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 Jerad D. Eldred, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action on 26 August 2006, while serving as Medical Sergeant, for Operational Detachment Alpha 336 (ODA-336), 1st Battalion, 3d Special Forces Group (Airborne), Firebase Maholic, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, during combat operations in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. As a member of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force Afghanistan, his personal courage and commitment to mission accomplishment in a combat zone, under the most extreme circumstances, greatly contributed to the success of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Staff Sergeant Eldred distinguished himself through exceptional leadership and valor during Operation MEDUSA. Staff Sergeant Eldred’s actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of Military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, Special Operations Command Central, and the United States Army.