Nicholas Hill

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Nicholas Hill, Lieutenant [then Lieutenant, Junior Grade], U.S. Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy as a member of SEAL Team THREE, Naval Special Warfare Task Group in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM during the period April 2006 to October 2007, near Ramadi, Iraq. While engaging the enemy in a combat action, Lieutenant Hill led a coalition force of SEAL, U.S. Army, and Iraqi fighters on a daytime patrol through an insurgent-fortified urban area. After searching through a house, the force came under heavy gunfire from multiple directions. One Iraqi soldier was hurt during the attack, and laid helplessly exposed to the attackers. Lieutenant Hill organized suppressive fire, dragging the man to safety across the street as bullet rounds rained around them. Later he saved another injured Iraqi soldier during the battle by calling in reinforcements to protect the surrounding area from hostile action.