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 First Class Ray A. Plasterer, II, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity during combat operations against an armed enemy of the United States while serving as an Assistant Team Sergeant with the Regimental Special Troops Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, as part of a Joint Task Force, on 10 May 2008, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan. After Sergeant First Class Plasterer’s patrol came under ambush from two positions, he moved under heavy enemy fire through an open area and into the kill zone to reach his vehicle to radio for immediate close air support and medical evacuation of wounded personnel. Seeing his radio was inoperable and that he was pinned down in the vehicle, he drove it in reverse back to his five-man squad until the truck was disabled. He again braved intense small arms fire to link up with his squad and passed critical information to the Ground Force Commander. His tactical decision-making put his unit into a position which allowed them to engage the enemy with deadly precision, maintain fire superiority, and allow the remainder of the force to enter the large building and destroy the last of the enemy combatants. Throughout the two-hour fight, his courage and heroism saved numerous lives and led to a decisive victory and the death of twenty-two combatants. Sergeant First Class Plasterer’s distinctive accomplishments are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Joint Task Force, and the United States Army.