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First Name: Mark

Last Name: Resh

Birthplace: Allentown, PA, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Army (1784 - present)



Home of Record: Fogelsville, PA
Middle Name: T.



Date of Birth: 22 July 1978

Date of Death: 28 January 2007

Rank: Captain

Years Served: 2001 - 2007
Mark T. Resh

   
Engagements:
•  Iraq War (Operation Iraqi Freedom) (2003 - 2011)

Biography:

Mark T. Resh
Captain, U.S. Army

Mark T. Resh was a 1996 graduate of Northwestern Lehigh High School in Allentown, PA, where he was a member of the National Honor Society, Math Club, Student Council and captain of the varsity soccer team his senior year. He attended the University of Pittsburgh with a full ROTC scholarship where he graduated Summa Cum Laude, with a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering in 2001.

On 28 January 2007, then-Captain Mark T. Resh was serving as Pilot of an AH-64D Longbow Apache Helicopter with the 4th Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

On that day, CPT Resh and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Cornell C. Chao [Honoree Record ID 6726] responded to coalition troops in contact with enemy forces near the city of An Najaf, Iraq. Facing an unknown enemy and unclear friendly situation, CPT Resh and CW3 Chao quickly developed the situation with their team, working with United States Special Operations Forces and United States Air Force Joint Terminal Attack Controllers to determine the Coalition force positions and formulate a plan of attack against an adaptable, well armed, dug-in enemy. At approximately 1317 hours, CPT Resh and CW3 Chao's team bravely made its initial attack into the target area. They quickly realized that their wingman, the lead aircraft, was in a perilous position, as friendly ground forces reported that their team of Apaches was being engaged by heavy machine gun fire and rocket propelled grenades. Without hesitation, CPT Resh and CW3 Chao maneuvered their aircraft to attack the enemy positions that were engaging their team, and their Coalition brothers on the ground. During this attack CPT Resh and CW3 Chao's wingman reported taking fire from a truck-mounted heavy machine gun. Without hesitation, CPT Resh and CW3 Chao oriented towards the enemy and began searching for the heavy machine gun that was engaging their wingman. With great skill, they descended to clear their own fires away from their wingman's aircraft and draw the enemy's attention away from their comrades. As the trail aircraft of the team, their mission was to cover their wingman and they completed that mission without regard to their own safety. CPT Resh and CW3 Chao placed their aircraft squarely in the enemy's line of fire. Under a fusillade of enemy fire, they kept their aircraft oriented on the target, returning fire until their wingman was safely out of danger. This successfully gave their wingman the time and space necessary to maneuver clear of the engagement area until CPT Resh and CW3 Chao and their aircraft were mortally wounded by the relentless enemy fire, at approximately 1330 hours. CPT Resh and CW3 Chao selflessly gave their lives to protect their wingman and the Coalition forces on the ground they were supporting. Their courage in the skies of An Najaf greatly contributed to the success of the Multi-National Division-Baghdad that day. CPT Resh and CW3 Chao’s courageous actions that day earned them, at the cost of their lives, the U.S. Army's third highest award for valor, the Silver Star Medal.

Medals, Awards and Badges (Partial List)

Silver Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
Air Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal with 2 Bronze Stars
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Army Aviator Badge

Silver Star Medal Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Captain Mark T. Resh, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as Pilot of an AH-64D Longbow Apache Helicopter with the 4th Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, during combat operations in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, on 28 January 2007, near An Najaf, Iraq. On that date, Captain Resh was dispatched to the city of An Najaf to assist and support coalition troops who had come in contact with enemy forces. Arriving support aircraft was attacked with heavy machine gun fire and rocket propelled grenades and Captain Resh placed his helicopter in the direct line of enemy fire so that another air crew that was under attack could maneuver out of danger. Over the next fifteen minutes he bravely flew in the face of intense enemy fire to support the coalition ground forces until his aircraft was struck and crashed, killing Captain Resh. Captain Resh's gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Burial

Captain Mark T. Resh is buried at Cedar Hill Memorial Park in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17753580/mark-t_-resh



Honoree ID: 6725   Created by: MHOH

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