(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: 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 pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Sean M. Boerrigter, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as a Squad Leader with Troop H, 1st Squadron, 73d Cavalry Regiment, 2d Brigade Combat Team, 82d Airborne Division, in action in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in Iraq, in March 2007. After Sergeant Boerrigter’s platoon found a large weapons cache along the Tigris River, the Platoon Leader left him and a three-man element behind to provide overwatch on the cache. The rest of the platoon headed back to the patrol base to wait for Explosive Ordnance Disposal to arrive so that the cache could safely be destroyed. While guarding the cache, Sergeant Boerrigter heard a grenade being armed, and then observed it landing a few feet from him before bouncing and coming to rest in the center of the group of soldiers. Before the grenade could detonate, Sergeant Boerrigter grabbed it, threw it into his fighting position and attempted to roll out. Although wounded in the subsequent blast, Sergeant Boerrigter remained calm to report to his platoon leader what was happening. As the battle raged, his squad came under heavy machine gun fire from both sides of the river. After an hour and a half, with assistance from aviation and mortar support, his squad was able to withdraw to the patrol base, at which time Sergeant Boerrigter was evacuated for treatment. Sergeant Boerrigter’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, the 82d Airborne Division, and the United States Army.