Jerad Eldred

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Jerad Eldred, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with the 1st Battalion, 3d Special Forces Group (Airborne), during combat operations in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, in Afghanistan. Staff Sergeant Eldred, a medic, was part of a detachment working with Afghan national army soldiers to seize Sperwan Ghar mountain when the soldiers were ambushed. Staff Sergeant Eldred jumped out of his vehicle to check on the soldiers, then ran across open ground to check on Afghan soldiers. He also positioned himself on a rooftop to establish communications with the ground forces commander. When communication was lost, he exposed himself to enemy fire in order to communicate with his team members. He suffered a severe concussion during the battle but continued to help troops.