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 Sergeant First Class Ricardo Deandrell Young, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in connection with military operations against the enemy on 28 August 2013, while serving as a Platoon Sergeant, 307th Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Airborne), 20th Engineer Brigade, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF) XIII, in Afghanistan. Sergeant First Class Young’s actions reflect great credit upon himself, 738th Engineer Support Company (Airborne), 307th Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Airborne), the 130th Engineer Brigade, and the United States Army.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD:
On 28 August , 2013, Sergeant First Class Young’s platoon was conducting a route clearance mission in Guhlistan District, Afghanistan, when they came upon a group of Afghan National Security Forces who had been severely wounded during an ambush along Highway 1. Sergeant First Class Young took charge of the situation and led a team of Soldiers that successfully treated eight casualties and requested medical evacuation for them via helicopter. Once the casualties were evacuated, Sergeant First Class Young’s patrol began to receive enemy fire from a mountain east of their position. The patrol engaged the enemy with heavy machine gun and grenade fire for nearly a half hour, when enemy movement ceased on the mountainside. Sergeant First Class Young then led a seven man team up the mountain to confirm that there were no other enemy fighters present to do further harm to his patrol. As his team moved up the mountain, they made contact with the enemy who had hidden in small caves during the initial engagement. Two of Ricardo’s patrol members were pinned down by enemy fire and unable to maneuver. Sergeant First Class Young quickly engaged insurgents and exposed himself to enemy fire in an attempt to take their focus off of the team of Soldiers that was pinned down. During the engagement, he rendered the ultimate sacrifice. His bravery and tenacity spared the lives of the 34 Soldiers on patrol with him that day as well as the 8 Afghans to whom he rendered aid.