The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Master Chief Boatswain’s Mate (SEAL) ***** *****, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy as Leading Chief Petty Officer of a unit conducting combat operations against Iraqi paramilitary forces to rescue a U.S. Prisoner of War (POW) on 1 April 2003. Master Chief Petty Officer ***** led his elite unit in a bold raid on a known Saddam Fedayeeh stronghold where U.S. prisoners were being held. Master Chief Petty Officer *****’s orders were to rescue the U.S. soldier and enable a battalion sized force to clear a large Iraqi paramilitary force that had been using the Saddam Hospital as a staging base in the town of An Nasiriyah. Serving as the vanguard of the U.S. attack, Master Chief Petty Officer ***** led his squadron in a brilliant surgical air and ground assault to seize key areas of the hospital, then gleaned information from detained personnel to rapidly direct his force to the U.S. soldier. Locating the wounded U.S. POW, his team administered immediate medical care and transported the soldier to an awaiting helicopter and freedom. The strategic significance of the first successful rescue of a U. S. POW since World War II was profound as it devastated Iraqi resolve and bolstered U.S. and international support for the campaign. By his bold leadership, wise judgment, and complete dedication to duty, Master Chief Petty Officer ***** reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.