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 (Special Forces) Nicholas Dockery, United States Army, for gallantry in action in operations against the enemy of the United States as a Special Forces Detachment Commander, Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 7214, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), during Operation FREEDOM’S SENTINEL in support of the RESOLUTE SUPPORT Mission. On 7 October 2018, Captain Dockery, serving as the Ground Force Commander, led an element of nine Special Forces Soldiers and 65 Afghan Special Forces in a clearance operation through Faryab Province, Afghanistan. Over the course of eight hours, an estimated 250 heavily armed Taliban Fighters attacked Captain Dockery and his element with machine guns, Anti-Tank RPGs, and sniper rifle fires. As Captain Dockery’s vehicle navigated five foot high serpentine barriers made from large boulders, the enemy detonated strategically placed Remote Controlled Improvised Explosive Devices which created near impassable craters. Attacking from fortified defensive positions, the enemy focused their fire on Captain Dockery’s vehicle. Adding to the chaos, a lingering sand storm prevented air assets from consistently supporting ground units. Captain Dockery, while under direct fire, dismounted his vehicle to gain better situational awareness of the enemy disposition and engage enemy forces. Enemy suicide bombers and Machine Gun teams began to envelope Captain Dockery and his element’s position. At risk to his own life, Captain Dockery coordinated multiple AH64 strafing gun runs 25 meters from his location, killing 35 enemy fighters, saving dozens of U.S. and Afghan Soldiers’ lives, and preventing Vehicles from being overrun. As the fight continued, a second wave of enemy squads and suicide bombers maneuvered within five meters of Captain Dockery and targeted two vehicles with a fusillade of machine gun and RPG, trapping the Soldiers inside. Captain Dockery selflessly dismounted and began coordinating suppressive fires. Captain Dockery, utilizing hand grenades to mask his movement, moved through the gun fire to engage the enemy machine gun team. The enemy targeted Captain Dockery and fired an RPG which impacted 15 feet from his position. Undeterred by the blast, Captain Dockery continued to draw fire on his position until close enough to throw a grenade on the enemy fighters killing three and wounding another four. His selfless actions saved the lives of at least 10 trapped Soldiers, prevented a mass casualty scenario, and killed a relentless enemy. Over the next eight hours, the enemy continued to send waves of fighters to attack the convoy within the Districts of Shirin Tagab and Khwaja Sabz Posh. Captain Dockery continued to disregard his own safety to climb atop his vehicle and move throughout the gun fire to engage the enemy while receiving effective machine gun and RPG fire. Captain Dockery’s willingness to expose himself to Taliban fighters to maneuver ground troops and coordinate airstrikes stopped a spectacular enemy effort to overrun U.S. Forces. His actions and aggressive leadership saved the lives of multiple U.S. and Afghan personal and led to the confirmed death of 113 enemy fighters. Captain Dockery’s actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Special Forces Task Forces-Afghanistan, NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan/Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan, and the United States army.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by act of Congress, March 3rd, 1863, has awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor to Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Nicholas Dockery, United States Army. Second Lieutenant distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on October 2, 2012, while serving as a Platoon Leader, 2d Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan. On this day, Second Lieutenant Nicholas Dockery’s platoon and associated Afghan forces were ambushed by an estimated 150 Taliban fighters. Ordered to eliminate the threat, Lieutenant Dockery planned and led an assault on the enemy forces. Lieutenant Dockery traversed 100 yards of open terrain under enemy fire to reach U.S. forces in need of assistance. Hearing a U.S. soldier had been wounded, Lieutenant Dockery fought his way to soldiers who were taking cover in a building that was occupied by enemy fighters. Realizing the immediate danger, he organized and led the forces in clearing six rooms of the multi-level compound, killing one enemy fighter and detaining two others. When an enemy grenade landed nearby, he shoved a team member behind cover preventing him from being killed or wounded by the resulting blast. Attempting to regain momentum after the blast, Lieutenant Dockery led a four-man team to clear the compound’s courtyard before the enemy used a rocket-propelled grenade, resulting in an explosion that incapacitated two soldiers. Although dazed and wounded himself, Lieutenant Dockery went to the aid of the wounded soldiers who were fully exposed to enemy fire. After helping one solider to his feet, he engaged and killed two enemy fighters who were attempting to approach the other injured soldier. Lieutenant Dockery provided first aid and used his own body to shield the soldier from further injury, saving his life. Air support assets could not differentiate between friendly and enemy positions, so Lieutenant Dockery marked his position on the building’s roof, exposing himself to enemy fire on multiple occasions while providing covering fire to friendly forces evacuating the wounded. He was the last individual to leave the battlefield. Second Lieutenant Dockery’s conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.