Matthew Zedwick

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Matthew Zedwick, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with the 2d Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, during combat operations in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, on 13 June 2004, in Iraq. On that date, Sergeant Zedwick was the driver of a Humvee when an IED exploded near Camp Taji, Iraq, which took the life of his gunner and seriously wounded his truck commander. Sergeant Zedwick returned enemy fire during the ensuing firefight, after pulling his commander to safety. He returned to the vehicle to check on the condition of his gunner, Specialist Eric McKinley. Unable to save him, he then retrieved sensitive items from the vehicle and returned to his commander, where he used his body to shield him. He continued to return fire until a medivac helicopter reached the scene.