The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Hospitalman Zackery Penner, United States Navy, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force while serving as Corpsman, 1st Platoon, Company B, First Battalion, EIGHTH Marines, Regimental Combat Team 6, FIRST Marine Division (Forward), I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), from 22 June 2012 to 26 June 2012 in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. On 22 June 2012, during Phase V of Operation JAWS, a Marine was severely wounded on a nearby rooftop during a fierce engagement with the enemy. Hospitalman Penner bravely exposed himself to accurate and heavy enemy fire from only 50 meters away s he moved to the casualty. Despite rounds impacting within inches of his position, he remained exposed to enemy fire as he treated and evacuated the casualty from the rooftop. On 23 June 2012, while on a partnered patrol of Marines and Afghan Soldiers, insurgents attacked his squad with medium machineguns and precision fire weapons. After sustaining two urgent casualties, Hospitalman Penner unhesitatingly ran more than 100 meters across fire swept terrain to reach the casualties. He established a casualty collection point behind a wall and then moved in and out of the kill zone four times in order to retrieve the casualties and get them to cover. When the squad began receiving fire from the rear, Hospitalman Penner courageously shielded the casualties from the enemy fire with his own body until the evacuation aircraft arrived and then bravely exposed himself to enemy fire as he moved the casualties to the aircraft. By his extraordinary guidance, zealous initiative, and total dedication to duty, Hospitalman Penner reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.