Staff Sergeant Alexander Yessayan
Army Provincial Reconstruction Team Paktya, Combat Communications Specialist

It was an unusually bitter cold November afternoon in Afghanistan as Staff Sergeant Alexander Yessayan rode in the turret of his Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, keeping alert for potential contacts. Sergeant Yessayan was part of Army Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) Paktya, comprised of approximately 50 Soldiers and 25 Airmen. On that day, the PRT was conducting route reconnaissance to find a better way to access a remote village in the Zormat District.

As the five-vehicle convoy exited a streambed, Taliban fighters ambushed the team with precise mortar fire. As the mortars rained around the convoy, additional fighters engaged the convoy with AK-47s, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), and other small arms fire. Unfazed by the mortars’ impact, Sergeant Yessayan determined the gunfire was coming from the tree line on his left flank; he quickly responded with suppression fire from his M240B machine gun, causing the Taliban fighters to desist.

As the convoy turned back for reinforcements, an RPG was fired at Sergeant Yessayan’s vehicle, prompting accurate fire from his M240B. Shortly into the exchange, however, the machine gun malfunctioned. Sergeant Yessayan calmly transitioned from his broken M240B to his M4/M203. He spied an oncoming three-man team of insurgents, carefully aimed his M203, and sent a 40mm round flying towards the trio. The resulting impact eliminated the threat.

Due in part to Sergeant Yessayan’s alertness and ability to adapt to a rapidly changing situation, the convoy exited the area with minimal injuries and damages. For his actions, Sergeant Yessayan was awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal, the Army Combat Action Badge, the Army Achievement Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal.