(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 pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Major (Infantry), [then Captain] Andrew David Byers, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with Company B, 2d Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), in action against the enemy in support of Operation FREEDOM’S SENTINEL in Afghanistan on 2 November 2016. On that date, Captain Byers team was dropped at night into a flooded field near the Boz Qandahari village in Kunduz Province, Afghanistan that night, where they slogged a mile in waist-deep mud to get to the village. As they climbed the 100-foot-high cliffs on all sides of the village, drone above them revealed that enemy troops were closing in, nevertheless they pushed ahead, clearing two compounds while collecting contraband and intelligence. When enemy fire suddenly surrounded them. Captain Byers ran into the smoke and dust rescue a fallen Afghan soldier. After throwing grenades inside to clear one of the village’s compound, Captain Byers tried to kick the gate open, but an object on the other side held it shut, so he reached through to move it. He was mortally wounded by a sudden burst of enemy rifle fire. Captain Byers’ heroic leadership 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, the 3d Infantry Division, and the United States Army.