The son of Edward H. Gallegos and Josefina 'Yolanda' Heideman (4/9/1955 - 6/1/2010). He was preceded in death by his father and two brothers Eric and Isaac. He was survived by his mother, a son, a brother, and two sisters.
Staff Sgt. Justin T. Gallegos, 27, of Tucson, Ariz.; was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.; died Oct. 3 in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his contingency outpost with small arms, rocket-propelled grenade and indirect fires. Also killed were Spc. Christopher T. Griffin, Sgt. Joshua M. Hardt, Sgt. Joshua J. Kirk, Spc. Stephan L. Mace, Staff Sgt. Vernon W. Martin, Sgt. Michael P. Scusa and Pfc. Kevin C. Thomson.
Distinguished Service Cross Citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant Justin T. Gallegos, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 3 October 2009, as a team leader for Troop B, 3d Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, in support of Combat Outpost Keating's main defense. After maneuvering under heavy sniper and rocket propelled grenade fire to reinforce a HMMWV battle position that was critical to the Outpost's defense, Staff Sergeant Gallegos called for fire on several enemy positions. While under heavy fire for nearly an hour, Staff Sergeant Gallegos continued to suppress the oncoming enemy with the crew-served weapon. Once the weapon's ammunition was exhausted, he engaged the enemy with his M4 carbine to allow fellow Soldiers in a nearby truck to evacuate from their position. From there, Staff Sergeant Gallegos and his team devised a plan to exfil to a covered position and rejoin Troop B to defend the Outpost. During this attempt, Staff Sergeant Gallegos knowingly risked his life when he braved enemy fire to retrieve a wounded comrade and help him to safety. Once behind cover, Staff Sergeant Gallegos risked his life again by exposing himself to machinegun fire to suppress nearby enemy fighters and enable the remainder of his team to move to his position. During this final act, Staff Sergeant Gallegos paid the ultimate sacrifice. Staff Sergeant Gallegos's actions enabled a section of Soldiers to regroup and provide necessary security to stave off enemy forces from the west side of the camp. His actions played a critical role in the defense of Combat Outpost Keating, and Troop B's subsequent counterattack against a numerically superior Taliban force. Staff Sergeant Gallegos's discipline and bravery bring great credit upon himself, the 4th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.
Staff Sgt. Justin T. Gallegos, 27, of Tucson, Ariz.; was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.; died Oct. 3 in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his contingency outpost with small arms, rocket-propelled grenade and indirect fires. Also killed were Spc. Christopher T. Griffin, Sgt. Joshua M. Hardt, Sgt. Joshua J. Kirk, Spc. Stephan L. Mace, Staff Sgt. Vernon W. Martin, Sgt. Michael P. Scusa and Pfc. Kevin C. Thomson.
Distinguished Service Cross Citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant Justin T. Gallegos, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 3 October 2009, as a team leader for Troop B, 3d Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, in support of Combat Outpost Keating's main defense. After maneuvering under heavy sniper and rocket propelled grenade fire to reinforce a HMMWV battle position that was critical to the Outpost's defense, Staff Sergeant Gallegos called for fire on several enemy positions. While under heavy fire for nearly an hour, Staff Sergeant Gallegos continued to suppress the oncoming enemy with the crew-served weapon. Once the weapon's ammunition was exhausted, he engaged the enemy with his M4 carbine to allow fellow Soldiers in a nearby truck to evacuate from their position. From there, Staff Sergeant Gallegos and his team devised a plan to exfil to a covered position and rejoin Troop B to defend the Outpost. During this attempt, Staff Sergeant Gallegos knowingly risked his life when he braved enemy fire to retrieve a wounded comrade and help him to safety. Once behind cover, Staff Sergeant Gallegos risked his life again by exposing himself to machinegun fire to suppress nearby enemy fighters and enable the remainder of his team to move to his position. During this final act, Staff Sergeant Gallegos paid the ultimate sacrifice. Staff Sergeant Gallegos's actions enabled a section of Soldiers to regroup and provide necessary security to stave off enemy forces from the west side of the camp. His actions played a critical role in the defense of Combat Outpost Keating, and Troop B's subsequent counterattack against a numerically superior Taliban force. Staff Sergeant Gallegos's discipline and bravery bring great credit upon himself, the 4th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.
