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.