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 Gary Villalobos, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action in the face of the enemy of the United States s the Mortar Section Sergeant, Troop F, 2d Squadron, 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, Forward Operating Base Sykes, on 7 June 2005, during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. On 7 June 2005 at approximately 0930 hours, Sergeant First Class Villalobos’ courage under fire, tactical discipline, and weapons proficiency destroyed an enemy attack position and prevented an American Lieutenant Colonel from being captured by insurgents. During a Squadron Operation in Tall’ Afar, Iraq, that consisted of several raids and a movement to contact by multiple units, Sergeant First Class Villalobos was tasked to follow and assist an Iraqi Army Platoon consisting of 17 soldiers and members from the attached AST unit, including a Lieutenant Colonel Crowe and a Sergeant First Class Washington. During the raid on the first target, Sergeant First Class Washington was injured, leaving only Sergeant First Class Villalobos and LTC Crowe to continue with the mission along side the Iraqi Army Platoon. As the Squadron came into heavy contact from hand grenades, an IED (Improvised Explosive Device), RPGs (Rocket Propelled Grenades), and machine gun fire, Sergeant First Class Villalobos was given the order to move a squad of his Iraqi Army (IA) platoon to a Support by Fire Position along a known deadly alleyway owned by the insurgents. Sergeant First Class Villalobos and LTC Crowe quickly responded to the call and maneuvered an IA squad (approximately 12 Iraqi soldiers) and one interpreter, forward down the dangerous alleyway to gain a better position to support other troops in contact. While traveling to the SFB, vicinity KF720283, the team maneuvered around a corner and approximately five insurgents initiated a small arms ambush. The first two IA soldiers and Lieutenant Colonel Crowe came under a hail of gunfire. Lieutenant Colonel Crowe was hit numerous times in the lower abdomen and fell in the alley approximately ten meters in front of Sergeant First Class Villalobos. As Sergeant First Class Villalobos moved forward and returned fire, all but two IA soldiers retreated to the safety of a nearby street. Sergeant First Class Villalobos immediately began to simultaneously report the downed officer and return fire with his M4 carbine. He attempted to gain fire superiority with the two remaining IA soldiers, but with the lack of a translator, the IA soldiers would only return fire when Sergeant First Class Villalobos was firing, which prevented him from moving into the kill zone and retrieve the downed American officer. As the engagement continued and Sergeant First Class Villalobos emptied his first magazine, he called for armor support and threw a well-placed grenade onto the enemy fighting position, killing at least one insurgent and defeating the others. Sergeant First Class Villalobos then moved into the kill sack and evacuated Lieutenant Colonel Crowe to the arriving Bradley Fighting Vehicle. The body of Lieutenant Colonel Crowe could have been captured by the enemy had it not been for Sergeant First Class Villalobos’ actions. Because of extreme displays of valor and tactical proficiency, Sergeant First Class Villalobos defeated the enemy and retrieved the body of Lieutenant Colonel Crowe. On 7 June 2005 Sergeant First Class Villalobos displayed the warrior’s ethos by never leaving a fallen comrade behind. His actions are in keeping withy the finest traditions of military heroism and reflect distinct credit upon himself, the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen, and the United States Army.