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 Captain (Air Defense Artillery) Charles Earnel Branson, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action in connection with military operations against a hostile force in Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Captain Branson distinguished himself while serving as the Commander of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 3d Air Defense Artillery, in direct support of the First Brigade Combat Team of the 3d Infantry Division (Mechanized) during the Battle for Objective JENKINS from 24 to 29 March 2003. The First Brigade commander issued Captain Branson a tactical mission order to secure a bridge in the vicinity of the village of Al Kifal to enable the brigade to continue its attack in Karbala. For this mission, in addition to his two Bradley Linebacker platoons, Captain Branson received a tank platoon from 3-69 Armor as a reserve, a Combat Observation Lasing Team (COLT), and a Long-Range Acquisition System (LRAS) team. An air defense battery commander leading a Bradley and tank company team in an attack was unprecedented. Just after midnight on 25 March 2003, Captain Branson’s company team reached the service road leading to the bridge and immediately began receiving heavy rocket-propelled grenades and small arms and mortar fire from a hostile force well established in prepared defensive positions on the near side of the bridge. Captain Branson pulled his forces back to a rally point and called in artillery fire to suppress the enemy fire. He rallied his forces and continued the attack, only to receive additional heavy fire. For the next eight hours, Captain Branson maintained the momentum of the attack, calling for artillery fires on three separate occasions and requesting he commitment of the reserve tank platoon, which arrived at 0800 on the morning of 25 March 2003. In a last ditch effort to halt Captain Branson’s unrelenting assault, the Iraqis attempted to blow the bridge. A portion of the bridge collapsed, but that did not stop the attack as Captain Branson aggressively ordered his tanks to cross the weakened structure. This action turned the tide of the battle. Following additional fire and maneuver, Captain Branson’s force secured the bridgehead, but fierce fighting continued for the next 36 hours. Later that day, the remainder of Task Force 3-69 Armor was committed to the fight. On 26 March 2003, Task Force 2-69 Armor relieved Task Force 3-69 Armor to continue the lodgment expansion on the far side of the bridgehead. Captain Branson and his company team were ultimately relieved on 29 March 2003. The enemy battle damage assessment for this operation included more than 200 enemy killed in action, 20 “technical” vehicles destroyed, and the capture of numerous weapons caches. Captain Branson’s personal bravery, expert coordination of artillery fire and ground attack, and exemplary devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflected greet credit upon himself, the “Rock of the Marne” Division and the United States Army.