David W. Zeoli

US Army /

David W. Zeoli

On the hot and sunny day of 2 April 2003, Bravo Company 3rd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (AASLT), was moving on a search and attack mission through the city of An Najaf, Iraq. The company’s mission was to locate and destroy any pocket of enemy resistance within their sector. While the lead elements of Bravo Company were crossing an open area, they came under intense enemy fire from a platoon size enemy force shooting from buildings to their front and sniper fire to their left flank.
As the Squad leader for the lead element, SSG Zeoli’s squad received enemy fire. Suddenly automatic weapons fire grazed just feet in front of his point man as distance and direction of the enemy was called out by his lead fire team leader. Immediately, SSG Zeoli maneuvered his squad under heavy fire to covered positions and laid down suppressive fire gaining fire superiority. SSG Zeoli observed multiple enemy targets ranging throughout a 5 builing block with one automatic weapon in tripod mode positioned in the left most building. Enemy personnel included three to four man elements spread throughout the remainder of the buildings all carrying small arms weapons, a two man sniper team in the window of the last building, as well as armed para-military personnel moving behind civillians. SSG Zeoli and his alpha team leader, without hesitation, moved to and exposed themselves into a position where they could see the two snipers. Both SSG Zeoli and SGT Goddard were armed with AT-4’s and volley fired them at the wall concealing the enemy snipers. The impact of the AT4’s destroyed the enemy snipers saving the remaining personnel in the platoon and follow-on elements of the company.
SSG Zeoli’s actions enabled Bravo Company to totally eliminate the enemy threat, which resulted in Bravo Company successfully completing its mission without sustaining a single friendly casualty.
For his actions SSG David W. Zeoli received the Bronze Star Medal for Valor.
His citation reads:
For Valorous Achievement during combat operations as a squad leader on 2 April 2003 in An Najaf, Iraq. While under intense enemy fire, Staff Sergeant Zeoli was able to maneuver his squad to a position to lay down suppressive fire, thus gaining fire superiority. Upon elimination of the threat, Staff Sergeant Zeoli, without hesitation, exposed his position to detroy two concealed enemy snipers. His actions enabled Bravo Company to completely eliminate the enemy threat which resulted which resulted in Bravo Company successfully Completing its mission without sustaining a single friendly casualty. Staff Sergeant Zeoli’s Heroism, Professionalism, and selfless servicereflect great credit upon him, the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and the United States Army.
SSG Zeoli, has since retired and now lives in Kailua Kona, HI.

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