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The
President of the United States
Takes Pleasure in Presenting
The Navy Cross
To
Britt
Slabinski
Senior
Chief Petty Officer, United States Navy
For
Services as Set Forth in the Following
Citation:
For extraordinary
heroism as Sniper Element Leader for a joint special operations unit
conducting combat operations against enemy forces during Operation
Anaconda, Sahi-Kot Valley, Afghanistan on 3 and 4 March 2002, in support
of Operation Enduring Freedom. On the evening of 3 March, Senior Chief
Petty Officer Britt Slabinski led his seven-man reconnaissance team onto the
snow-covered, 10,000 foot mountaintop known as Takur Ghar, to establish
a combat overwatch position in support of U.S. Army forces advancing
against the enemy on the valley floor. As their helicopter hovered over
the mountain it was met by unrelenting rocket propelled grenade (RPG)
and small arms fire by entrenched enemy forces. As a result of several
RPG hits, a member of Senior Chief Petty Officer Slabinski 's team was
ejected from the helicopter into the midst of the fortified enemy
positions. The badly damaged helicopter conducted a controlled crash, at
which time Senior Chief Petty Officer Slabinski immediately took charge
and established security on the crash location until the crew and his
team were recovered to a support base. At this point, Senior Chief
Slabinski
fully aware of the overwhelming, fixed, enemy forces over the
mountain, but also knowing the desperate situation of his missing
teammate, now reportedly fighting for his life, without hesitation made
the selfless decision to lead his team on an immediate, bold rescue
mission. He heroically led the remainder of his SEAL element back onto
the snow-covered, remote, mountaintop into the midst of the numerically
superior enemy forces in a daring and valiant attempt to rescue one of
their own. After a treacherous helicopter insertion onto the
mountaintop, Senior Chief Petty Officer Slabinski led his close quarter
firefight. He skillfully maneuvered his team and bravely engaged
multiple enemy positions, personally clearing one bunker and killing
several enemy within. His unit became caught in a withering crossfire
from other bunkers and the closing enemy forces. Despite mounting
casualties, Senior Chief Petty Officer Slabinski maintained his
composure and continued to engage the enemy until his position became untenable.
Faced with no choice but a tactical withdrawal, he coolly directed fire
from airborne assets to cover his team. He then led an arduous movement
through the mountainous terrain, constantly under fire, covering over
one kilometer in waist-deep snow, while carrying a seriously wounded
teammate. Arriving at a defensible position, he organized his team's
security posture and stabilized his casualties. For over fourteen hours,
Senior Chief Petty Officer Slabinski directed the defense of his
position through countless engagements, personally engaging the enemy
and directing close air support onto the enemy positions until the enemy
was ultimately defeated. During this entire sustained engagement, Senior
Chief Petty Officer Slabinski exhibited classic grace under fire in
steadfastly leading the intrepid rescue operation, saving the lives of
his wounded men and setting the conditions for the ultimate vanquishing
of the enemy and the seizing of Takur Ghar. By his heroic display of
decisive and tenacious leadership, unyielding courage in the face of
constant enemy fire, and utmost devotion to duty, Senior Chief Petty
Officer Slabinski reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the
highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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