The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal Mario Atrian, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as Machine Gunner, Weapons Company, Third Battalion, Seventh Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, FIRST Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Central Command in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM II on 9 April 2004. Reinforcing a friendly unit caught in an enemy ambush, Lance Corporal Atrian demonstrated extraordinary heroism under fire when a numerically superior enemy force ambushed his unit from multiple positions. After radioing a warning to his unit, he laid down suppressive fire on multiple enemy positions with his machine gun. The enemy responded with a fusillade of rocket-propelled grenade and machine gun fire. Despite being hit in the left arm, Lance Corporal Atrian continued to provide fire with deadly accuracy on the flank of the enemy position. He received another volley of rocket-propelled grenade and machine gun fire, wounding him in the right arm and killing his driver. While bleeding profusely from both arms, Lance Corporal Atrian valiantly suppressed the enemy while the remainder of his section’s vehicles bounded through the enemy’s successive kill zones. He relinquished his position to receive medical attention only after the enemy ambush had been broken and his fellow wounded Marines had been treated. By his bold leadership, wise judgment, and complete dedication to duty, Lance Corporal Atrian reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.