SSgt Jason Kimberling, Security Forces 

Staff Sergeant Jason Kimberling, a Security Forces Airman, deployed for a 365-day TDY to Afghanistan as a Qalat Provincial Reconstruction Team member.

On August 8, 2006, while providing embedded force protection for a convoy, his team assisted the Afghan National Police (ANP) and Afghan National Army (ANA) in repelling a Taliban attack at a highway checkpoint. As the convoy approached the checkpoint, 100 well-trained and equipped foreign fighters unleashed an intense ambush with rocket-propelled grenades (RPG), small arms and machine gun fire against Coalition forces in Ebrahimkel Village.

His position was struck by an RPG, knocking him to the ground. Sergeant Kimberling soon recovered from the blast and, while exposing himself to a barrage of gunfire, eliminated two enemy fighters advancing on his position. Sergeant Kimberling’s position was struck again by machine gun fire. He directed the ANP troops to lay down a barrage of cover fire. They fired light anti-tank weapons and RPGs, destroying the enemy’s bunker and neutralizing the attack.

Enemy gunners continued to hound the convoy. Sergeant Kimberling directed ANA forces to secure the left flank when a small Taliban force pinned down the convoy. Exposing himself again to enemy fire, Sergeant Kimberling coordinated close air support which finally defeated the enemy attack.

Sergeant Kimberling’s heroic actions eliminated approximately 20 enemy fighters and saved the lives of three dozen U.S. and Afghani military and police force.