E. Leif Babin

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to E. Leif Babin, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy as a member of a SEAL Team THREE, Naval Special Warfare Task Group in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, on 2 August 2006 near Ramadi, Iraq. While leading a combined clearance operation in an enemy-controlled area of Ramadi, Lieutenant Babin and his SEAL Team came under fire while on the roof of a building. Lieutenant Babin dashed across the roof to reach a wounded comrade and immediately called for casualty evacuation and fire support. As three other SEALs provided covering fire, Lieutenant Babin moved directly into the enemy’s line of fire and carried his wounded comrade to safety. Later in the day a fellow SEAL was killed and Lieutenant Babin was wounded. Despite his painful wound, he continued to direct clearance of the target building, securing it and ensuring that his mortally wounded comrade and the rest of his unit were safely extracted.