(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 Staff Sergeant David S. Anderson, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Section Leader with 1st Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, during combat operations in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, at Ramadi, Iraq, on 24 September 2006. When a dismounted team was attacked during an operation and several men were wounded, Staff Sergeant Anderson’s section leader, Staff Sergeant Jason P. Trumpower led his Bradley Fighting Vehicle in an attempt to evacuate the Soldiers after a tank accompanying him had trouble negotiating the narrow streets. The vehicle was hit by an IED, disabling it and critically wounding the driver and pinning Staff Sergeant Trumpower in the vehicle, whereupon he maintained security and notified higher headquarters of the situation. Staff Sergeant Anderson, who was also responding to the call for aid in his Bradley Fighting Vehicle, linked up with Staff Sergeant Trumpower and began evacuating the crew as another vehicle dealt with the dismounted casualties. He was directing his vehicle back to Camp Ramadi when it, too, was disabled by an IED, wounding five inside. The explosion knocked out communications and caused a fire in the rear compartment. Staff Sergeant Anderson, who had been outside checking his gunner and driver, attempted to let down the rear ramp and the troop door, but both were jammed. Staff Sergeant Trumpower, with severe wounds to his hands and face, tried to get the cargo hatch open. With Staff Sergeant Anderson’s help, the two men were able to open it wide enough to evacuate the vehicle. Another soldier, although also wounded and disoriented by the flames, found the fire-suppression handle and doused the blaze long enough for everyone to escape. Once everyone was out, Staff Sergeant Anderson took a rifle from the vehicle and single-handedly made sure there were no insurgents within a nearby building, while Staff Sergeant Trumpower guarded the wounded and a medic evaluated and stabilized them. After they moved the wounded into the building, Staff Sergeant Anderson attempted to retrieve a radio and smoke grenade to signal their location, only to find both destroyed in the vehicle. Knowing the wounded driver was going into shock and could bleed to death without immediate evacuation, he ran about 400 meters to try and get the attention of a nearby tank crew. Unable to get the attention of the tank, he ran farther down the road to wave down a Bradley Fighting Vehicle, then led it back to the wounded Soldiers, and subsequently supervised the loading of his men. Staff Sergeant Anderson’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 1st Armored Division, and the United States Army.