The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal Jake Aaron Hill, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as Fire Team Leader, Company L, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, Regimental Combat Team 2, FIRST Marine Division (Forward), I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) Afghanistan, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. On 16 September 2010, Lance Corporal Hill’s squad struck an improvised explosive device and came under heavy machine gun and rocket propelled grenade fire while entering a compound, causing multiple casualties. Without hesitation, he directed the fires of his team onto the enemy firing points and moved from a covered position to engage the enemy with an AT-4 rocket. When the rocket misfired, he returned to his personal weapon and suppressed the enemy position. One of his team members was then seriously wounded by a rocket propelled grenade. Exposing himself to enemy fire a second time, he ran to the Marine, applied first aid and led the rest of his team through 200 meters of fire-swept terrain to extract the casualty. He then returned to the improvised explosive device site and repositioned his team to suppress the enemy positions. After assessing the situation, he led his team to extract a mortally wounded Afghan National Army soldier, returned a third time to evacuate his unconscious squad leader, and then fought his way to a position to suppress the enemy firing point, relieving the remainder of his squad to maneuver and eliminate enemy positions. His courageous actions under fire directly contributed to the overall success of Company L. By his zealous initiative, courageous actions, and exceptional dedication to duty, Lance Corporal Hill reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.