Background
Sergeant David G. Bellavia is a retired American Army soldier who served in the military between 1999 to 2005 (Bellavia, 2018). Bellavia, born in 1975, was awarded the Medal of Honor (MOH) in June 2019 for his distinguished actions during the Second Battle of Fallujah in the Iraq War in 2004 (Danner, 2020). Bellavia was enlisted in the US Army as an infantryman in 1999 and was assigned to the Syracuse Recruiting Battalion after One Station Unit Training, an assignment that enabled his infant son to receive the care he needed (Clemmer, 2009).
In 2001, Bellavia had the option of choosing between changing his military occupation and submitting a hardship discharge or remaining as an infantryman, which compelled him to leave his family for 36 months on an unaccompanied tour to Germany. However, after the 9/11 terrorist attack, Battalion chose to serve in the military, a call that was influenced by his grandfather, Joe Brunacini, who had served in the military during the Normandy Campaign in the Second World War and earned a Bronze Star (Hiebert, 2003). Consequently, Bellavia’s unit was deployed to Kosovo in the summer of 2003 and nine months later deployed to Iraq to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Bellavia’s Deployment in Iraq
Sergeant David G. Bellavia served in Iraq as part of the initial invasion force in 2003 and later returned for another deployment in 2004. During his deployments, he served in various regions of Iraq. Bellavia was initially deployed to Baghdad, the capital city of Iraq, in 2003. He served there as part of the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division (Kull et al., 2003).
In 2004, Bellavia’s unit was deployed to Fallujah, a city in the western Anbar province of Iraq. This region was a hotbed of insurgency during the Iraq War, and the Battle of Fallujah was one of the largest and bloodiest battles of the war. After the Battle of Fallujah, Bellavia’s unit was sent to Mosul, a city in northern Iraq. Bellavia served there as part of the 1st Infantry Division’s Task Force 2-2 (Geroux, 2020).
Events that Led to Bellavia’s Consideration for Award
In November 2004, while serving in Fallujah, Iraq, Bellavia’s unit was tasked with the responsibility of clearing a block of buildings in the city that hosted the insurgents. During this operation, Bellavia’s platoon was engaged in a heavy crossfire with the insurgents in a house. In the engagement, Bellavia repeatedly exposed himself to the enemies with the intention of providing cover to his fellow soldiers, including calling for support from a Bradley Fighting Vehicle (Danner, 2020). However, the vehicle’s cannon malfunctioned, prompting Bellavia to enter the house alone and engage the insurgents in hand-to-hand combat, during which he killed four of the insurgents and wounded one before emerging from the house to regroup with his fellow soldiers.
Nonetheless, As the platoon prepared to move out, Bellavia noticed that his squad leader was trapped inside the house. Without hesitation, he re-entered the house alone to rescue his leader, who was under fire and wounded. Bellavia engaged the insurgents in close combat again, killing another insurgent and providing cover for his leader to escape. Bellavia’s actions during the Battle of Fallujah demonstrated exceptional bravery, leadership, and devotion to his fellow soldiers. His selfless actions saved the lives of his fellow soldiers and disrupted the enemy’s ability to fight (Olson & Olson, 2013). For his actions, he was initially awarded the Silver Star, but a review of the battle led to the recommendation that he receive the MOH, the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government (King, 2016). In 2019, Bellavia was presented with the Medal of Honor by President Donald J. Trump in a ceremony at the White House (Danner, 2020).
Bellavia’s Life After the MOH Award
After his retirement from the Army in 2005 and receiving the MOH award, Bellavia became a public figure and is currently advocating for veteran issues. The military legend has been involved in various veterans’ organizations, including as a board member of the Medal of Honor Foundation and the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation (Özman, 2015). He has spoken publicly about the challenges that veterans face when returning home from combat and has advocated for improved mental health care and support for veterans. In addition to his advocacy work, Bellavia has been active in politics. The veteran has also been involved in various charitable organizations, including the Wounded Warrior Project, the Medal of Honor Foundation, and the Gary Sinise Foundation, which supports veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders. In 2020, he announced his candidacy for Congress in New York’s 27th congressional district but later withdrew from the race (Anderson, 2020). Hence, Bellavia has remained a prominent figure and a mentor to many upcoming military personnel to his active involvement in matters involving the military.
