour onslaught resulting in numerous causalities and chaos.

For the duration of their battle, the training and instincts of an Air Force Special Tactics operator were realized as an Airman willingly exposed himself to enemy fire, directed numerous 30mm gun runs and nine 500-pound bombs, coordinated 11 danger-close engagements, assisted dozens of civilian casualties and aided in the recovery of a wounded teammate … even after being struck by enemy fire.

The joint special operations team was depending on the Special Tactics operator to get them out of there alive. He fought on.

Today, family, friends and teammates gathered as U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Jim Slife, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, presented the Silver Star Medal to U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Cody Smith, a Special Tactics combat controller with the 26th Special Tactics Squadron, 24th Special Operations Wing, during a ceremony here, November 22.

“For the Special Tactics community, I think [this award is] just another testament to the level of personnel and the capabilities that we provide the combat environment,” Smith said. “It’s just another statement to say that the
Air Force does create combat-capable personnel that can perform at a needed level.”

Smith was deployed as a qualified joint terminal attack controller with a U.S. Army Special Forces team to Afghanistan in support of Operation FREEDOM’S SENTINEL in support of the RESOLUTE SUPPORT Mission during the latter half of 2018.

“Among us, there are people who step up to do truly heroic things … people who have been called upon by history to accomplish extraordinary actions … people like Cody Smith,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Matt Allen, commander of the 24th SOW.

The morning of October 14, 2018, Smith and his team were transiting back to camp after conducting operations to push enemy forces out of Faryab Province during national parliamentary elections.

As they were entering the Shirin Tagab district, they immediately encountered a semi-truck burning on the side of the road … a possible signal letting enemy forces know that American troops were coming.

Deeper into the city, concrete barriers inlaid with improvised explosive devices, inevitably slowed down the convoy and channeled them into the city.

Then, the morning took a harsh turn.

Enemy forces sprang an overwhelming close-quarters ambush with mortar, RPG, machine gun and small arms fire.

“The best description of the scene would have to be a directional and somewhat organized chaos,” said Smith.

Along with returning fire from his personal weapon, Smith was conducting 30mm airstrikes from AH-64 Apache helicopters. He was also dropping 250 -and 500-pound bombs from F-16 Fighting Falcons, including 11 danger-close engagements as close as 50 meters away.

“I think the Special Tactics and the combat control career field does an incredible job at training personnel to meet and rise to those occasions in a very deliberate and methodical way,” Smith said. “We train to a level that enables us to be calm and be collected in those moments because that’s when you’re the most critical as the JTAC on a Special Forces team or any [special operations force] entity.”

After a few hours of battling enemy fire, one of Smith’s teammates clearing IEDs in the front of the convoy was hit and pinned down by hostile fire. Civilian casualties, mostly mothers and children, began to approach the convoy asking for aid.

Smith was coordinating with aircraft and providing cover to some of the U.S. forces and civilians when he was targeted with a mortar that impacted just 2-3 meters from his position.

“I actually didn’t know what had impacted near me,” Smith said. “It was just dust and confusion … severely disoriented, basically just like a spinning effect, and extremely nauseous. I had to gather my composure and then continue on with providing all the support that I could.”

Even though Smith was suffering from a severe concussion, he refused medical treatment.

“The mission wasn’t over,” Smith said. “I was confident in myself to be able to maintain my composure … there was no one else there that could have stepped up and filled that role to conduct close air support if the team needed it. I needed to stay with the team and I needed to ensure that we made it back to our camp.”

Throughout the fierce battle, Smith was targeted once more with a mortar and hit with enemy fire in his chest plate.

As the fight continued on with the enemy swarming in on either side of the convoy, Smith was able to conduct precision strike airpower to eliminate forces, allowing the team to recover one of their own with a gunshot wound and break away.

Smith remained with this element for the 14-hour transit back to camp to ensure their safety.

In the end, Smith’s actions that day resulted in saving the lives of his joint team and prevented a complete overrun by enemy forces.

Smith credits the Silver Star Medal to his joint team.

“My actions are not my own and the amount of effort that was on the battlefield that day and the actions that were taken by my Army teammates was nothing short of incredible,” Smith said.

Amongst the crowd at Smith’s ceremony were four familiar faces: U.S. Air Force Col. Corey Ketsel, U.S. Air Force Lt. Col’s. Eric Cleveringa, Josh Wika, and Carl Palmberg. These F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots with the 114th Fighter Wing, South Dakota Air National Guard, were overhead that chaotic October day in Afghanistan.

“I’m very thankful for the opportunity to see those guys again and shake their hands,” Smith said. “Largely the reason why I’m still here is because we had the support of those guys. They were incredibly competent in their actions and they had a sense of calm that eased me on the ground and that gave us the ability to put those effects down on the battlefield quickly and efficiently.”

Special Tactics Airmen are U.S. Special Operations Command’s tactical air to ground integration force, and AFSOC’s special operations ground force, leading global access, precision strike, personnel recovery and battlefield surgery operations.

Since 9/11, ST Airmen have received one Medal of Honor, 11 Air Force Crosses and 49 Silver Star Medals.