Captain Matthew D. Roland, a 27-year-old male, was a Special Tactics Officer in the U.S. Air Force. On August 26, 2015, he was in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, nearing the end of his third deployment. On that day, he was driving the lead vehicle of a special forces convoy returning to Camp Antonik. As they approached the final of three Afghan-led security checkpoints, the convoy's interpreter got out to coordinate their passage.
Two individuals in Afghan National Defense and Security
Forces uniforms were at the checkpoint. After initially granting the convoy permission to pass, their intentions turned hostile. One of the guards moved towards a fortified bunker equipped with a machine gun, while the other approached the driver's side of the vehicle where Captain Roland was seated. When the guard was just a few feet away, he began to raise his rifle.
Recognizing the imminent danger of an insider attack, Captain Roland immediately took action to protect the others in the convoy. He yelled 'insider attack, insider attack!' into his radio to alert all personnel. Simultaneously, he put the vehicle in reverse to move it away from the gunman. However, the attacker opened fire, with the initial burst coming through the front of the vehicle. Captain Roland was killed instantly. Another American airman, Staff Sgt. Forrest Sibley, was also killed in the attack.
Captain Roland’s warning and his attempt to move the vehicle gave the other service members in the convoy precious seconds to react. They were able to take cover, draw their weapons, and neutralize both gunmen before they could inflict more casualties. His heroic actions are credited with saving the lives of his teammates. For his bravery, Captain Roland was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.
