Posthumous Silver Star for Sergeant First Class Matthew McClintock
The Army Times reports that the Army will award Sergeant First Class Matthew McClintock a posthumous Silver Star Medal for his actions on January 5th that cost him his life. The young special forces soldier was a member of the Washington National Guard’s A Company 19th Special Forces Group when his unit was pinned down near Marjah, Afghanistan in the Helmand Province.
There is some controversy about the support that those soldiers received from the Quick Reaction Force. there are also questions about a an AC-130 gunship that was called off because of “collateral casualty” fears.
He was killed and two others were wounded Jan. 5 in hours-long fighting near the city of Marjah, in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.
Her husband’s teammates have since told [McClintock’s wife, Alexandra] that he left a compound, under fire, to find a new landing zone so a helicopter could land and evacuate his wounded teammate, Alexandra McClintock said.
“He ran out without even thinking about himself,” she said. “When he got to really do his job and do the job he loved, he came home a happy man.”
[…]
She is grateful to the Army, which “moved mountains” to get Matthew McClintock home from Afghanistan to witness Declan’s birth.
“He got to spend two weeks with his little boy,” Alexandra McClintock said. “My husband, holding his son, he was glowing. It was just surreal.”
Category: Real Soldiers
RIP. My heart and prayers go out for the family.
If it turns out the the ROE got this young man killed the people responsible for those ROEs should be stood against a wall and shot as fucking traitors.
Nothing pisses me off more than thinking our men and women are needlessly exposed to casualties over some idiotic ROEs regarding supporting fire from aircraft or indirect fire support.
This is why I can no longer support the presence of these good men and women in these operational areas.
There is not a single Afghani alive who’s worth the life of one our troops. They’ve let their nation remain a shithole for a thousand years, their tribal loyalties trump their sense of national identity. Consequently beyond killing whatever shitbags crawl out of the caves there’s no point in occupying that land.
RIP SFC McClintock…may you find the peace you so richly deserve.
“There is not a single Afghani alive who’s worth the life of one our troops”
EXACTLY.
We should have went in, destroyed what needed to be and LEFT that shithole.
AMEN, VOV.
And this is the very reason why those who steal valor or embellish their military service as well as their co-dependent enablers who support them should be ashamed of themselves.
Still want that CAR, BSM w/V and PH, Visconi?
Still want to keep folks believing you suffered as a POW, Killam?
Still want to hold on to that 3rd NDSM and have others, especially your Family, still think you are a Vietnam Era Vet, Gainey?
Still want to claim you were a special Marine, SEAL and SF Soldier, Fly the Friendly Skies of United Ricky?
Still want to be a Badass, Gudick and Monkress?
Still want to carry all those Bogus claims to your Grave, Daniel?
Still want to contine endorsing and keeping quiet on Bling-Bling Ed Richards and his Phony PH and Silver Star claims, Shriner Bill Schwarz?
Hope all of you and others take a good, long look at the picture of SFC McClintock and his son. At least that young man can definetely say with pride when he gets older that his Dad was a Hero.
Salute, SFC McClintock. Rest in Peace, Soldier. Heartfelt sorrow for your Family.
Well said, AskaMarine; very well said. Spot on.
Rest easy SFC McClintock.
Semper Fidelis.
Word.
I have nothing else.
BRAVO, AskaMarine… very well put!
RIP SFC McClintock… thank you for your service.
To his family – your husband and father is a hero. May God watch over you both.
It hurts knowing the son will grow up without his Dad.
RIP SGT McClintock and may God watch over your family.
It is indeed sad that his son will not know his father. His father was an exceptional man who gave his life for his brothers-in-arms.
However, I suspect he’ll have 11 honorary uncles who keep his dad’s memory alive for him – and who collectively watch over the lad like one of their own.
Godspeed, SFC McClintock. Well done, soldier. Well done indeed.
I would venture a guess here to say more than a couple of battalions and a few hundred of the guys hanging out on this page…
There is no doubt that if it got out that he was in trouble somewhere, anywhere that any one of us would gladly go help him and his entire family out…
A Real Sold Semper Fidelis!
____CORRECTION: Shoulda been “A Real Soldier!”
Another ARNG citizen soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice. God speed.
Rest In Peace SFC McClintock. God bless and keep your family now.
The best way to stop make sure no “collateral people” help the enemy, is to kill them when they help put our troops in danger. Hide the enemy among you and you get the same as them.
There have been many American men who shared the same fate, who left children or pregnant wives at home to go to war and did not return. All left someone behind, if not a spouse then a Mom or Dad, sisters or brothers. These heroes are rarely spotlighted singularly and it is good that this soldier has been. His loss is painful but his legacy is great. And, to me, he represents all others who preceded him in the ultimate sacrifice. The baby’s Dad is a hero, a genuine American hero and that is quite something for the little guy to grow up knowing. God bless SFC McClintock’s family.
HOOOOOAH ! ! ! !
and again rest well and thank you for your sacrifice and service
SALUTE…..
It is so difficult to explain to someone as painfully stupid as a visconi why no one really wants these awards, especially when many times, the recipient comes home in a coffin.
See you on the other side, SFC McClintock.
We all know the cliche about writing that blank check when we join the Military, but it’s sad when that check gets cashed and heartbreaking when we know the story of those young families left behind. Too many stories….
RIP SFC McClintock and God bless your family. Your son will grow up proud of his old man.
All of us who post here know the joy and blessing to have returned home and to be able to pick up the pieces to get on with life. “But by the grace of God, there go I” will forever remain in the back of our mind when we read of such courageous efforts at such terrible price and sacrifice. May God bless you SIR.
Rest in peace, Sir.
Rest in peace, SFC McClintock! My prayers are with your family.