SFC Harley C. Crawford, Jr.
SFC
Harley C. Crawford Jr., United States Army, distinguished himself by
exceptionally meritorious conduct
in the performance of outstanding service to
the
Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, TF Liberty from
SFC
Crawford led his Armor platoon on a myriad of missions on the M1A1 tank as well
as on M1114s,
demonstrating his expertise outside of
his role as a tank platoon sergeant. During his year in
conducted over 700 combat missions including MSR sweeps,
sphere of influence engagements, raids and Western
Desert
security patrols.
SFC
Crawford has been on over 210 MSR sweeps with his platoon, and his tireless
effort and initiative has
resulted in numerous improvements in soldier safety
and in the platoon staying one step ahead of the AIF as they
continue to adapt to their TTPs.
His efforts have ensured that MSR Tampa was kept safe for both the Iraqi
populace
and Coalition Forces traveling along the route.
SFC
Crawford has shown personal courage and competence under fire during multiple
engagements with
the enemy. During his first week in Iraq SFC
Crawford came under small arms fire, mortar fire, and an improvised
explosive attack. On every encounter with the AIF, SFC
Crawford returned fire and maneuvered the platoon at a risk
to his own personal safety.
SFC
Crawford’s expertise was called for once again during his first month in
sector, when he applied his
experience and knowledge by
establishing a security plan for Iraqi FOB Seven. During SFC Crawford’s
assignment to
FOB
Seven, he personally detected an enemy breach in the
wire and ensured that it was properly reported and reconstituted.
SFC
Crawford continued to perform exemplary during his time at FOB Seven, and later
was a pivotal
player in the ground CASEVAC of a wounded Iraqi
soldier to FOB Brassfield-Mora.
SFC Crawford searched over 100 houses within
the company sector on sphere of influence engagements. His
dedication to the mission and
attention to detail has resulted in him being personally responsible for
locating several
weapons caches consisting of small
arms, rockets and thousands of rounds of ammunition. A leader on the front
lines of the insurgency, SFC Crawford oversaw
flash, hasty, and deliberate traffic control points on a daily basis, which
deterred the AIF in Delta Company’s
area of operations and resulted in hundreds of vehicles being searched,
restricting the flow of AIF from the
Samara area.
1st
Platoon was the main effort in numerous company missions and SFC Crawford’s
leadership as well as
his technical and tactical competency resulted
in all missions being accomplished to the highest of standards and
ahead of schedule. During Operation Abercorn SFC
Crawford and the platoon searched over 40 homes and cleared
over 550 square kilometers of the
in the
sector, that same area had been subject to three
improvised explosive devices and numerous ambushes which
resulted in the slaughter of 15 Iraqi nationals and
the theft or destruction of thousands of dollars of equipment.
SFC
Crawford has contributed directly to the success of every company mission and
raid, both in the planning and
execution stages.
SFC
Crawford is a leader of the highest caliber whose actions during Operation
Iraqi Freedom III aided the
government of
ensured the success of both 1st Platoon
and Delta Company in a multitude of missions, and set an example for those
who served under and around him.
SFC
Crawford’s actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military
service and reflect distinct credit upon himself,
the Raider Brigade, Task Force
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Crawford Genealogy
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2005, Nancy Gay Crawford