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This story is about a local war hero and the unimaginable effort he made to earn both the approval and the authorization to be awarded the Silver Star for gallantry under fire:

a. The Silver Star, section 3746, title 10, United States Code (10 USC 3746), was established by Act of Congress 9 July 1918 (amended by act of 25 July 1963).

b. The Silver Star is awarded to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Army, is cited for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. The required gallantry, while of a lesser degree than that required for the Distinguished Service Cross, must nevertheless have been performed with marked distinction.

c. It is awarded upon letter application to Commander, PERSCOM, ATTN: TAPC-PDA, Alexandria, VA 22332-0471, to those individuals who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Army, received a citation for gallantry in action in World War I published in orders issued by a headquarters commanded by a general officer.

Sergeant Giasullo, a life long Billerica, MA native, was assigned to Afghanistan out of Fort Campbell, KY. He was on a routine patrol, July 7, 2008 when his convoy was hit by an exploding IED. Having suffered wounds himself and being rendered unconscious by the explosion, Sergeant Giasullo began treating the casualties under his charge, most of whom were Afghans. He is credited with saving the lives of four Afghan National Army soldiers.

After treating the casualties with shrapnel imbedded into his legs and buttocks, and while still in intense pain himself, Sergant Giasullo returned fire after a 2nd vehicle struck a IED. All were then within what is called a kill zone; or an ambush site that having created casualties from the IEDs now became on open field of fire for the enemy. His citation reads:

“Refusing medical treatment for his own injuries even after another medic arrived on the site, (Giasullo) successfully stabilized the casualties, loaded them onto an emergency medical transport vehicle, then opted to rejoin his platoon until the mission was complete,”.

When asked about Afghanistan, Sergeant Giasullo Jr. replied:

“Afghanistan is completely different from anything or anywhere else in the world,” Giasullo said. “Think of your life and then turn it totally upside down. That’s Afghanistan.”

 
The Silver Star Award is the third highest award for valor in the face of the enemy and follows the Congressional Medal of Honor and The Distinguished Service Cross. Please take a moment to thank Sergeant John Giasullo, Jr. for his service and offer whatever service you can to assist his family on his upcoming deployment back to Afghanistan. Hopefully, the town will flood the Veteran’s Services Office with cards and letters of thank.

From my family to yours, Sergeant Giasullo, Jr. thank you and don’t ever hesitate to call on me via this blog, initially, and via more private means later for any help and assistance you or your family may need. My wife and I still have access to the base and I can still find myself around various levels of red tape. Stay safe! Thank you, again, for your continued service and commitment to the nation under dangerous conditions. You are and always will be a true Patriot, and hopefully, a most popular and respected figure among Billericans.

Sergeant Giasullo is a 2005 graduate of Billerica Memorial High School.

Here’s a suggestion for the Board of Selectmen: How about authorizing a proclamation for a Sergeant Giasullo, Jr. Day and doing something similar for all Billerica residents who have served in a war zone to keep the rest of us free from fanatical attacks by terrorists?