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 pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Sergeant First Class Kenneth Warren Westbrook, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in connection with military operations against the enemy while serving with the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, in action in the Ganjgal Valley, Afghanistan, on 8 September 2009, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan. When his unit composed of American and Afghan personnel was ambushed by insurgents with rocket-propelled grenades, mortars, and machine gun fire, Sergeant First Class Westbrook placed himself in the line of enemy fire while firing back and marking enemy positions with tracer fire. His actions allowed the Afghan National Army and the Afghan Border Police to eliminate several enemy positions, although was himself seriously wounded during the battle. Sergeant First Class Westbrook’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, his unit, and the United States Army.