The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant David T. Russell, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as First Platoon Commander, Weapons Company, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, Second Brigade Combat Team, SECOND Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 3 May 2005. While Lieutenant Russell led his platoon in the operation of an entry control point in the city of Ramadi, 13 insurgents assaulted his position with small arms, machine guns, and grenades. Realizing the gravity of the attack, he ran to assess the situation from the second deck. First Lieutenant Russell quickly identified an insurgent with a machine gun hiding behind a barrier and killed him with one shot. When he discovered that a Marine isolated in a bunker needed ammunition, he raced to supply him by crossing 75 meters of open area while under fire from at least six insurgents. First Lieutenant Russell purposefully subjected himself to enemy fire to allow one Marine to maneuver and other Marines to destroy the insurgents. He was then knocked to the ground when an enemy round struck his helmet. Suffering from a concussion and bleeding profusely from wounds to his face and arms, First Lieutenant Russell rushed back to direct the fight and establish accountability. Finding two men missing, he rushed across the open area to retrieve a wounded Iraqi soldier. Despite explosions from more than twelve enemy grenades and a stream of machine gun and small arms fire, he moved across the kill zone to personally direct the battle and kill the enemy. Only after being ordered to accept treatment did he submit. First Lieutenant Russell’s bold leadership, wise judgment, and complete dedication to duty reflected great credit upon him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.