(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 Master Sergeant Thomas S. Ballard, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Military Transition Team 0810, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, during combat operations in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, on 28 and 29 January 2007. On that date, Iraqi soldiers of the 1st Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Division, were killed in action against enemy insurgents and their brigade commander reported that he was taking fire and needed help. Believing that the enemy force was no larger than 15 or 20 militants, 12 paratroops of the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) went to their aid. As the reinforcements reached the site of the ongoing battle, they witnessed an AH-64 Apache helicopter fall from the sky. Immediately their mission changed and they moved to the downed chopper to protect the wreckage and look for the pilots. As the paratroopers reached the crash site they drove on a road parallel to the downed helicopter with Maser Sergeant Ballard’s vehicle in the lead. Master Sergeant Ballard was ordered to pull onto the far side while the rest of the convoy remained on the side opposite him. As the team commanders vehicle pulled into an open area, it began receiving heavy machine gun fire and an RPG was launched against it. It quickly became obvious that the enemy force was much larger than originally estimated, and a heavy fire fight ensued. After a three- hour battle more than 265 enemy bodies were found and more than 400 militants surrendered. Master Sergeant Ballard’s actions on the day of the fight and the following day were phenomenal. His dedication to the mission, his disregard for the enemy threat, and his lead from the front attitude was an inspiration to all of his men. Master Sergeant Ballard’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, the 25th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.