The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Matthew T. Woodall, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy as a Squad Leader with 3d Platoon, Company B, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, Regimental Combat Team 8, SECOND Marine Division (Forward) on 10 and 11 July 2011, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Corporal Woodall led his squad on a security mission in the insurgent stronghold of Kotozay Village when a platoon-sized enemy force initiated a firefight from several fortified positions. Corporal Woodall rushed his squad forward when enemy fire wounded the Marine directly in front of him. Exposed and under a hail of enemy fire, he laid down suppressive fires and shielded the wounded Marine with his body until a Corpsman arrived. After ensuring his wounded Marine was properly cared for, he led an assault on the nearest enemy compound and repelled repeated enemy assaults from his flank with light anti-armor weapons and small arms fire. When the enemy engaged and pinned down the squad sent to reinforce Corporal Woodall, he again led his men in a counterattack through multiple compounds. After receiving several reports of an enemy force massing to attack, Corporal Woodall led his men as they crawled through a cornfield for more than an hour to ambush the enemy force. Taking the enemy by surprise, the withering fire from Corporal Woodall’s squad drove the enemy from the village after more than seven hours of combat. Corporal Woodall’s daring actions soundly defeated the enemy attack while ultimately killing four insurgents and wounding many others. By his bold initiative, undaunted courage, and complete dedication to duty, Corporal Woodall reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.