(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 Brandon A. Zylstra, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with the 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82d Airborne Division, during combat operations in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, on 10 April 2007, in Iraq. Staff Sergeant Zylstra and his platoon, part of the quick reaction force, found themselves responsible for hauling a supply trailer to their fellow paratroopers, who were in contact with the enemy in the Al Fadhl neighborhood of eastern Baghdad. En route they found their route blocked by a jackknifed vehicle and immediately started taking enemy fire. With nowhere to go, Staff Sergeant Zylstra dismounted the vehicle and quickly positioned himself and his paratroopers to start moving forward. Despite being completely exposed, he stood in the street and positioned his paratroopers, while exchanging fire with the enemy for over a minute. The platoon quickly took their first casualty and Staff Sergeant Zylstra ran to administer first aid, with two other paratroopers following his lead to provide security. Enemy fire soon struck both of the paratroopers pulling security, and Staff Sergeant Zylstra provided medical care to all of them and tried to keep them in a safe location, but the present location was still under heavy attack. After dragging the most serious casualty to safety, he disregarded the hail of bullets around him and ran back to the original site to retrieve the weapon of the original casualty. With enemy fire still erupting around him, he again sprinted back to his fellow injured Paratroopers, this time firing both weapons at the enemy at the same time. Again he crossed the bullet-pocked street to check on a casualty, while directing fire from a crew served weapon to position his Paratroopers for the fastest exit when possible. His actions not only saved the two lives of the wounded paratroopers, but by directing the gunners he opened up an avenue of approach to get them out of the area as well. Staff Sergeant Zylstra’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.