The son of Edward H. Gallegos and Josefina 'Yolanda' Heideman (4/9/1955 - 6/1/2010). He was preceded in death by his father and two brothers Eric and Isaac. He was survived by his mother, a son, a brother, and two sisters.
Staff Sgt. Justin T. Gallegos, 27, of Tucson, Ariz.; was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.; died Oct. 3 in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his contingency outpost with small arms, rocket-propelled grenade and indirect fires. Also killed were Spc. Christopher T. Griffin, Sgt. Joshua M. Hardt, Sgt. Joshua J. Kirk, Spc. Stephan L. Mace, Staff Sgt. Vernon W. Martin, Sgt. Michael P. Scusa and Pfc. Kevin C. Thomson.
Distinguished Service Cross Citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant Justin T. Gallegos, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 3 October 2009, as a team leader for Troop B, 3d Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, in support of Combat Outpost Keating's main defense. After maneuvering under heavy sniper and rocket propelled grenade fire to reinforce a HMMWV battle position that was critical to the Outpost's defense, Staff Sergeant Gallegos called for fire on several enemy positions. While under heavy fire for nearly an hour, Staff Sergeant Gallegos continued to suppress the oncoming enemy with the crew-served weapon. Once the weapon's ammunition was exhausted, he engaged the enemy with his M4 carbine to allow fellow Soldiers in a nearby truck to evacuate from their position. From there, Staff Sergeant Gallegos and his team devised a plan to exfil to a covered position and rejoin Troop B to defend the Outpost. During this attempt, Staff Sergeant Gallegos knowingly risked his life when he braved enemy fire to retrieve a wounded comrade and help him to safety. Once behind cover, Staff Sergeant Gallegos risked his life again by exposing himself to machinegun fire to suppress nearby enemy fighters and enable the remainder of his team to move to his position. During this final act, Staff Sergeant Gallegos paid the ultimate sacrifice. Staff Sergeant Gallegos's actions enabled a section of Soldiers to regroup and provide necessary security to stave off enemy forces from the west side of the camp. His actions played a critical role in the defense of Combat Outpost Keating, and Troop B's subsequent counterattack against a numerically superior Taliban force. Staff Sergeant Gallegos's discipline and bravery bring great credit upon himself, the 4th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.
Staff Sgt. Justin T. Gallegos, 27, of Tucson, Ariz.; was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.; died Oct. 3 in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his contingency outpost with small arms, rocket-propelled grenade and indirect fires. Also killed were Spc. Christopher T. Griffin, Sgt. Joshua M. Hardt, Sgt. Joshua J. Kirk, Spc. Stephan L. Mace, Staff Sgt. Vernon W. Martin, Sgt. Michael P. Scusa and Pfc. Kevin C. Thomson.
Distinguished Service Cross Citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant Justin T. Gallegos, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 3 October 2009, as a team leader for Troop B, 3d Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, in support of Combat Outpost Keating's main defense. After maneuvering under heavy sniper and rocket propelled grenade fire to reinforce a HMMWV battle position that was critical to the Outpost's defense, Staff Sergeant Gallegos called for fire on several enemy positions. While under heavy fire for nearly an hour, Staff Sergeant Gallegos continued to suppress the oncoming enemy with the crew-served weapon. Once the weapon's ammunition was exhausted, he engaged the enemy with his M4 carbine to allow fellow Soldiers in a nearby truck to evacuate from their position. From there, Staff Sergeant Gallegos and his team devised a plan to exfil to a covered position and rejoin Troop B to defend the Outpost. During this attempt, Staff Sergeant Gallegos knowingly risked his life when he braved enemy fire to retrieve a wounded comrade and help him to safety. Once behind cover, Staff Sergeant Gallegos risked his life again by exposing himself to machinegun fire to suppress nearby enemy fighters and enable the remainder of his team to move to his position. During this final act, Staff Sergeant Gallegos paid the ultimate sacrifice. Staff Sergeant Gallegos's actions enabled a section of Soldiers to regroup and provide necessary security to stave off enemy forces from the west side of the camp. His actions played a critical role in the defense of Combat Outpost Keating, and Troop B's subsequent counterattack against a numerically superior Taliban force. Staff Sergeant Gallegos's discipline and bravery bring great credit upon himself, the 4th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.
