The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Frankie J. Shinost, Jr., United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy as Joint Terminal Controller, Company B, First Marine Special Operations Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, from 10 to 11 July 2010 in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. When a friendly platoon became pinned down by combined arms from a fortified enemy position, Staff Sergeant Shinost left his covered position and made his way to an elevated rooftop. Under heavy small arms and accurate sniper fire, he expertly guided close air support and scored a direct hit on the position, eliminating at least eight enemy and severely wounding several others. The next morning one of his team’s elements was ambushed and was pinned down in the open. Unhesitatingly, Staff Sergeant Shinost and three others fearlessly rushed directly into the enemy’s fire, and assaulted their positions. Calling in A-10 close air support with pinpoint precision, he destroyed all enemy positions to his front. He then sprinted 150 meters over open terrain through a hail of enemy fire in order to mark the landing zone for a critical medical evacuation, and continued to direct danger-close air attacks to suppress and destroy the enemy. By his bold initiative, undaunted courage, and complete dedication to duty, Staff Sergeant Shinost reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.