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 Staff Sergeant Travis D. Crosby, United States Air Force, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United States while serving with the 15th Air Support Operations Squadron, 18th Air Support Operations Group, in Support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, on 4 April 2005. On that day, Sergeant Crosby served as lead Enlisted Terminal Attack Controller for 3d Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. Sergeant Crosby’s actions allowed the seizure of Objective Peach, a critical six-lane concrete bridge spanning the Euphrates River that provided the only feasible avenue of approach to Baghdad. As he approached the objective, his vehicle came under heavy enemy attack from a barrage of artillery, mortar, and small arms fire, as well as anti-tank missiles. While actively defending his position, Sergeant Crosby identified enemy soldiers attempting to detonate demolition charges on the bridge. Under intense enemy fire and with complete disregard for his own safety, he directed a flight of A-10 aircraft onto the enemy soldiers’ position, killing them and destroying their six trucks, saving the bridge from destruction. Sergeant Crosby then controlled an additional flight of A-10 aircraft providing life-saving cover for an Army engineer team in the river, allowing the task force to safely cross the bridge. Upon crossing, Sergeant Crosby and his team were ambushed by three Iraqi tanks, numerous vehicles and dismounted infantry. The ensuring fire fight was so close that friendly and enemy vehicles were intermingled making identification from the air extremely difficult. Despite the constant rain of fire around his vehicle, Sergeant Crosby was able to successfully empty his .50 caliber machine gun on the enemy soft-skin vehicles killing over 20 enemy personnel while simultaneously directing a precision strike by a flight of A-10s destroying the enemy armor. Shortly thereafter, during a tactical pause, two Republican Guard soldiers closed to within 10 feet of his vehicle. Sergeant Crosby heroically risked life and limb by fully emerging from the protection of his vehicle and fired 15 rounds from his handgun, instantly killing the attacking enemy soldiers. Throughout the 20-hour engagement at Objective Peach, Sergeant Crosby deftly controlled eight flights of aircraft, destroying numerous enemy forces and pieces of warfighting equipment. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Staff Sergeant Crosby has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.