(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 Sergeant First Class ****** Madsen, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), in action against the enemy in support of Operation FREEDOM’S SENTINEL in Afghanistan, on 16 August 2017. On that date his Task Force conducted a dismounted mission alongside the Afghan National Army’s 8th Special Operations Kandak Commandos. The goal was to clear the area in the highly contested Mohmand Velley in Southern Nangarhar, to dislodge entrenched ISIS-K fighters. The element had taken heavy fire for eight hours, and as darkness fell, and explosive weapon detonated inside the building the team had been preparing to occupy, and enemy fighters launched a coordinated attack, using the explosion that injured more than 30 troops to their advantage. Despite his wounds, Sergeant First Class Madsen crawled into an armored vehicle and pulled his way to the turret while directing the U.S. soldiers around him to return fire on the enemy. He took control of the vehicle’s MK19 automatic grenade launcher and began delivering punishing suppressive fire upon the emboldened ISIS-K fighters. When he was out of ammunition, he switched to a light machine gun, firing on the enemy until he expended that ammunition. He then unleashed an MK14 grenade launcher on the enemy as his fellow soldiers matched his volume of fire. Sergeant First Class Madsen’s courageous and determined example inspired the limited number of troops who were not already wounded or rendering aid, to violently strike back at their attackers, ultimately suppressing the threat long enough for medical evacuation helicopters to load the most critical patients. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.