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 First Lieutenant Shannon D. Ison, United States Army, for gallantry in action on 16 August 2008, during combat operations against an armed enemy of the United States, as platoon leader, Company A, 206th Engineer Battalion, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. First Lieutenant Ison was responding to a vehicle that had struck an improvised explosive device. While enemy fire was impacting the burning vehicle and around his own, he left the safety of his cover and ran to pull the wounded from the destroyed truck. While he was moving the wounded under enemy small arms fire, a rocket propelled grenade landed near the soldiers, further wounding one of them. First Lieutenant Ison applied medical care to the injured man and then led his platoon in firing on the enemy positions. Without the courageous acts of First Lieutenant Ison, several lives would have been lost. First Lieutenant Ison’s distinctive accomplishments are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 206th Engineer Battalion, and the United States Army.