Javier Echols

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Javier Echols, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with the 108th Military Police Company (Air Assault) in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 30 April 2005. In the early morning hours of 30 April, Staff Echols, Sergeant Matthew Acosta and Sergeant Zachariah Collett , as part of squad Warlord 11, were patrolling a Main Supply Route when an Improvised Explosive Device detonated nearby. An Iraqi National Guard transport vehicle filled with Iraqi Soldiers was hit by the blast. Sergeant Echols led his team in the rescue of four Iraqi National Guard Soldiers who were wounded in the explosion. Amidst a dangerous crossfire between insurgents and ING Soldiers, the trio managed to move the wounded to safety and administer medical aid until an evacuation helicopter arrived on the scene. For one wounded Iraqi Soldier, the team crafted a makeshift stretcher from a piece of metal that had been blown from the transport truck in the explosion.