The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Nicholas Brandau, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy as Squad Leader, Company D, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, Regimental Combat Team 6, FIRST Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM from 22 to 27 June 2012. Sergeant Brandau participated in an air assault into a known enemy stronghold in the village of Qaleh-he Gaz. Shortly after departing the landing zone, his squad was attacked by a high volume of medium machinegun and indirect fire. Sergeant Brandau exposed himself to the enemy fire to accurately employ his weapon, enabling his Marines to maneuver to the cover of a nearby compound. While fortifying a patrol base, his platoon was attacked by grenades, small arms, medium machinegun, and indirect fire. Exposed on the compound roof, Sergeant Brandau engaged the enemy with two grenades thrown in between bursts of medium machinegun fire, and forced the enemy to withdraw. On another occasion, a member of his platoon fell wounded 200 meters outside the patrol base, and Sergeant Brandau organized an aid and litter team and sprinted 200 meters through enemy fire to the fallen Marine. He then directed the suppressive fire that would enable the litter team to carry the casualty back to the patrol base. The attacks initiated on the first day were unrelenting and continued throughout the six-day operation. By the end of the operation, Sergeant Brandau had led his Marines through a total of 23 intense direct fire engagements. By his bold initiative, undaunted courage, and complete dedication to duty, Sergeant Brandau reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.