Distinguished Service Cross Recipient: Jack E. White
Distinguished Veteran Awardee Blog
Student Name: Andrew White
Name of Veteran: Jack E. White
Rank and Military Branch: Staff Sergeant (US Army)
Award Name and Date of Action Leading to the Commendation: Distinguished Service Cross, June 29, 2008
On June 29, 2008 in the Khost province of Afghanistan, Jack Edward White displayed extraordinary bravery and heroism in defense and support of his fellow soldiers. For his actions he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. In 2008, Sergeant White was serving as a squad leader with the Vicenza, Italy-based Alpha Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment. While on an observation mission in the mountains of the Khost province, near the Pakistani border, White and his group of 19 other soldiers were ambushed by over 100 Taliban fighters who attacked with RPK Machine guns and RPG-7 shoulder fired rockets. The observation post was a 90-minute climb from the nearest help that being combat outpost Spera which sat in a valley over 1000 feet below and only 25 meters from the Pakistani border.
White was awoken when an RPG impacted the mountain less then 20 meters from where he was sleeping at the time. Reacting immediately, he low crawled out of the sleeping area to organize the defense of the observation point. Maneuvering through heavy enemy fire, White engaged and quickly adjusted his men to repel the attacking force, according to his citation. With no regard for his own safety, he ordered multiple "danger-close” fire missions, called in airstrikes, and directed lethal mortar and artillery launches. The fight lasted little more than an hour when the attacking Taliban forces retreated. "There was no way to get to them quickly, (and) over 100 Taliban assaulted them with the intent of overrunning them,” Command Sgt. Maj. Weik said. "But when I heard his voice on the radio, I knew everything was going to be OK and he brought all those boys off that mountain.” In the end after over an hour of fierce fighting White led his men off the mountain and back into American held territory. "You don’t really think, you just think about what you have to do at the time,” said White, who was a staff sergeant when the incident occurred. "It ain’t like the movies; it ain’t fun. It’s the last place you want to be, honestly. But your training takes over, and you start thinking about the guy to the left and right of you, and make sure everybody gets out of there safe.
On September 8, 2010, Sergeant White was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross at Fort Benning Georgia for his actions that day in Afganistan.
“Afghanistan Op Defense Leads to Army’s Second-Highest Decoration.” Www.Army.Mil. Last modified July 22, 2011. Accessed April 6, 2025. https://www.army.mil/article/44844/afghanistan_op_defense_leads_to_armys_second_highest_decoration.
“Jack White.” Hall of Valor: Medal of Honor, Silver Star, U.S. Military Awards. Last modified November 6, 2024. Accessed April 6, 2025. https://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient/recipient-27662/.
Krump, Jamie. Army Logistician (November 1, 2003): 1–6. Accessed April 6, 2025. https://web.p.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=0&sid=2491d4aa-012e-442f-b5f3-934e410d60dd%40redis.
Seelinger, Matthew. “173d Airborne Brigade.” On Point 16 (2010): 22–25. Accessed April 6, 2025.https://www.jstor.org/stable/26361471?saml_data=eyJpbnN0aXR1dGlvbklkcyI6WyJjNGZjMjNmMC01MDQzLTRiOWMtYjgzNS0wZTBkZDBhMDA2MjMiXSwic2FtbFRva2VuIjoiMTFmNTViMmItY2FlYi00ZTM1LWI3MmEtMzg1YTliMzAyNTA0In0&seq=1.
Source Assessment:
Strongest Source:
My strongest source was the one form Army.Mil because it contained much information about the actual event then any other source.
Weakest Source:
My weakest source was the Army Logistician Article, because it was written five years prior to this event and in a different warzone entirely.
Picture of Awardee:
Comments