The Distinguished Service Cross is the second-highest military decoration for valor, behind only the Medal of Honor. SSG Waiters' award was one of only two DSCs awarded to soldiers of the 2d Infantry Division since 1975.
On the morning of 5 April 2007, during clearance operations in Old Baqubah, a Bradley Fighting Vehicle was struck by a vehicle-borne IED and set ablaze with its crew trapped inside. Specialist Christopher B. Waiters — the senior line medic for Attack Company (A Co, 5-20), later promoted to Staff Sergeant — was riding in a Medical Evacuation Stryker (MEV) that responded alongside the company executive officer, 1LT Timothy Price. The instant they arrived, the MEV came under small-arms fire from multiple directions. Waiters moved his vehicle into a security position, engaged two armed insurgents attempting to flee, then dismounted and ran nearly 90 yards through heavy fire to reach the burning Bradley — he later recalled counting seventeen shooters along the street before the fear caught up with him.
He climbed onto the vehicle, forced open the driver's hatch, and pulled out the disoriented driver, then went back for the vehicle commander and dragged him clear of the flames. He treated both and evacuated them to his Stryker. Learning a third crewman was still inside, Waiters re-entered the burning Bradley — driven back when the 25mm ammunition began cooking off, then forcing his way in again. He found the third soldier dead and went for a body bag so the man would not be left behind; by the time he returned, another medic had taken charge of the scene, and Waiters evacuated the two wounded in his MEV.
Waiters had already survived a string of near-misses that deployment and had earned a Purple Heart on the battalion's first tour (3 July 2004). He first heard of the award recommendation in August 2007 as the battalion prepared to redeploy — "I had to go look up the picture of a DSC on the Internet," he said. The award was approved in August 2008 and presented at Fort Lewis on 23 October 2008 by the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, GEN Peter Chiarelli. By Army accounts it was the 17th Distinguished Service Cross of the post-9/11 wars and the first awarded to a Fort Lewis–based soldier.
"Specialist Christopher B. Waiters, United States Army, distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous conduct in the performance of outstanding service to the United States as a Senior Medic, Alpha Company, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, Baqubah, Iraq, on 5 April 2007 during clearance operation in Old Baqubah."
"While other Soldiers were attempting to extinguish the fire, Specialist Waiters once again ran back to the BFV and climbed onto it but due to the flames, could not enter the vehicle from the top. He then hastily jumped down from the vehicle and attempted to enter from the back. Specialist Waiters climbed into the troop compartment of the Bradley and attempted to locate the trapped Soldier. While inside, 25-mm. ammunition began cooking off forcing a hasty egress by Specialist Waiters. Yet again, he courageously reentered the vehicle and immediately, Specialist Waiters found the remains of the now deceased American Soldier. Specialist Waiters then climbed from the BFV, ran back to the MEV and secured a body bag. Upon his return to the scene, another medic had taken charge which allowed Specialist Waiters to evacuate the two casualties in his Stryker."
"Specialist Waiters' personal courage, uncommon valor and selfless service directly contributed to the safety and evacuation of two wounded and the recovery of one fallen Soldier. His actions reflect great credit upon himself, the 20th Infantry Regiment, Multi-National Division-North, and the United States Army."
SGT Jason R. Harkins — Posthumous Silver Star for actions during the May 6, 2007 engagement in Baqubah in which he was killed. Additional Silver Star recipients from the battalion are being documented.
Multiple soldiers across all four deployments received the Bronze Star with "V" device for valor in combat. A complete roster is being compiled from unit records and veteran accounts.
Several soldiers were wounded across multiple deployments, earning more than one Purple Heart:
| Name | Awards | Details |
|---|---|---|
| SGT Jacob Herring | 2 Purple Hearts | Wounded 8 Feb 2004. KIA 28 Apr 2004. Second award posthumous. |
| SSG Jesse Williams | 2 Purple Hearts | Wounded 14 Oct 2004 (Deployment 1). KIA 8 Apr 2007 (Deployment 2). |
| SSG Todd Selge | 2 Purple Hearts | Shot twice during Deployment 2 (2006–07). KIA 3 Sep 2009 (Deployment 3). |
| SSG Christopher Waiters | Purple Heart + DSC | Wounded 3 Jul 2004 (Deployment 1). DSC 5 Apr 2007 (Deployment 2). |