Capt. Matthew D. Roland, a U.S. Air Force Special Tactics officer, was posthumously awarded the Silver Star this week for his heroic actions in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. On August 26, 2015, Capt. Roland was in the lead vehicle in a convoy of U.S. Army Special Forces when it was attacked at the final Afghan-led security check point outside of Camp Antonik. He was able to notify the convoy of an ‘inside attack’ over the radio and put the vehicle in reverse prior to being fatally wounded by M4 fire. He did not hesitate in reacting to the immediate threat and in doing so gave his teammates enough time to react to the ambush. Staff Sgt. Forrest Sibley, Special Tactics combat controller, also died in the same incident.

 

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The 24th Special Operations Wing has provided more details of Capt. Roland and his heroic actions: