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 Second Lieutenant James L. McCormick, II, United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 1487th Transportation Company, 112th Transportation Battalion, on 11 April 2004 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Second Lieutenant McCormick, without regard for his life and while exposed to continuous enemy fire, suffering two separate gun shot wounds to the hand and leg in previous engagements and a third gun shot absorbed by his SAPI-Chest plate, led the defense of a logistical staging area in Baghdad under intense enemy direct and indirect fire. Seeing a section of the perimeter exposed and under attack, Second Lieutenant McCormick led Soldiers to a position to prevent enemy penetration of the compound. Posting himself in the gunner’s hatch of his M998 HMMWV for command and control he led Soldiers of various units within the compound into defensive positions. Second Lieutenant McCormick’s exceptional gallantry, courage and leadership saved hundreds of lives, protected critical military assets and inflicted heavy casualties upon the enemy. His conspicuous gallantry, intrepidity and superior leadership are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1487th Transportation Company, the 112th Transportation Battalion and the United States Army.