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FORT BENNING, Georgia — A native Utahn was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross Tuesday for his actions while serving as a soldier in Afghanistan.
The award presented to Staff Sgt. Jeffery M. Dawson, who was deployed with the 28th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company airborne, is second only to the Medal of Honor. He was on a mission in Afghanistan on Oct. 5, 2013 when “a fleeing insurgent detonated an explosive, killing himself and the team's multi-purpose canine Jani,” according to a release from the U.S. Army.
Dawson, who is originally from Coalville, said he realized his team was surrounded by Improvised Explosive Devices and starting working to disarm the devices after halting the mission. He also helped with the evacuation of dead and wounded soldiers, even though he himself had been wounded by two separate explosions, according to the Army.
"That mission started out the same as every mission. The IED threat was low and it was supposed to be a quick easy target," Dawson said in a statement. "Upon infiltration, everything changed in minutes."
Dawson said he reverted to his training and stuck with what he knew. The incident lasted for more than two hours in limited visibility, according to the award citation. During that time, Dawson “exposed himself to grave danger while locating three confirmed pressure plate IEDs and an additional six suspected devices.”
"I remember looking around at all the devastation and seeing American flags draped over casualties in an effort to help keep them warm," Dawson said.
A Ranger Platoon medic, Sgt. Bryan C. Anderson, was awarded the same medal as Dawson for his efforts during the mission.
"When I got back to camp, people were coming up to me and shaking my hand and hugging me telling me that they heard great things about me," Dawson said. "I kept thinking to myself that I was just doing my job.”
Dawson has also served in Iraq.
