On the evening of 2 February 2007, Army Lt. Brennan Goltry was commanding the second truck of a five-vehicle convoy in Samarra, Iraq, when enemy insurgents fired on the lead humvee, crippling it and wounding its gunner. After directing his driver to position his vehicle as a shield for the injured soldier, Goltry opened his door amid a barrage of incoming rounds and returned fire. He sustained two gunshot wounds to his left leg.

Undeterred, he continued shooting until the enemy was neutralized. Disregarding his own injuries, Goltry rallied his men and countered the ambush with an offensive. His platoon repelled the enemy, securing strategic positions and capturing one enemy combatant. When a medical vehicle sought to evacuate Goltry, he refused, choosing instead to remain with his troops.

Lt. Goltry is quick to redirect any praise for his actions toward his soldiers: “I’m real proud of my men,” he says. “They fight real hard for me and they’ve saved my [rear] more than once.” He terms the events “just another day.” Indeed, fellow officer Capt. Buddy Ferris notes, “[T]his is the type of stuff he does every day. It’s not the first time he’s been shot, and it’s not the first time he charged the enemy.”

For his actions, now-Captain Goltry was awarded the Silver Star, the Combat Infantryman Badge and two Purple Hearts. He is expected to receive a third Purple Heart for injuries sustained during an insurgent attack on 6 May.

(This story was originally published in the Sept. 21, 2007 Digest.)

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