Jarion Halbisen-Gibbs
Jarion Halbisen-Gibbs
Jarion Halbisen-Gibbs was born in Peterborough, New Hampshire, and moved to Michigan as a young boy. He enlisted in the Army in October 2002, attended the rigorous Special Forces Qualification Course, and earned the right to become a Special Forces Green Beret. While deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2007, Jarion was involved a combat operation seeking to capture an enemy high-value target who was involved in numerous kidnappings, murders, and other terrorist activities throughout the region. Jarion’s small unit, consisting of three Green Berets and several Iraqi military personnel, entered a complex of three buildings to find their objective, and immediately came under intense enemy fire. Clearing a nearby building of enemy combatants, they attempted to continue the mission, but came under more enemy fire from another building. After eliminating that threat, the small band proceeded to the second building, entered it, and eliminated two enemy soldiers, but the remaining enemy returned fire and severely wounded two of the Green Berets. Despite their wounds, both men and Sergeant Halbisen-Gibbs continued the fight until an enemy grenade wounded them once again.
This time Jarion was also wounded. All three continued to engage the enemy from their positions. After eliminating additional enemy combatants who attempted to finish off the severely wounded Americans, Halbisen-Gibbs moved toward the final building. Moving through the courtyard, and ignoring his injuries, he was once again struck by small-arms fire, and hit in the stomach with the bullet exiting his hip. Nevertheless, he continued the fight, rallied the remaining allied troops, and eliminated the remaining enemy forces. Staff Sergeant Halbisen-Gibbs was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism under fire. This award for valor is second only to the Medal of Honor.