Fort Bragg Soldiers Honored for Bravery

Colonel's bravery, leadership recognized in Bronze Star ceremony
The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer
By Amanda Dolasinski
Published: April 5, 2014

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — Enemy fire intensified as the July day grew hotter in the mud hut village of Shewan, Afghanistan.

Col. Brett G. Sylvia stayed focused, scanning the horizon for Taliban insurgents.

Suddenly, his soldiers saw Sylvia's head snap back and his body fall forward to the ground.

A medic ran over. Soldiers said Sylvia was briefly knocked out.

But the colonel said the bullet had hit his helmet and caused only bleeding from his forehead. He was bandaged and moved to the front of the battalion to order soldiers to return fire and push forward.

"For him to get back up, that redefined the entire mission," said 1st Sgt. Joe Macavinta, who was fighting alongside Sylvia as part of Operation Southern Swarm II in July 2013.

Sylvia, at the time the commander of Fort Bragg's 307th Engineer Battalion, earned a Bronze Star for valor for his actions during the operation. The honor, which he received Friday, is the Army's fourth highest award for acts of heroism.

Five men, including Macavinta, also were honored for their actions on the operation during a nine-month deployment in Afghanistan. Macavinta, Pfc. Brendon Bartz, Sgt. Alejandro Tristan, Sgt. Trent Pontes and Sgt. David Chalifoux all received Army Commendation Medals for valor.
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