The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal David M. Gerardi, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as a Reconnaissance Marine, 1st Platoon, Company B, Third Reconnaissance Battalion, SECOND Marine Division (Forward), II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) Afghanistan, on 6 June 2011 in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. While on patrol, Corporal Gerardi’s platoon was ambushed by four enemy positions across 180 degrees to their front. The platoon was quickly pinned down in a wadi and unable to extricate itself. On his own initiative and despite intense enemy fire, he crossed open, fire swept terrain to a position behind a two and a half foot stonewall, offering him a clear line of sight on to the enemy positions. Corporal Gerardi’s ability to gain positive identification of the first fortified enemy position allowed him to suppress an enemy machinegun with precision fires long enough for an adjacent team to extract an Afghan National Army casualty from open terrain. Now with a tremendous amount of intense enemy machinegun, Rocket-Propelled Grenade and automatic grenade launcher fire impacting all around his position, he coordinated suppression with an another team, then fired a Light Antitank Assault rocket and reduced a second enemy position, facilitating the coordination of aerial and rocket artillery fires that impacted within 100 meters of his position. His stalwart determination and vigilance continued throughout the five-hour engagement, allowing him to continue to prosecute targets with precision fires and enable his unit to exfiltrate after nightfall. By his bold initiative, undaunted courage, and complete dedication to duty, Corporal Gerardi reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.