Eleven Fort Hood soldiers receive medals for courage under fire during an ambush in Afghanistan.
Two from the 504th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade received Silver Stars.
It's the third highest honor in the military.
"We were ambushed, ordered to fall back, we fall back, and people started getting hurt," said Silver Star recipient SSG Adam Davila.
"At that point, it was how can I get them out of harms way as soon as possible," said Silver Star and Purple Heart Recipient 1LT Steven Hail.
Those moments on April 25, earned Hail the medals.
His unit was moving into a cave near Kandahar when the enemy opened fire.
"I had a couple guys pinned down, and they needed help," said Hail.
Conner Daley had a broken leg, and SGT John Lowery was shot in stomach.
Still both continued to fight, earning themselves Army Commendation Medals.
Hail said, "At that moment, with the men we had on the ground, I knew we needed to move to help SSG Davila and bring SPC Daley back to safe cover."
So he left his covered position, rushing to the aid of Davila, who stayed in harms way to protect Daley.
Hail dragged both to safety.
Davila said, "Had it not been for our excellent training and leadership, it would have been a lot worse," and when asked what got them through, he said, "Just everybody doing their job."
Like Bronze Star recipient SPC Daniel Evenson, who was treating Lowery's gun wound during all this.
"It just pretty much kicked in in an instance to where it's not much of a thought, it's just understanding what you need," said Evenson.
Now with two prestigious medals forever gracing his name, Hail says they're not the only things that will stick with him for the rest of his life.
"Just that in that moment, it's just the men out there. It's just what can I do to recover these guys and make sure no one dies."
Thanks to these soldier's bravery, no one did.
Medals Awarded:
1LT Steven Hail: Silver Star and Purple Heart, SSG Adam Davila: Silver Star. SGT Christopher Ernst: Bronze Star Medal with Valor, SPC Daniel Evenson: Bronze Star with Valor, SSG David Smothers: Army Commendation Medal with Valor, SGT Scott Simpson, Army Commendation Medal with Valor, SGT John Lowery: Army Commendation Medal with Valor, SPC Conner Daley: Army Commendation Medal with Valor, SPC Zachary Trice, Army Commendation Medal with Valor, 1LT Jonathan Pechon: Purple Heart, SPC Philip Bergerson: Purple Heart.
Reporter/Photographer: Sophia Stamas sstamas@kcentv.com
