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 John R. Hawes, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in connection with military operations against an armed hostile force while serving with 3d Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3d Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), in action on 21 June 2006 during combat operations against an enemy of the United States near Gowardesh, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan. On that day, Sergeant Hawes was conducting reconnaissance and surveillance operations with his 16-member patrol when it was violently attacked and pinned down by a superior-sized enemy force consisting of at least 60 fighters. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, the vulnerability of his fellow Soldiers, and fearing that the enemy was about to overrun his patrol’s position at any moment, he quickly organized a hasty defense, directed his patrol members’ fires, and controlled the fight. As the fight developed, Sergeant Hawes braved hostile enemy fire to personally engage the enemy with a pistol, a rifle, a grenade launcher, and a hand grenade, spoiling the advance of an enemy assault on his position. His courageous leadership and actions helped defeat the enemy attack, saved his patrol, and resulted in 22 enemy fighters killed. Sergeant Hawes’ extraordinary heroism and uncommon valor are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) “Climb to Glory”, and the United States Army.