In 2010, Bellavia published a memoir titled “House to House: An Epic Memoir of War,” which chronicles his experiences during the Battle of Fallujah (Danner, 2020). The book received critical acclaim and was a New York Times bestseller. In this book, Bellavia details the intense combat that he and fellow soldiers faced in the Iraq war in which the US wanted to destroy weapons of mass destruction that were being developed by Iraq, led by Saddam Hussein (Danner, 2020). The combat also aimed at curtailing the rise of terror groups that were posing significant security threats to the US. Thus, the book offers unique perspectives of the modern warfare as was experienced by the soldier. Overall, Bellavia is one of the prominent figures in the US, owing to his significant contribution to the military during his active years and the massive mentorship he has offered during his years after retirement from the military (Clemmer, 2009). The Iraq war had geopolitical implication for the US, considering the massive oil reserves that were in the region. The US government believed that by eliminating Saddam Hussein, the country would be able to establish a democratic country that would create a stable environment for oil trade (Anderson, 2020). Thus, the contributions made by individuals like Bellavia in the military needed to be appreciated, especially when with the success of the US in the war.
References
Anderson, D. (2020). ‘Its Flames Will Blaze’: The Battle for Fallujah, 7–13 November 2004. A History of Modern Urban Operations, 321-344.
Bellavia, S. R. (2018). Building Cold War Warriors: Socialization of the Final Cold War Generation. Bowling Green State University.
Clemmer, B. A. (2009). Aligned Incentives: Could the Army’s Award System Inadvertently be Hindering Counterinsurgency Operations? NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA DEFENSE ANALYSIS DEPT.
Danner, L. J. (2020). Military Resiliency for Posttraumatic Stress: A Depth Psychological Approach. Pacifica Graduate Institute.
Geroux, J. R. J. (2020). The urban battle of Ortona (Doctoral dissertation, University of New Brunswick.).
Hiebert, R. E. (2003). Public relations and propaganda in framing the Iraq war: A preliminary review. Public Relations Review, 29(3), 243-255.
Kaya Özman, M. (2015). Identities under Construction: Iraq War, Life Writing and American National Identity.
King, A. C. (2016). Close-quarters battle: Urban combat and “special forcification.” Armed Forces & Society, 42(2), 276-300.
Kull, S., Ramsay, C., & Lewis, E. (2003). Misperceptions, the media, and the Iraq war. Political science quarterly, 118(4), 569-598.
Olson, G., & Olson, G. (2013). Militarism, Masculinity, and Empathy. Empathy Imperiled: Capitalism, Culture, and the Brain, 71-79.
Selvidge, M. (2009). Religion, greed, and the insanity of war. Political Theology, 10(4), 721-7
MOH Citation
Staff Sergeant David G. Bellavia distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on November 10, 2004, while serving as a squad leader in support of Operation Phantom Fury in Fallujah, Iraq. While clearing a house, a squad from Staff Sergeant Bellavia’s platoon became trapped within a room by intense enemy fire coming from a fortified position under the stairs leading to the second floor. Recognizing the immediate severity of the situation and with disregard for his own safety, Staff Sergeant Bellavia retrieved an automatic weapon and entered the doorway of the house to engage the insurgents. With enemy rounds impacting around him, Staff Sergeant Bellavia fired at the enemy position at a cyclic rate, providing covering fire that allowed the squad to break contact and exit the house. A Bradley Fighting Vehicle was brought forward to suppress the enemy; however, due to the high walls surrounding the house, it could not fire directly at the enemy position. Staff Sergeant Bellavia then re-entered the house and again came under intense enemy fire. He observed an enemy insurgent preparing to launch a rocket-propelled grenade at his platoon. Recognizing the grave danger the grenade posed to his fellow soldiers, Staff Sergeant Bellavia assaulted the enemy position, killing one insurgent and wounding another who ran to a different part of the house. Staff Sergeant Bellavia, realizing he had an un-cleared, darkened room to his back, moved to clear it. As he entered, an insurgent came down the stairs firing at him. Simultaneously, the previously wounded insurgent reemerged and engaged Staff Sergeant Bellavia. Staff Sergeant Bellavia, entering further into the darkened room, returned fire and eliminated both insurgents. Staff Sergeant Bellavia then received enemy fire from another insurgent emerging from a closet in the darkened room. Exchanging gunfire, Staff Sergeant Bellavia pursued the enemy up the stairs and eliminated him. Now on the second floor, Staff Sergeant Bellavia moved to a door that opened onto the roof. At this point, a fifth insurgent leaped from the third-floor roof onto the second-floor roof. Staff Sergeant Bellavia engaged the insurgent through a window, wounding him in the back and legs, and causing him to fall off the roof. Acting on instinct to save the members of his platoon from an imminent threat, Staff Sergeant Bellavia ultimately cleared an entire enemy-filled house, destroyed four insurgents, and badly wounded a fifth. Staff Sergeant Bellavia’s bravery, complete disregard for his own safety, and unselfish and courageous actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States.