U.S. Army Spc. Kyle Laskoskie, a 26-year-old native of Gilbertsville, Pa., is a forward observer assigned to Company D, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, stands proudly after receiving the Army Commendation Medal with “V” device Dec. 11, 2012 at Combat Outpost Muqor, Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photos by Sgt. Gene Arnold, Task Force 4-1 PAO)
| | GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan (10/15/2012) – Merriam-Webster defines valor as “strength of mind or spirit that enables a person to encounter danger with firmness.” Since arriving in Afghanistan, Task Force 4-1 has awarded 20 valorous citations to deserving soldiers. Of those 20, here is the story of one.
U.S. Army Spc. Kyle Laskoskie is a forward observer assigned to Company D, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. His display of discipline, accuracy and composure under fire helped suppress enemy small arms fire, ultimately saving the lives of the Soldiers around him.
On Dec. 11, Laskoskie was awarded the Army Commendation Medal with “V” device by Task Force 4-1 Commander Col. Joseph Wawro at Combat Outpost Muqor for heroic actions taken in combat on Sept. 13.
“I was awarded the device for actions taken at the school house in September. I was observing on the roof for the scouts, from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd (Airborne) Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, when we started to get ambushed from all three sides,” he said. “A mortar round came and hit the roof about five feet from my right side and blew me off the roof. I hit the ground and was knocked out for a little while. I soon gained consciousness, checked on my team to see if they were all right.”
“I then climbed back to the roof top and began calling for 120mm mortar support, 42 to be exact, and five guided bomb unit drops before being medically evacuated to Bagram Air Field,” he added.
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