War Heroes III - Britt Slabinski

Previous War Heroes Threads - Brian Chontosh
Jason Dean Cunningham

The President of the United States
Takes Pleasure in Presenting
The Navy Cross
To

Britt Slabinski
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 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.


The public’s impression of Navy SEALS is largely influenced by unrealistic and obnoxious movies, especially those starring Charlie Sheen and Demi Moore. The real Navy SEAL is a far different sort of man, and Senior Chief Britt Slabinski is a great example of one.

Stop the war. Bring the troops home now.

Mr. Moto Thank you for bringing these valiant heroes to our attention. Please continue to do so.

Wow. Just . . . wow.

Thanks, Mr. Moto.

This kind of leadership was demonstrated by a senior enlisted man.

The strength of America’s military is in the enlisted ranks. Few other military organizations worldwide distribute as much decision-making and leadership into the enlisted ranks as does the United States military.

As you can see, it pays off.

I am proud to be a citizen of a country that can produce men of this caliber.

Regards,
Shodan

It’s not noted in the citation, but Senior Chief Slabinski’s rating (job classification) in the Navy is Information Systems Technician.

So basically, he’s a computer tech, in a SEAL unit.

Brains and sheer toughness. They don’t let dummies into the SEALs.

In-frickin’-credible. What a guy.
Thanks, Moto, and thanks Senior Chief Petty Officer Slabinski.

Did they pull off the rescue? I don’t know if I missed that part.

Consider my glass raised, though- Semper Fi means you leave no man behind, and that is certainly not just for Marines.

Oh, and don’t fool yourself- the Senior Chief is more highly rated in weapons than most any average soldier in the military. S.E.A.L.s kick much ass.

They did rescue the 507th, except for some soldiers, including Lynch, who had been taken off from the main group.

Imagine walking through waist deep snow while carrying a wounded man for nearly a mile. This is after risking your life to bring death to the doorstep of those responsible for the September 11th attacks. Picture the courage and tenacity to pull that off.

Now look in the mirror. Can still muster the gall to come into a thread like this one and leave a comment that reflects complete disregard for what the poster is trying to accomplish? If you can, your actions will speak louder for the kind of person you are than I or anyone else is capable of.

Disregard my last post. Wrong thread. :smack:

I don’t know whether the wounded man was recovered.

I found this, dated two months later, that provides a very similar account with minor differences and took place during Operation Anaconda. I’m guessing it’s the same event and sheds some light on what happened to the missing gunner.

S.C.P.O. Slabinkski has my undying respect.

From here…

As far as the SEAL story goes, the full truth may never actually come out. MH-47 was hit just before landing a recon team by an RPG that failed to detonate, but went through back end. Roberts was either assisting a USAF spec ops guy who fell on the rear ramp as a result of the hit, or was knocked down as he stood on the ramp. When 2 more RPGs hit the helo, a hydraulic line was severed and the helo went critical, jinxed, and tried to bolt out of there, hydraulic spray all over, peppered by bullets as it flew away. In the confusion in the darkened rear, Roberts fell out off the ramp. He was a SAW gunner and his light machinegun fell inside the helo. He hit the ground with a pistol and 2 hand grenades. The helo, having been shot up badly, was barely able to go 8 kilometers before being put down. They were lucky. Roberts was noted missing enroute, but the helo was in an emergency mode, pilots fighting to keep it from crashing at any moment, and in no condition to try to double back at the moment. After landing, the recon team immediately boarded a sister helo and went back to get Roberts, inserted nearby and immediately got in a firefight.

Meanwhile, Roberts crawled from where he fell about 200 feet or yards (not certain which) to hide, activated his emergency beacon. --60 + heavily armed Al Qaeda in the area. When the rescue helo came back, a machinegun opened up on it as it came in. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Roberts totally disregarded his safety and attacked it with a handgun and his grenades. He was killed in a close quarter firefight, incredibly outnumbered and outgunned.

The commandos on the ground were able to hold against heavy odds. Another rescue force was launched and flew max speed to the area, inserting a couple hours later. Rangers, CCT, PJs poured out and right into an extremely heavy firefight. That’s where the other 6 got killed, many wounded. This was a brutal slugfest of a firefight. Close air support called in and the fight was on for about 9-12 hours. US commandos finally won, and more helos and forces inserted to recover wounded, KIA. Roberts body recovered as well. Predator watched after he was shot as 3 Al Qaeda dragged his body from where he was shot - he was already dead.

For my money, Roberts and the others who came to try to rescue him deserve at least the Silver Star if not more. True heroes, taking it to the enemy, so we can all relax at home in the U.S. safer from terrorist attack. Believe it or not, this incident is only one of several unbelievable combat actions yet untold. SAS is pushing for one of their men to get the Victoria Cross as a result of the cave fight last fall. (And he clearly deserves it from all accounts). UK SBS was in an extremely heavy firefight early in the action last fall. There are other US stories that have not (and may not) be told that are equally incredible, if not more. Stay tuned.

Mr.Moto, thank you so much for these wonderful threads.

It makes me happy to think at least some small portion of our inflated military budget goes toward the training and wages of these brave and excellent soldiers. Tears come to my eyes when I think of what they give for me and for all of us.