Benjamin Maitre

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Benjamin Maitre, Captain, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action in while serving as Pilot of an MC-130H Combat Tallon II aircraft, attached to Air Force Special Operations Command, during combat operations in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, during the height of war in Afghanistan, on 21 February 2002. On that date, Captain Maitre flew a re-supply mission and encountered heavy resistance from the enemy and although his aircraft was hit by intense anti-aircraft fire 10 minutes before his crew was to drop supplies.