Interesting Notes:
SGT Trujillo is the only known Silver Star recipient for actions performed during Operation Urgent Fury.
Specialist Ringstaff is one of only two known recipients of the Silver Star for actions performed during Operation Just Cause.
OPERATION URGENT FURY, GRENADA
TRUJILLO, STEPHEN G.
Sergeant, U. S. Army
1st Platoon, Company A, 2nd Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
Date of Action: 27 October, 1983
Citation:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, has awarded the Silver Star to Sergeant Stephen G. Trujillo for gallantry in action. Sergeant Stephen G. Trujillo, while assigned as a Medical Aidman with the 1st Platoon of Company A, 2d Battalion (Ranger) 75th Infantry, distinguished himself by gallantry in action on the Island of Grenada on 27 October 1983. He was in the first sortie of four helicopters engaged in an air assault on the Calivigny Compound which was held by hostile Cuban forces. Upon landing in the compound under intense enemy fire, Sergeant Trujillo assumed his defensive position and witnessed the other three helicopters losing control and crashing into one another. He immediately ran 25 meters across open terrain to the aircraft, thus exposing himself to intensive enemy fire, flying shrapnel, and the possible explosion of the burning aircraft. He quickly assessed the gruesome and precarious situation and began removing wounded Soldiers from the aircraft. He also directed the actions of two other medics and established medical priorities for the treatment of the injured. With only the lives of his fallen comrades in mind and while still in the open and exposed to automatic weapons and small arms fire, he began administering first aid to the critically wounded. Upon the arrival of the battalion physician's assistant, he returned to the crashed aircraft several times, removing the wounded soldiers and carrying them across open terrain to a safer location where he could administer medical aid. Sergeant Trujillo's gallant and courageous actions directly resulted in the saving of at least one life. His heroic efforts, at the risk of his own life, were in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon him, the United States Army, and the United States of America.
General Orders: Department of the Army, General Orders Number 10, (April 20, 1984)
Home of Record: Boulder, CO.
OPERATION JUST CAUSE, PANAMA
RINGSTAFF, Roderick B.
Specialist, U. S. Army
2nd Platoon, D Company, 4th Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment
Date of Action: 20 December 1989
Citation:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Specialist Roderick B. Ringstaff. Specialist Ringstaff distinguished himself by exceptional heroic achievement during the attack on the headquarters of the Panama Defense Forces, Operation Just Cause, 20 December 1989, while serving as platoon medic, 2nd Platoon, D Company, 4th Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment. Accompanying his platoon as it led the attack on the headquarters of the Panama Defense Forces, Specialist Ringstaff received serious wounds to his arm and leg as the result of enemy indirect fire. In the midst of an intense indirect fire barrage and without regard for his own serious wounds or personal safety, Specialist Ringstaff began administering first aid to other wounded Soldiers even as he neared exhaustion and still under devastating fire, Specialist Ringstaff dragged a severely wounded Soldier to the medical evacuation vehicle. Although he physically collapsed at this point due to his own extensive wounds, he continued to provide words of encouragement and moral support to the other wounded Soldiers of D Company. Specialist Ringstaff’s treatment and evacuation of Soldiers, most of whom were less seriously wounded than himself, and at great personal risk, reflect great credit upon him, his unit and the United States Army.
General Orders: Department of the Army, General Orders number 10 (June 20, 1990)
