(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: 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 Technical Sergeant Kristopher Parker, United States Air Force, for gallantry in action in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan. Technical Sergeant Parker and his explosive ordnance disposal team were tasked with clearing caves thought to house ammunition caches for insurgent forces in Kandahar Province on 21 May 2014. Technical Sergeant Parker was assigned to the 466th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight and was supporting the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division and Afghan Border Police during the mission. Upon initial descent, within 100 meters of the cave opening, the teams immediately saw gunfire. Repeated airstrikes were called in to destroy a handful of IED caches. But before the team could make more progress, rocket-propelled grenades and a 20-pound IED were thrown at Technical Sergeant Parker and the other technicians, knocking him and some of his teammates back and resulting in concussions. Technical Sergeant Parker, in and out of consciousness, facilitated medical evacuation for their platoon leader, who sustained wounds during the 12-plus-hour battle that stemmed from the explosive mission. Due largely in part to Technical Sergeant Parker’s leadership and expertise, no American lives were lost that day.