Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 16, 1991 TAG: 9103160164
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: KUWAIT CITY LENGTH: Medium
On Friday, they became the first heroes of the Persian Gulf War, receiving Silver Stars for gallantry.
At the edge of a parking lot in a U.S. military compound, with a British Army band playing and an honor guard from their Tiger Brigade watching, the three soldiers stood at attention while Secretary of the Army Michael Stone pinned the nation's third-highest award for bravery on their chests.
The words on each of their presidential citations didn't sit easily: "extraordinary heroism," "total bravery," "complete disregard for his own safety," "in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service."
"It's hard to look at myself as a hero, because some did lose their lives and I feel sympathy for their families, too," said Alston, a 27-year-old former drill sergeant from Chapel Hill, N.C., who quit the Army and only recently rejoined.
"I just pray and hope no more lives are lost and we all get home soon," he said.
All three were members of the 2nd Armored Division's Tiger Brigade, which helped hold the left flank of allied forces advancing into Kuwait and then sealed off exit roads from Kuwait City to keep the Iraqis from fleeing north.
Under enemy fire, the trio risked their lives to keep the rapidly advancing U.S. troops from getting bogged down by mine fields or snipers.
According to the presidential citation, Alston and 21-year-old Schaefer from Claymont, Del., rushed an Iraqi bunker on Feb. 25, the second day of the ground war.
One or more Iraqis in the bunker were firing at U.S. troops, who were trying to clear mine-laden Iraqi trenches. The trenches were hampering a U.S. advance.
"We were clearing the trenches, very uncertain what to expect, had our backs to the bunker that came on firing at us," Schaefer said. "Luckily [the Iraqi] wasn't a very good shot. We hit the ground as fast as possible and just started opening up."
In moving through a mine field to attack the bunker, Alston set off a tripwire anti-personnel mine, known as a Bouncing Betty, "but it didn't really do any damage because I had on a flak vest. Thank God the military has those."
While Schaefer provided covering fire, Alston threw two grenades into the bunker. The second incinerated the bunker, showering Alston with shrapnel, but he and Schaefer got away unharmed, the citation said.
The following day, Burton was in his tank trying to get across a highway north of Kuwait City that had been blocked by hundreds of bombed-out Iraq-bound vehicles.
"There was no way to go on the road, so somebody had to breach a mine field," said the 20-year-old soldier from Pascagoula, Miss. "There were minefields all around. . . . They were shooting our way because you could hear the bullets."
Burton walked through the mine field in pitch darkness and cut two sets of concertina and barbed wire to clear a path, which was "extremely critical" to blocking another Iraqi escape route, the citation said.
When Burton found out he was to receive the Silver Star, he said, he was shocked. He had returned to the United States from Korea just two months ago and didn't want to come here. But he said, "I think I accomplished something very great."
Schaefer, who joined the Army seven months ago, volunteered to come to the gulf and teamed up with Tiger Brigade just two days before the war, said he also was shocked.
"I didn't expect this. This is pretty impressive for me," he said. "Spec. Alston took care of me that day. I was brand new and still I come out shining. I got real lucky."
by CNB