David G. Bellavia

Clearing a fortified house to protect his troops in Fallujah

David G. Bellavia was born in Buffalo, New York, on 10 November 1975 and grew up in western New York. He attended Franklin Pierce University and the University at Buffalo before enlisting in the Army in June 1999. An infantryman, he served in Kosovo before deploying to Iraq.

David Bellavia served as an Army staff sergeant and squad leader in the 2d Battalion, 2d Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. On 10 November 2004, during Operation Phantom Fury in Fallujah, Iraq, enemy fire trapped a squad inside a house. Bellavia entered with an automatic weapon and provided covering fire that enabled the soldiers to withdraw. When a supporting Bradley could not engage the position, he returned to the house. He stopped an insurgent preparing a rocket attack and continued clearing the building under fire. His Medal of Honor recognized actions that removed an immediate threat to his platoon.

Bellavia left the Army in August 2005. He cofounded Vets for Freedom, returned to Iraq as an embedded reporter in 2006 and 2008, and published his memoir House to House in 2007. On 25 June 2019, President Donald J. Trump presented him with the Medal of Honor at the White House. The award upgraded his Silver Star for the Fallujah action.

Medal of Honor 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 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 leapt 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 caused 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.