The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Aviation Boatswain’s Mate First Class (SEAL) ***** *****, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as a member of a special operations unit conducting combat operations against enemy forces in enemy territory from 28 February to 4 March 2002. Petty Officer ***** was a key member of a five-man sniper team conducting a sustained special operation that located and identified countless and previously unseen enemy fortifications, ground patrols, and fighting positions throughout the Shahi Kot valley region. His elite team achieved operational effects completely out of proportion to its size. Petty Officer *****’s orders were to preclude the enemy from concentrating combat power against vulnerable friendly ground forces that were infiltrating via helicopter into enemy-held terrain. His element scaled an 11,000-foot peak and traversed over 19 kilometers of the most precipitous landscape. As they approached their designated site, Petty Officer ***** spotted a larger-caliber automatic weapon position manned by four enemy personnel. Under an incoming hail of enemy fire, his team assaulted the fortified position eliminating two enemy fighters with surgical rifle fire. His communicator interdicted the other two with AC-130 gunship fire as they attempted to flank his position. From this newly conquered, dominating land feature, Petty Officer *****’s team called in a storm of close air support fire on a multitude of targets staged in offensive positions overlooking the valley below. Petty Officer *****’s courage under fire, personal initiative, and complete dedication to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.