Jonathan Millican

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal (Posthumously) to Jonathan Millican, Private, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with the 2d Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, in combat action in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, on 20 January 2007, at Karbala, Iraq. Private Millican was one of four soldiers who was killed after militants abducted them from the governor’s office in Karbala, Iraq, in a sophisticated sneak attack. The attackers posed as an American security team — speaking English, wearing U.S. military combat fatigues and traveling in the type of sport utility vehicles U.S. government convoys use. Private Millican was off duty in a communications room exchanging e-mails with his wife when the attack started. The attackers fired several rounds into the room with an AK47 and one of them tossed a grenade. Private Millican covered the grenade with his own body to shield his comrades.