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 First Class Jonathan M. Lustig, United States Army, for gallantry in action in connection with military operations against a hostile force in the country of Iraq, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Sergeant First Class Lustig distinguished himself while serving as a Platoon Sergeant with Company A, 4th Battalion, 64th Armored Regiment, 2d Brigade Combat Team, 3d Infantry Division. On the evening of 8 April 2003, Company A, 4-64 Armor was established in a company perimeter around the Presidential Palace in Central Baghdad. Sergeant First Class Lustig’s tank section was positioned on the north side of the Palace in an Observation Post tasked to observe and report any enemy movement from the north. At approximately 1230 Z Sergeant First Class Lustig sent a report stating that he was observing over 30 enemy dismounted soldiers moving south down the Palace Road towards the company perimeter. Additionally, Sergeant First Class Lustig reported the enemy was armed with numerous RPG-7s, AK-47s, and assorted shoulder-fired AT weapons. This rapid development of the situation and accurate reporting prevented the Task Force Headquarters from being surprised, and allowed the company to quickly organize for combat prior to detection by enemy forces. Sergeant First Class Lustig recommended that he not engage the approaching enemy until the company was prepared to fight, because the enemy was still outside of effective RPG range and he would continue to observe and report. At 1240Z Sergeant First Class Lustig reported that the enemy was quickly approaching effective RPG range and he was going to reposition his section to the east to prevent the enemy from maneuvering against the company’s exposed right flank near the palace entrance wall. When his tank section began to reposition an enemy RPG-7 team engaged Sergeant First Class Lustig’s tank from within 100 meters hitting and disabling the vehicle’s turret. Without delay he exposed himself to heavy enemy fire engaging the enemy nearest his tank with a .50 caliber machine gun immediately killing three enemy dismounts preparing to fire rockets at the Presidential Palace. Next, realizing that his tank turret could not traverse, Sergeant First Class Lustig ordered his driver to pivot steer left and right suppressing the remaining enemy with his tank’s machine guns, killing four additional enemy soldiers. When the company began to maneuver along Palace Road his tank was the lead tank in the company for the initial phase. Although his turret could not traverse he continued to fight his tank, including engaging and destroying one enemy RPG bunker with an MPAT main gun round. Sergeant First Class Lustig’s heroic actions, personal bravery, and exemplary devotion to the unit blocked an unexpected enemy counterattack and provided valuable time to allow the unit to successfully engage and destroy the remaining enemy forces. His actions are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, 3d Infantry Division “Rock of the Marne,” and the United States Army.