Medal of Honor: David G. Bellavia – War on Terror – November 10, 2004

Name: David G. Bellavia
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Branch: U.S. Army
War: Iraq War (Operation Phantom Fury)
Unit: 3rd Platoon, Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
Date of Action: November 10, 2004
Location: Fallujah, Iraq

Summary of Action

On November 10, 2004, during the Second Battle of Fallujah, Staff Sergeant David G. Bellavia was serving as a squad leader during Operation Phantom Fury, one of the largest and bloodiest urban battles fought by American forces since Vietnam.

As Bellavia's platoon cleared buildings in the insurgent-held city, one of the platoon's squads became trapped inside a room by intense enemy fire coming from a fortified position beneath a staircase. The insurgents had turned the house into a deadly fighting position, threatening to trap and destroy the American soldiers inside.

Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Bellavia immediately retrieved an automatic weapon and moved to the doorway of the house. Standing exposed to enemy fire, he unleashed a torrent of suppressive fire that allowed the trapped squad to break contact and escape the building.

A Bradley Fighting Vehicle was brought forward to destroy the enemy position, but the surrounding walls prevented it from firing effectively.

Knowing the enemy remained inside and continued to threaten his platoon, Staff Sergeant Bellavia made the decision to go back into the house—alone.

As he entered the building for a second time, insurgents immediately opened fire. Bellavia spotted one enemy fighter preparing to launch a rocket-propelled grenade toward American forces. Without hesitation, he charged the insurgent's position, killing one enemy combatant and wounding another, who fled deeper into the building.

Realizing that enemy fighters remained hidden throughout the structure, Bellavia began clearing the darkened interior by himself.

As he entered one room, an insurgent came charging down the stairs while firing at him. At the same moment, the wounded insurgent reappeared and joined the attack. Fighting in near darkness, Bellavia engaged both enemy fighters simultaneously and killed them.

Moments later, yet another insurgent emerged from a closet and opened fire. Bellavia returned fire and pursued the enemy up the staircase.

Reaching the second floor, he eliminated the insurgent and continued his assault.

The battle was not yet over.

Moving toward a doorway leading onto the roof, Bellavia suddenly encountered a fifth insurgent who leapt from a third-story rooftop onto the second-story roof in an attempt to attack American forces. Bellavia immediately engaged him through a window, wounding him and sending him crashing from the rooftop.

By the time the fighting ended, Staff Sergeant Bellavia had single-handedly cleared an entire enemy stronghold, killing four insurgents and severely wounding a fifth.

His actions prevented further casualties among his platoon and eliminated a fortified enemy position during one of the fiercest urban battles of the Iraq War.

The Battle of Fallujah has often been compared to the brutal street fighting of World War II and Korea. David Bellavia's Medal of Honor action stands as a remarkable example of close-quarters combat—one soldier deliberately advancing alone into an enemy-held building to save his fellow soldiers and destroy the threat facing them.

Medal of Honor Citation

DAVID G. BELLAVIA

Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, United States Army.

Unit: 3rd Platoon, Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division.

Place and date: Fallujah, Iraq, November 10, 2004.

Citation:

Staff Sergeant David G. Bellavia distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on November 10, 2004, while serving as a squad leader in support of Operation Phantom Fury in Fallujah, Iraq.

While clearing a house, a squad from Staff Sergeant Bellavia's platoon became trapped within a room by intense enemy fire coming from a fortified position under the stairs leading to the second floor. Recognizing the immediate severity of the situation, and with disregard for his own safety, Staff Sergeant Bellavia retrieved an automatic weapon and entered the doorway of the house to engage the insurgents.

With enemy rounds impacting around him, Staff Sergeant Bellavia fired at the enemy position at a cyclic rate, providing covering fire that allowed the squad to break contact and exit the house.

A Bradley Fighting Vehicle was brought forward to suppress the enemy; however, due to high walls surrounding the house, it could not fire directly at the enemy position.

Staff Sergeant Bellavia then re-entered the house and again came under intense enemy fire. He observed an enemy insurgent preparing to launch a rocket-propelled grenade at his platoon. Recognizing the grave danger the grenade posed to his fellow soldiers, Staff Sergeant Bellavia assaulted the enemy position, killing one insurgent and wounding another who ran to a different part of the house.

Staff Sergeant Bellavia, realizing he had an uncleared, darkened room to his back, moved to clear it. As he entered, an insurgent came down the stairs firing at him. Simultaneously, the previously wounded insurgent reemerged and engaged Staff Sergeant Bellavia. Staff Sergeant Bellavia, entering further into the darkened room, returned fire and eliminated both insurgents.

Staff Sergeant Bellavia then received enemy fire from another insurgent emerging from a closet in the darkened room. Exchanging gunfire, Staff Sergeant Bellavia pursued the enemy up the stairs and eliminated him.

Now on the second floor, Staff Sergeant Bellavia moved to a door that opened onto the roof. At this point, a fifth insurgent leapt from the third-floor roof onto the second-floor roof. Staff Sergeant Bellavia engaged the insurgent through a window, wounding him in the back and legs, and caused him to fall off the roof.

Acting on instinct to save the members of his platoon from an imminent threat, Staff Sergeant Bellavia ultimately cleared an entire enemy-filled house, destroyed four insurgents, and badly wounded a fifth.

Staff Sergeant Bellavia's bravery, complete disregard for his own safety, and unselfish and courageous actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States.