Benjamin L. Sebban

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal (Posthumously) to Benjamin L. Sebban, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as a Senior Medic with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment (Airborne Reconnaissance), 82d Airborne Division, by placing himself in a position of danger to ensure his unit’s welfare during combat operations in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, on 17 March 2007, in Diyala Province, Iraq. On that date, Sergeant First Class Sebban safeguarded the lives of 86 paratroopers during a suicide-car-bomb attack on a combat outpost. Sergeant First Class Sebban noticed a civilian truck accelerating toward the compound laden with explosives. Stepping from behind a Humvee, he moved toward the vehicle and warned his fellow paratroopers of the impending attack yelling three times until the explosion from the vehicle knocked him down. Although mortally wounded by shrapnel injuries to his abdomen, groin and legs, Sergeant First Class Sebban immediately moved to the aid station to begin treating his fellow wounded paratroopers until he collapsed and succumbed to his wounds. Sergeant First Class Sebban’s valiant actions prevented enemy insurgent forces from overrunning his position and caused the enemy element to retreat.