(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: 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 Major Lawrence Theodore Boivin, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in connection with military operations against the enemy while serving with the U.S. Special Operations Command in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 26 April 2004. While providing training and support to a small Marine contingency, Sergeant Major Boivin’s unit was attacked from several locations by a large massing enemy force. During the first minutes of the attack, 50 percent of the Marine forces were incapacitated. During the initial attack, RPG rounds were impacting all around him and he was hit by shrapnel from an RPG round in close proximity to his location. During the attack he withstood several penetrating wounds to the left side of his head, legs and buttock. After regaining composure, he fought back with the remaining Marines until wounded again by a fragmentation grenade. Later, with a comrade, he provided covering support to allow the Marines to evacuate the wounded. Once all of the wounded Marines were safe or moving back to a safe location, Sergeant Major Boivin and his teammate bounded back toward the Marine Forward Operating Base (FOB) while continuing to provide covering fire for our Marines until the rest made it back to safety. Sergeant Major Boivin’s gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, this Command, and the United States Army.